JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL Runs 11/27-12/20 At Art Lab

Dickens did an excellent job of making us worry about Ebeneezer Scrooge's redemption in A Christmas Carol, but why is it we never worry about the ghostly Jacob Marley? We rarely, if ever, give a thought to Marley's motive in returning from the grave to redeem his penury partner.

At last Marley's story is told in Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, presented by openstage etc Nov. 27 through Dec. 20 at Art Lab, 239 Linden St. in Old Town Fort Collins.

Playwright Tom Mula has crafted a behind-the-scenes look at Marley's efforts to save old Scrooge's soul and, in the process, save his own. With just four actors and minimal staging, Marley travels from the Jaws of Death to the Mouth of Hell and beyond.

"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol is very much Dickens but from the perspective of Marley's ghost," said OpenStage Theatre Producing Artistic Director Denise Freestone, who is directing Marley. "The play is an incredible blend between dynamic storytelling and a fully dramatic performance. Both humorous and emotionally powerful, it creates a compelling and magical story of salvation and redemption through the eyes of Jacob Marley."

Although originally written for one performer, openstage etc is presenting Mula's four-actor version with OpenStage veteran actors BrIan Hughes, Ken Benda, Will Ferrie and Jake Offen.

"I'm excited to be working with these four actors," said Freestone. "It was a difficult audition process because we have such an amazing talent pool in Northern Colorado, but my casting decision finally came down to the fact that audiences love these actors. In all of their past performances with OpenStage, they have developed a very strong chemistry with the audience."

Performances of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20, with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6, 13 and 20. Performances are at the new Art Lab venue at 239 Linden St. in Old Town Fort Collins. A free performance for students and educators, funded by The Thornton Family Foundation, will be presented on Wednesday, November 25, at 7:30 p.m. To make reservations for the student/educator performance, contact OpenStage Theatre at (970) 484-5237.

Individual tickets are $14 for all ages. Tickets are available through OpenStage Theatre, (970) 484-5237.

Holiday refreshments will be provided before the show and during intermission by The Red Table, located across the street from Art Lab at 224 Linden St.

openstage etc, an artistic endeavor of OpenStage Theatre & Company, is dedicated to producing contemporary and original plays that are edgy and daring. Currently celebrating its thirty-seventh season, OpenStage Theatre is supported by grants from the Colorado Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund and the Thornton Family Foundation. Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol is sponsored by Keller Williams Realty.

The performance space at 239 Linden is provided by Art Lab Fort Collins, which turns empty store-fronts into vibrant art spaces. "Art Lab is an experimental space for art. It moves, changes shape and pushes boundaries," explained Dawn Putney, one of Art Lab's founders. "It's a happy surprise for people who wander through the doors." Art Lab is sponsored by Toolbox Creative, Bohemian Foundation, Hot Corner Concepts and Realtec.

For more information, visit OpenStage's website at www.openstage.com or call 970-484-5237. Founded in 1973, OpenStage Theatre is a recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and a member of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatres.

A not-for-profit organization, OpenStage Theatre relies heavily on the support of sponsors and patrons who help make each season a success. With assistance from corporations, foundations and the general public, OpenStage has been able to maintain high quality productions for 37 years. For information on sponsorship and charitable gifts and how you can support OpenStage Theatre, please call (970) 484-5237.

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