Christmas will once again gladden the heart of curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge when South Coast Repertory presents its 32nd annual production of A Christmas Carol Nov. 26 through Dec. 24.
Hal Landon Jr. (everyone's favorite somersaulting Scrooge) and director John-David Keller (who also plays Mr. Fezziwig) have been part of this beloved Orange County tradition since its inception in 1980 and will return to the stage again this season. Sharing the stage with them will be SCR Founding Artists Richard Doyle and Art Koustik, reprising their roles as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Joe, respectively.
Many of the other actors have been seen in Christmas Carols past as well, including Daniel Blinkoff and Jennifer Parsons as Bob and Mrs. Cratchit, Karen Hensel as Mrs. Fezziwig, Timothy Landfield as the Ghost of Christmas Present, William Francis McGuire as Fred, Gregg Daniel as Marley, Ann Marie Lee as the Toy Lady and Christian Barillas as Young Ebenezer. Joining their ranks this year is Erika Whalen as Belle.
The cast also includes 16 local child actors, most of whom are making their first appearance in the holiday show. (Editors: If you would like a list of the children and their hometowns, please contact Madeline Porter at mad@scr.org.)
Julia and George Argyros/Agyros Family Foundation are the Honorary Producers. The The Orange County Register is the media partner.
SHOW TIMES: Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday nights (except Nov. 29 and Dec. 7 and 24), with matinees at 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and 12 and 4 p.m. Sundays. Exceptions: On Friday, Dec. 23, there will be a matinee at 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 24, there will be matinees at 12 and 4 p.m.
TICKETS: Can be purchased online at
www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. $20-$62.
BOX OFFICE WINDOW HOURS: 10 a.m. to showtime Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to showtime Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and non-performance days.
American Express, VISA and MasterCard accepted.
LOCATION:
South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Folino Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.
COMING UP: Topdog/Underdog (Jan. 8 - Jan. 29), Elemeno Pea (Jan. 27 - Feb. 26).
ABOUT SCR: Tony Award-winning
South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by
David Emmes and
Martin Benson and now under the leadership of Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. SCR is committed to theatre that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its wide array of education and outreach programs. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation's largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers and composers. Each year, it showcases some of country's best new plays in the Pacific Playwrights Festival, which attracts theatre professionals from across the country. Of SCR's more than 450 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres, whose subsequent stagings achieved enormous success throughout America and around the world. Two SCR-developed works have won Pulitzer Prizes, and another eight were named Pulitzer finalists. In addition, SCR works have won several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, California, SCR's Folino Theater Center is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. Today, SCR produces 13 shows and eight public readings each season.
