Ring in the Holiday Season with Geva's A CHRISTMAS CAROL

On November 22, a beloved Rochester tradition returns to Geva Theatre Center on the Wilson Stage. The Key Bank Production of A Christmas Carol, Dickens' classic tale of redemption for the most despised man in London, will awaken your heart and rekindle your spirit this holiday season. This production of A Christmas Carol premiered to great acclaim in 2010 and features a script adapted by Mark Cuddy from Charles Dickens' novella with music and lyrics by Gregg Coffin, composer of Geva favorites, Five Course Love and Convenience.

Geva is delighted to welcome Steve Hendrickson as Ebenezer Scrooge. Mr. Hendrickson made his Geva Theatre Center debut in 1985 as 'Fred' in the very first production of A Christmas Carol. He has appeared at theatres across the country include the Folger, Chicago and Orlando Shakespeare Theatres, Yale Repertory, the Guthrie, the Old Globe Theatre, and many others. Garfield Hammonds makes his Geva debut as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Mr. Hammonds has appeared in the Broadway productions of Motown the Musical and the national tour of Kiss Me, Kate.

Geva's production of A Christmas Carol is not only a Rochester tradition; it has also become a traditional holiday return to Rochester for many members of the cast. Tony nominee Joel Blum (Broadway's Steel Pier, Show Boat, The Music Man and 42nd Street) returns as Mr. Fezziwig and The Ghost of Christmas Present. Also returning are Jamie LaVerdiere (Broadway productions of The Producers, The Pirate Queen and Motown the Musical) as Bob Cratchit; Robert Adelman Hancock (national tour of Mamma Mia!) as Scrooge's nephew, Fred; Tess Deflyer as Belle, Scrooge's long-lost love, and Jean McCormick as Mrs. Cratchit and Mrs. Fezziwig. Local actors Silas Holtz, Jessica Murphy, Aram Peers, Tricia Plinzke, Benjamin Reiner, Lacey Jo Sloat, Brian Sousis, Nicky Sudyn, Adam Urbanic and Nicholas Winger; and local, young actors Tanner Antinora, Samuel Beck, Aprell Davis, Katiclaire Dobbins, Tommy Duffy, Alden Duserick, Clara Gillespie, Milo Gillespie, Rianna LaVerdiere, Allie Mueller, Erin Mueller, Ella Padilla, Emma Grace Wade, Danielle Walker, Clara West, and Lucas West complete the cast.

A Christmas Carol is adapted and directed by Mark Cuddy and features music and lyrics composed by Gregg Coffin with choreography by Meggins Kelley and musical direction by Don Kot. The design team includes Adam Koch (scenic designer), Devon Painter (costume designer), Paul Hackenmueller (lighting designer), Lindsay Jones (sound designer) and Dan Scully (projection designer).

The Key Bank production of A Christmas Carol is produced with additional support from media sponsors WROC-TV and WARM 101.3.

Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre productions, programs and services of a national standard. As Rochester's leading professional theatre, Geva Theatre Center is the most attended regional theatre in New York State, and one of the 25 most subscribed in the country, serving up to 160,000 patrons annually, including more than 16,000 students.

The 516-seat Elaine P. Wilson Stage is home to a wide variety of performances, from musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Stage is home to Geva's own series of contemporary drama, comedy and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; Geva's New Play Reading Series and the Hornets' Nest - an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. In addition, the Fielding Stage hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown.

Geva Theatre Center offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. Since 1995, the organization has been under the artistic direction of Mark Cuddy.