Dallas Theater Center's A Christmas Carol opens today at the Kalita Humphreys Theater and runs through Dec. 24. DTC Associate Artist Joel Ferrell will direct and choreograph the production, which stars long-time Dallas favorite Kurt Rhoads as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge.
“Christmas is a time for family togetherness and this year’s production of A Christmas Carol honors that by bringing together many beloved members of our theater community,” says director and choreographer Joel Ferrell. “We have assembled a wonderful cast of local and national actors, many of whom audiences loved in last season’s The Wiz, Cabaret and Dividing the Estate. Each member of the cast is new to their role and will breathe fresh life into this classic production.”
Kurt Rhoads returns to DTC this season after starring to critical acclaim as King Henry in Henry IV and Lewis in Dividing the Estate last season. This is Rhoads’ first appearance as Scrooge in DTC’s A Christmas Carol in his decades-long association with the Theater Center. Rhoads is joined by David Ryan Smith as The Ghost of Christmas Present. DTC audiences will remember Smith from this summer’s hit family musical, The Wiz, in which he played the Cowardly Lion.
The cast also features Brierley Resident Acting Company members Abbey Siegworth (The Tempest, Arsenic and Old Lace) as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Lee Trull (The Tempest, Cabaret) as Bob Cratchit and Steven Michael Walters (The Tempest, Henry IV) as Fred. Jonathan Brooks, Emily Gray, Ashley Puckett Gonzales, Brian Gonzales, Alex Ross and Joanna Schellenberg join Resident Acting Company members along with Tatiana Angustia, Trey Cheatham, Drew Favors, Mark Fisher, Nathan May, Marlhy Murphy, Kuran Patel, Paloma Renteria, Lauren Riley and Ben Villaseñor in the children’s roles. SMU Meadows School of the Arts graduate student Vanessa Gibens and undergraduates Wendy Blackburn and Jason Moody round out the cast.
“We’ve been certain to include the festive music, lively dancing and Christmas ghosts that audiences have come to love so well,” says Ferrell. “We have also added a few surprises in the performances, staging and design that will delight theater-goers, young and old.”
Returning to work with Ferrell are Lindy Heath Cabe (The Wiz) as musical director, Bob Lavallee (Cabaret) as scenic designer, Wade Laboissionniere (The Wiz) as costume designer, Matthew Richards (Dividing the Estate) as lighting designer and Curtis Craig (Arsenic and Old Lace) as sound designer.
DTC has already announced a continued partnership with the North Texas Food Bank. DTC staff and A Christmas Carol cast members spent two days at the Food Bank’s warehouse distribution center on Dan Morton Dr. sorting and packing food for North Texas residents. During performances of A Christmas Carol, DTC will provide a location for patrons to donate canned goods to the organization. Members of the cast will also collect monetary donations after every performance. Over the last three years, DTC patrons have donated over $130,000, with more than $48,000 donated in 2010.
“DTC has a proud tradition of bringing A Christmas Carol To life on stage every year,” says DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. “For many members of our community, coming together with their families and friends to see this beloved production is a cherished part of their annual holiday celebrations.”
All performances of A Christmas Carol will be held at the Kalita Humphreys Theater located at 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. (at Blackburn), where it runs Nov. 25 – Dec. 24. Preview performances are Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 at 7:30p.m. Opening night is Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Performance times are Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.; select Tuesday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; and select Thursday and Friday matinees at 2 p.m. Please note the performance times for Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), are 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Base ticket prices are $15-$85 and are available by visiting our website at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org or by calling the box office at (214) 880-0202.
