AboutFACE Ireland Presents the World Premiere of ORSON WELLES' CHRISTMAS CAROL, December 22 & 23
By: Kelsey Denette Dec. 06, 2012
It's Christmas Eve 1938 at CBS Studio 1 in New York City, and radio superstar Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air are set to perform their eagerly awaited weekly 60-minute version of a classic; tonight it's "A Christmas Carol." Only things aren't too Christmassy: it's ten minutes to ON-AIR and legendary Scrooge Lionel Barrymore has fallen sick, and now 23-year-old Orson has to step into his shoes; plus the script still isn't right, Orson's on the rampage, his cast are revolting after three days of rehearsing without sleep, and the pressure's on after the success of "War of the Worlds": the Nation awaits and Hollywood's watching! Will this Christmas Carol have a happy ending?
Based on true events, this WORLD PREMIERE production includes a delightful 1-hour version of "A Christmas Carol" performed in the 1930's American radio style, with live sound effects! Performed in the wonderfully atmospheric setting of the Ballroom at Marlay House in Marlay Park, this live radio play will be a vintage Christmassy treat for all the family!
Featuring Paul Nugent as Orson Welles, Charlie Kranz as Joe Cotten, Tara McKeever as Arlene Francis, Eoghan McLaughlin as Ernest Chappell, Anna Nugent as Benny, Noni Stapleton as Agnes Moorhead, and Alan Walsh as George Coulouris.
AboutFACE Ireland was founded in 2002 with the aim of reaching out to the untapped audience for theatre through approachable, compassionate, powerful storytelling, with a current focus on new American plays. In its first phase, the company produced the acclaimed Irish premieres of seven plays including The Glory of Living, Collected Stories, and The Laramie Project. AboutFACE then took an educational hiatus with company members based in New York, Edinburgh and Dublin. The company entered its second phase of producing with a staged reading of Almost, Maine at the Mill Theatre in 2010 and the NEWvember New Plays Festival in Tivoli, NY in 2011 and 2012. AboutFACE is delighted to mark its 10th anniversary by producing its first wholly original piece, this year's World Premiere of Orson Welles' Christmas Carol at Marlay House in Dublin.
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