New Rep and arsenalARTS Announce A CHRISTMAS STORY

New Repertory Theatre and arsenalARTS join forces to present A Christmas Story. A Christmas Story is adapted/written by Philip Grecian and will be directed by Diego Arciniegas. This hilarious and heartfelt holiday production will run from December 11th through December 24th in the Charles Mosesian Theatre with matinees and early curtain times to accommodate families. Press Opening is Friday, December 11, 2009 at 7:00pm.

"It's a pleasure to be working with arsenalARTS on this delightful production. It's wonderful that our joint efforts will bring this charming holiday tale to adults and children alike," states Harriet Sheets, New Rep's Managing Director.

Sharon Glennon, Executive Director of the Arsenal Center for the Arts adds, "This production exemplifies the kind of collaboration that has long been envisioned for this art center. Here in the beautiful state-of-the art Charles Moseasian Theater you will see the work of an award-winning professional theatre company."

A Christmas Story will be directed by Diego Arciniegas. The cast features local favorites Andrew Cekala as Young Ralphie, Owen Doyle as The Old Man, and Stacy Fischer as Mother.

The holidays are upon Hohman, Indiana in the idyllic 1940's. All the townfolk are gearing up for the festivities, including Ralphie Parker, who is fixated on getting the most perfect, amazing Christmas gift-an OFFICIAL RED RYDER carbine action 200-shot RANGE MODEL AIR RIFLE! This season, join New Rep for A Christmas Story and witness the Parker family as they navigate through the calamities and joys of the holiday season.

New Repertory Theatre presents provocative and intelligent works of both established and emerging playwrights in an intimate setting that involves and engages the audience. New Rep has earned a reputation for Dynamic Productions that honor the writers and feature talented professional actors from the New England Theatre community as well as guest artists from around the U.S. New Rep has received Elliot Norton and IRNE Awards for outstanding acting, scenic design, directions, and production. Programming for New Repertory Theatre is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Housing the 340-seat Charles Mosesian Theater, a 90-seat Black Box Theater, galleries, classroom spaces and artists' studios, the Arsenal Center for the Arts is located in Watertown, only 15 minutes from Downtown Boston, at 321 Arsenal Street in the site of the historic former Watertown Arsenal, now known as The Arsenal on the Charles, an office park one-half mile west of the Arsenal Mall. Garage parking is free. The Center conducts its own interdisciplinary programming featuring visual, performing and literary arts genres and an extensive arts education program for all ages, in addition to the work of its resident companies (New Repertory Theatre, Watertown Children's Theatre, and The Quilters' Connection) and welcomes the productions of other organizations who rent its theaters.
ARTISTS

Andrew Cekala (Young Ralphie) is delighted to make his New Rep debut. His credits include Berkley College of Music's Ragtime (Edgar), Turtle Lane Playhouse's The Full Monty (Nathan), Weston Friendly Society's Seussical (Jojo), the Huntington Theatre Company's production of All My Sons (Bert) and the Underground Railway Theatre's The Life of Galileo (Andrea Sarti). He also has performed in numerous Watertown Children's Theatre productions. Andrew enjoys playing his cello, dancing and making Christmas lists.

Owen Doyle (Old Man) is delighted to return to New Rep, having appeared as Doc in Mister Roberts and Freddy in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Area productions include: All My Sons (Huntington Theatre Company); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Lyric Stage Company); It's a Wonderful Life, A Young Lady From Rwanda, A Prayer for Owen Meany (Stoneham Theatre); Arcadia, Misalliance, Romeo and Juliet (Publick Theatre); States of Grace (Underground Railway Theater); To Kill a Mockingbird (Foothills Theatre); Julius Caesar (Actors' Shakespeare Project); The Man Who (Nora Theatre Company).

Stacy Fischer (Mother) was last seen at New Rep in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Fool For Love, and My Name is Rachel Corrie. Recent Boston area credits include: Or, (Lyric Stage); Hysteria (Elliot Norton Award for Best Actress), The Secret Love Life of Ophelia (the Nora Theatre Company); The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Stoneham Theatre); Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes, In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play, Noises Off, The Little Dog Laughed, The Blue Room (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre); Uncle Vanya (Boston Art Theatre). Other theatres: the Huntington Theatre Company, the Sugan, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Publick Theatre, Village Theatre Project, Gloucester Stage, SpeakEasy Stage, North Shore Music Theatre, and CentaStage. Graduate of Emerson College.

Philip Grecian (adapter) has served as the founding director, producer, artistic/managing director, and resident playwright for numerous theatre organizations. He continues to maintain a connection with Creede Colorado Repertory Theatre, where his plays have been produced and where he has returned as a guest performer. After touring the Midwest as Androcles in Androcles and the Lion, he returned to the community theater he had founded at age 16 as artistic/managing director and resident playwright for six years; he resigned in 1976 in order to create a professional dinner theater where he served as producer and artistic director. After establishing a strong financial base for the new theater, he left to work as a writer/director in film, video and audio production. His adaptations include In His Steps, A Christmas Carol, Dracula!, The Velveteen Rabbit, and A Christmas Story. His plays The Dragon of Nitt and Lion and the Lyre have been translated and performed in Russia.

Diego Arciniegas (director) is delighted to return to New Rep for the holidays. Most recently Diego played Damien Rank in DollHouse. Diego also direcTEd White People, by J.T. Rogers for New Rep (Elliot Norton nominations for Best Director, Best Production and Best Actress). New Rep audiences might remember Diego for his performances as Thom Pain in Thom Pain (based on nothing) (Elliot Norton and IRNE Award nominations for Best Solo Performance), Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Cleante in Tartuffe, Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (IRNE Award for outstanding Actor), and Victor Prynne in Private Lives. Other area work includes: A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep, Two Men of Florence, The Rose Tattoo, and Dead End at the Huntington Theatre Company; Amadeus, God's Country, The Illusion at Merrimack Rep, The Balcony at ART; and El Duende in the Opera Maria de Buenos Aires at Gotham Chamber Opera in New York City. Diego is also a Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies at Wellesley College.

Company: New Repertory Theatre

Where: In residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, Charles Mosesian Theater, 321
Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472

Production: A Christmas Story

Playwright: Philip Grecian

Director: Diego Arciniegas
Cast: Barlow Adamson Narrator
Margaret Ann Brady Ensemble
Charlie Brodigan Flick
Andrew Cekala Young Ralphie
Amelia Doyle Scut Farkas
Owen Doyle The Old Man
David Farwell Randy
Stacy Fischer Mother
Adam Freeman Schwartz
Claudia Q. Nolan Helen
Lexi Ryan Esther Jean
Gerrard Slattery Ensemble
Designers: Dahlia Al-Habieli Scenic Designer
Katherine O'Neill Costume Designer
Franklin Meissner, Jr. Lighting Designer
David Wilson Sound Designer
Lauren L. Duffy Props Designer
Performing: First performance: Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 1:00pm
Press Opening: Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7:00pm
Runs through: Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 4:00pm

Performances: Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 1:00pm
Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 7:00pm
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7:00pm (Press Opening)
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 2:00pm
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 1:00pm
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 12:00pm
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 4:00pm

Tickets: Full Price: Adult $28-58 and Children (Under 18) $20.
Seniors $7 off full price. Student rush $20.
Call: 617-923-8487 or buy online at www.newrep.org.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Assisted Listening System
Box office with TTY
For TTY only, dial 617.923.2067
Large-Print and Braille Programs available

Public
Transportation: #70 or #70A bus to the School Street stop

Parking: Free, six-level parking garage across from the Arsenal Center for the Arts