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ACT – A Contemporary Theatre Brings All the Magic of A Christmas Carol Home for the Holidays

The Seattle Tradition Returns for the 45th Year as a Radio-style Audio Play

On-Demand Streaming Now: November 27 – December 27, 2020

SEATTLE, December 2 — The magic of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic story of redemption and charity, comes to life as ACT – A Contemporary Theatre presents the timeless tale this year as a radio drama, complete with dialogue, Christmas carols, Adam Stern’s musical score and sound effects. Imagine Scrooge, Marley, the Ghosts and all of the characters you know and love… coming to your home for the holidays.

“This year marks our 45th anniversary of ACT’s much beloved version of A Christmas Carol and like everything else in 2020, it will be delivered to audiences in a brand-new way,” says John Langs, ACT’s Artistic Director. Langs also helmed this year’s production. “The hard-working team at ACT, after converting the Falls Theatre into a safety-compliant recording studio, embarked on the adventure of turning our stage production into a lovingly rendered audio production that we know will be a movie for your imagination.”

Audiences will be transported to that famously chilly, snowy Christmas Eve night as the story comes alive through the voices of a tremendously talented cast and Gregory A. Falls’ enchanting adaptation.

Jeff Steitzer returns to A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge. Kurt Beattie takes a new turn as Marley. We are delighted that Leslie Law (The Ghost of Christmas Present), Arlando Smith (Fred), Rob Burgess (Mr. Fezziwig) and Piper Harden (Tiny Tim) reprise their roles once again the year. Our cast of favorites also includes ACT Core Company members Anne Allgood, Chip Sherman, Rachel Guyer-Mafune and Jasmine Jean Sim, as well as many other familiar faces (and some new ones): Alban Dennis, Tracy Hyland, Eric Jensen, Josh Kenji, Galen Osier, Arlando Smith, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Gwen Cable, Apollo Jones and Ty Ho. The production is directed by John Langs.

About this year’s production and recording of A Christmas Carol

The recording of A Christmas Carol was completed over the course of six days in October, 2020. With COVID-19 safety protocols in place, seven recording booths were set up on ACT’s Falls Theatre stage with professional sound recording equipment. Singing was captured by using recording booths at The 5th Avenue Theatre. It was essential that our cast could work and create in the safest of conditions. Prior to recording, all actors rehearsed remotely together over Zoom.

“Like the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Christmases Yet to Come, our sound designer and master engineer Sharath Patel has a gift for transporting you through time and space and landing you right alongside Ebenezer Scrooge on his transformative journey,” Langs says. “We cannot wait to share it with you.”

FACT SHEET

WHAT:
ACT Theatre presents A Christmas Carol
Radio-style audio play

WHO:
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted for the stage by Gregory A. Falls
Music by Adam Stern
Additional dialogue for audio by John Langs
Directed by John Langs

WHERE: ACT @ Home | stream on any device from the comfort of your home

WHEN: Streaming on-demand November 27 – December 27

TICKETS: “Pay what you like”
Ticket price range: $25; $35; $45*; $100*
All tickets include access to the production.
*Add-on enhancements

PHOTOS:
https://bit.ly/ACCPressPics

PRESS ROOM:
https://dev.acttheatre.org/pressroom/

TRAILER:
https://dev.acttheatre.org/a-christmas-carol-trailer/

MORE INFO:
www.acttheatre.org | (206) 292-7676

Ticket office (Open Tuesday – Friday each week, 12-4 p.m.)
service@dev.acttheatre.org

CAST:

Anne Allgood* | Mrs. Fezziwig, Mrs. Dilber, Laundress
Kurt Beattie | Marley, Old Joe
Rob Burgess | Mr. Fezziwig, Topper, Solicitor #2
Gwen Cable | Belinda/Elizabeth, Fan
Alban Dennis | Bob Cratchit, Grocer
Rachel Guyer-Mafune* | Martha, Guest, Charwoman
Piper Harden | Tiny Tim
Ty Ho | Charles, Turkey Boy/Undertaker’s Assistant, Master Fezziwig
Tracy Hyland | Mrs. Cratchit, Sugar Plum Seller
Eric Jensen | Caroler
Apollo Jones | Peter, Young Scrooge, Singing Thief
Josh Kenji | Middle Scrooge, Robin Crusoe
Leslie Law | Ghost of Christmas Present
Galen Osier | Solicitor #1, Party Guest, Businessman
Chip Sherman* | Ghost of Christmas Past
Jasmine Jean Sim* | Belle, Niece
Arlando Smith | Fred, Dick Wilkins, Businessman
Jeff Steitzer | Ebenezer Scrooge
Nathaniel Tenenbaum | Narrator

*ACT Core Company

CREATIVE TEAM:

Sharath Patel – Sound Designer and Master Engineer
Gin Hammond – Dialect Coach
R.J. Tancioco – Music Director
Stina Lotti – Stage Manager
Cricket Myers – Audio Editor
Erin Zatloka – Covid Compliance Officer

About ACT Theatre

Located in Seattle’s Downtown Theatre District, ACT is home to five performance spaces under one roof. Since 1965, ACT has been a destination for experiencing new voices, stories and art. Reaching over 140,000 audience members each year, ACT is steadfast in its dedication to producing world-class work with contemporary playwrights and local performing artists through its Mainstage play series, community and artistic partnerships and Young Playwrights Program. Under the leadership of Managing Director Becky Witmer and Artistic Director John Langs, ACT is a community hub where artists and the public connect about today’s issues and ideas and celebrate the shared experience of live theatre.

www.acttheatre.org

About A Christmas Carol

Presented for the first time in 1843, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and miserable old man, who torments everyone he sees on most days, but is especially cranky at Christmas. Bah humbug! ACT’s celebrated adaptation follows the original Dickens tale, taking audiences along on Scrooge’s transformational journey through time.

A Christmas Carol was adapted by Gregory A. Falls and features the music of composer Adam Stern.