INSPECTING CAROL Opens Tonight at Hilberry Theatre

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2015-16 season tonight, December 4th at the Hilberry Theatre with Inspecting Carol. Step right in to the holiday season with all its merriment, festivities, stress and joy. At the theatre, there's no better story to set the tone for this part of the year than the well-loved Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens' words come alive onstage for generations of thespians and patrons year after year.

It's been thirteen years since the founding of Soapbox Playhouse and the company has seen brighter days. However, nothing can put a damper on their annual production of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. As a cast of outlandish and somewhat familiar characters bumble their way toward opening night of the beloved holiday classic, chaos awaits backstage. Misadventures and close calls adorn this holiday treat.

The Hilberry invites guests to join in the festivities for Opening Night on Friday, December 4th. Patrons are encouraged to attend outfitted in their most disastrous seasonal "ugly sweater" and share the fun with fellow theatregoers. The following day, there will be a matinee and evening performance during the annual Midtown Detroit Noel Night on December 5th.

Inspecting Carol is directed by Lavinia Hart, Detroit area theatre veteran and head of the MFA Acting program. Acknowledging the production's theme of "raucous comedy," Hart also notes that "important universal questions come to light in vivid relief when we witness the plight and perils of those brave souls who choose to make their living in the theatre. What happens when arts organizations lose financial subsidies? Can artistic vision and sense of mission truly make a difference in the lives of our audience members? How can we make the world a better place? From Charles Dickens' London to today's headlines - we all need to wrestle with these questions and find our own path to solutions."

Performance dates and times are as follows:

Wednesday 2:00 p.m. (December 9)

Thursday 8:00 p.m. (December 10 and 17)

Friday 8:00 p.m. (December 4, 11 and 18)

Saturday 2:00 p.m. (December 5 and 19)

Saturday 8:00 p.m. (December 5, 12 and 19)

Sunday 3:00 p.m. (December 20)

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Cast (in alphabetical order):

Ernest Bentley (Spike), Wesley Cady (Luther Beatty), Devri Chism (Dorothy Tree-Hapgood), Kyle Mitchell Johnson (Sidney Carlton), James Kern (Phil Hewlitt), Antonia LaChe' (MJ McMann), Michael Manocchio (Bart Frances), Cody Robison (Kevin Emery), Mary Sansone (Zorah Block), Nick Stockwell (Wayne Wallacre), Breayre Tender (Betty Andrews), Michael Phillip Thomas (Larry Vauxhall), Brandon A. Wright (Walter E. Parsons)

The production team includes Lavinia Hart (Director), Ryan P. Jones (Stage Manager), Sarah Drum (Assistant Stage Manager), Neal Warner (Music Director), Fred Florkowski (Scenic Designer), Mary Leyendecker (Costume Designer), Natalie Colony (Lighting Designer), Thomas Libertiny (Sound Designer), Brian Dambacher (Technical Director), Michael Sabourin (Properties Master), Amos Woodard (Master Electrician), Wayne David Parker (Fight Choreographer), Michael J. Barnes (Dialect Coach), Breayre Tender (Choreographer) and JP Hitesman (Publicist).