Charles Dickens News

The cast and creative team for The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit concert of MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL have officially begun rehearsals for the one-night-only event, set for Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street). Check out a first look below!

SANTA ANA, Calif.

As my hand was turning to mincemeat while writing personal notes in Christmas card after Christmas card, I persevered, knowing that at the end of my travails there would be a reward: A much anticipated performance of Theatre Memphis' annual 'gift' to Memphis, Charles Dickens' venerable A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I must admit: I have not attended every performance of that classic since its inception. I have, however, infrequently stopped to hang my wreath at its door; and I've seen some fine 'Ebeneezers' over the years (I recall a former teaching colleague, Tom Ford, offering a tight, clipped interpretation and, of course, one of the best and most frequent of the actors donning those tattered gloves, Memphis acting favorite Barry Fuller). As I wrote card after card, I began to think about all the other interpretations of A CHRISTMAS CAROL that I have encountered through the years - Seymour Hicks; Reginald Owen (in the role MGM intended for an ailing Lionel Barrymore, who had become famous for his radio performance and who would have, no doubt, been superior; a not-all-that-bad consolation prize was his equally tight-fisted 'Mr. Potter' in Frank Capra's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE); Orson Welles (in a Mercury Theatre radio performance); Sir Ralph Richardson (a beautiful audio recording); Alastair Sim (in the early 1950's British film and offering my favorite interpretation of the role; Danny Peary, in his fascinating ALTERNATE OSCARS, selects him as Best Actor for that performance); and, certainly, George C. Scott, in what was considered to be the version to end all versions. (And does anyone recall Jim Backus' 'Mr. Magoo' in a delightful animated musical television special back in the 1960's?)

This December, Milwaukee Repertory Theater relives a 39-year old tradition in the beautiful Pabst Theater: Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In this recent adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan, familiar English carols and melodies echo through the theater so the audience believes they might be standing on the streets of London, Christmas Eve, mid-1800's. Director Aaron Posner returns to inspire another Ebenezer Scrooge, Milwaukee's own Jonathan Smoots.

Could Scrooge really be dead? 'Who Killed Scrooge?' This interactive, comedy-mystery based on Charles Dickens' famous 'Christmas Carol' tells the classic tale with a twist -- or two. 'Who Killed Scrooge?' brings Tiny Tim, Bob Crachitt and the infamous penny-pincher, Scrooge, to life.

Silver Spring Stage presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge by Christopher Durang, directed by Star Johnson and produced by Joseph Coracle, Pauline Griller-Mitchell and Star Johnson, a hilarious parody of the Christmas Carol story from the viewpoint of a stressed out Mrs. Cratchit. Christmas will never be the same! Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge will perform two weekends today, December 12 to December 21, 2014.

The Winthrop Playmakers have announced their hilarious holiday production of the full length comedy Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) by John K. Alvarez, Michael Carleton, and James FitzGerald with an original song by Will Knapp. Winthrop resident and long-time Playmaker Anthony J. Internicola will direct with stage management by Wes Toma-Lee.

Charles Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol' is returning to Frederick for the twenty-first straight year with Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. The cast of over two dozen actors portraying the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, Future and Tiny Tim will transport audiences to Victorian England as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge learns the error of his miserly ways and embraces the true spirit of Christmas.

Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City is ringing in the season with EBENEZER, A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL produced by Ocean Professional Theatre Company, at the beautiful and historic Screening Room Theatre in the Ocean Tower. Guests will be taken on an unforgettable journey of glitter, tradition and pure Christmas magic. The production will run for seven performances, tonight, December 12-20, 2014.

Northport's oldest theatre group, The Minstrel Players Theatre Company of Northport, prepare for their 9th Holiday production at Houghton Hall - Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main Street in scenic Northport Village. They are the first to stage Charles Dickens' classic in this are, 'A Christmas Carol', and are happy to continue this Northport Village holiday tradition as only The Minstrel Players can do it! Performances are one weekend only tonight, December 12th and Saturday, December 13th at 8 P.M. and a 3 P.M. matinee on Sunday, December 14th.

Some of Manhattan's most famous resident ghosts will once again be visited by three well-known literary spirits this holiday season. Summoners Ensemble Theatre returns to the Merchant's House Museum with A Christmas Carol at the Merchant's House.

Alleyway Theatre and sponsors M&T Bank, WBBZ-TV, Mighty Taco and Paragon Advertising, will present the 32nd annual production of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, today, December 11-21, 2014.

As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the passage of New York City's Landmarks Law in 2015, it is especially timely that we have the privilege to announce Meenakshi Srinivasan, Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, as the Honorary Chair of A Christmas Carol at the Merchant's House Benefit Gala. The Merchant's House was the first building designated a landmark in the Borough of Manhattan at the inaugural meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission in September 1965.

The Nebraska Theatre Caravan returns to Easton with its delightful stage production of Charles Dickens' family-friendly holiday classic A Christmas Carol, playing the State Theatre tonight, December 11.

A time hopping new take on Charles Dickens's beloved 'A Christmas Carol' will mark the first performance in the newly renovated theater space of the landmark St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Could Scrooge really be dead? 'Who Killed Scrooge?' This interactive, comedy-mystery based on Charles Dickens' famous 'Christmas Carol' tells the classic tale with a twist -- or two. 'Who Killed Scrooge?' brings Tiny Tim, Bob Crachitt and the infamous penny-pincher, Scrooge, to life.

A holiday tradition returns to the corner of Franklin and First! John McDonald is Ebenezer Scrooge in the Roxy Regional Theatre's production of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL tonight, December 10 - December 20.

Metal Rabbit Productions, in association with Old Red Lion Theatre, present Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Neil Bartlett. Performances run at the Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ, tonight 10th December 2014 through Saturday 3rd January 2015. Press Night: Saturday 13th December 2014, 9.30pm.

Skinny Lee Productions & Filament Theatre Company in association with CalArts Alumni announce an apocalyptic, completely immersive, multi-media & cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET, starring Tom Payne (HBO's "Luck") as Romeo and Ana Khamis (James Franco's upcoming film "Unknown Identities," "Hacker's Game," Mr. Paradise) as Juliet and directed by Derek Magyar ("Flying Lessons," "Boy Culture"). ROMEO & JULIET will preview on Tuesday, January 22 & Wednesday, January 21 at 8:00pm & will open on Thursday, January 22 at 8pm with a Gala Opening on Friday, January 23 at 8:00pm and will perform through Sunday, February 7 at the Riverside Studios, 3352 N. San Fernando Rd. in Atwater Village.

Ebenezer Scrooge (Played by Eric Fletcher) and the cast of 'A Christmas Carol' the musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell will sing in the holiday season on Wall Street at the 91st annual tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange at 5p on Tuesday, December 09, 2014. A fitting place for Mr. Scrooge to celebrate his charitable redemption.