Music Box Theatre to Screen SCROOGE & MARLEY, 12/8

The holiday season moves into high gear on Sunday, Dec. 8 when the film SCROOGE & MARLEY returns to the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago) for one special screening, one year from the date of its red-carpet premiere at the historic venue.

The movie, which was entirely shot in Chicago, is a heartfelt, modern-day, gay variation on Charles Dickens' beloved classic A Christmas Carol. This exclusive Chicago holiday matinee screening begins at 2:30 p.m. and includes a festive pre-show with prize giveaways. Special guests are the swingin' female a cappella caroling trio The Merry Janes, who will lead the audience in a holiday sing-a-long with their Andrews Sisters-like harmony arrangements, and more.

Audiences of all persuasions have embraced SCROOGE & MARLEY which stars David Pevsner as Scrooge, Tim Kazurinsky as Marley's Ghost, Rusty Schwimmer, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell, and David Moretti, features multiple Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch as Fezziwig, and is narrated by two-time Tony Award-winner Judith Light. Members of the cast and crew will be on hand for the screening. Scrooge & Marley DVDs, Blu-rays, soundtrack CDs, and other related merchandise will be available for purchase. Advance tickets are $10 and are available at www.musicboxtheatre.com or see http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/scrooge-and-marley-2013-dec-8-sun-0215pm .

The festive spirit continues on Saturday, Dec. 14 when the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles include "Christmas Eve Is Coming Soon," the theme from SCROOGE & MARLEY as a featured part of their annual holiday concert, HOLIDAYS IN UPTOWN. The original song, written by the film's co-writer and director Richard Knight, Jr., is performed in the film by noted area vocalist Becca Kaufman who will sing the selection at the Lakeside Pride concert (in a new arrangement commissioned exclusively for the evening). Many of the ensembles' members performed on the Scrooge & Marley soundtrack (which will be available for purchase). The concert will include many other notable seasonal selections and will also include an audience sing-a-long. It all takes place at the Preston Bradley Center (941 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago) beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20/$12 for seniors and students. Advance tickets and further information at www.lakesidepride.org .

SCROOGE & MARLEY which noted film critic and "Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas" Alonso Duralde has called "sweet and distinctive" is also available for download via the movie's website, which also includes detailed information about the film and links to other related merchandise available for purchase. See www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com . The film and soundtrack are also available on Amazon.

Scrooge & Marley features a wide range of music from award-winning singers and bands, with a special end credit song performed by Jason Gould and written for the film by Marsha Malamet, Liz Vidal and Stephan Oberhoff. Other performers in the film and soundtrack include Matt Alber, BETTY, Linda Good, Amber deLaurentis, Becca Kaufman, Jeannie Tanner and more.