A CHRISTMAS CAROL and THE SANTALAND DIARIES Are Coming to Actors Theatre of Louisville

Actors Theatre of Louisville and Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming announce the upcoming holiday season favorites: Fifth Third Bank's A Christmas Carol, beginning November 23 in the Pamela Brown Auditorium, and The Santaland Diaries, based on the essay by David Sedaris, beginning November 24 in the Victor Jory Theatre. Tickets are now available at ActorsTheatre.org.

This year marks the 25th year of Fifth Third Bank's title sponsorship of the treasured theatrical tradition A Christmas Carol. Mike Ash, Regional President of Fifth Third Bank, shares, "For a quarter of a century, we've had the pleasure of bringing the magic and spirit of the holidays to Actors' patrons through the beloved tradition of A Christmas Carol. Our partnership continues to bring live theatre to the community we serve."

Fifth Third Bank's A Christmas Carol

Celebrate the warmth of the holidays with Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. A beloved tradition for more than four decades and the nation's second-longest continuously running production of A Christmas Carol, Actors Theatre's rendition of Dickens's classic tale is brought to life with visual splendor and joyous music.

Actors Theatre will welcome both veteran collaborators and new faces to this year's production. Drew Fracher returns as the director of Dickens's holiday favorite. Reprising his role this season as the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge is John G. Preston. He is joined by V. Reibel as the Narrator, John Tufts as Marley, Johann George as Bob Cratchit, Joanna Carpenter as Mrs. Cratchit, Whit K. Lee as Krookings and the Fiddler, Kara Mikula as Mrs. Fezziwig, Kala Ross as Belle and Peter Hargrave as Fred. Scrooge's ghostly guides will be played by Lindsey Noel Whiting (Ghost of Christmas Past) and Ken Robinson (Ghost of Christmas Present).

They are joined by members of the 2019-2020 Professional Training Company: Michael Allyn, Kaitlyn Boyer, Noah Keyishian, Teresa Langford, Gabriela Llarena, Patrick Steadman Taylor and Isaiah J. Williams. This production also features six local young actors: Olivia Allen, Leilani Bracey, Brendan Miller, Austin Ramirez, Bailey Ramirez and Stella Russell.

The production team features scenic design by Antje Ellermann, lighting design by Thomas C. Hase, costume design by Kristopher Castle, sound design by Matt Callahan, media design by Philip Allgeier, music direction by Tim Murner and movement direction by Cheryl Turski. Stephen Horton will serve as the production stage manager.

Performances will run from November 23-December 23. Actors Theatre is committed to providing an accessible theatregoing experience and offers an open-captioned, sensory-friendly performance (November 30) and an audio-described performance (December 1). For more information on the facilities and all services offered, visit ActorsTheatre.org/Accessibility.

A Christmas Carol is made possible in part by support from Fifth Third Bank, The Kentucky Arts Council and Fund for the Arts. Additionally, educational outreach is made possible by Yum! Brands Foundation through their sponsorship of Actors Theatre's Student Matinee Series.

The Santaland Diaries

As the Christmas countdown begins, a newly-hired elf enters the coldest circle of retail hell: Macy's Santaland. In real life, Crumpet the Elf is an unemployed actor, but now he's hard at work, greeting children, judging their parents and giving us a hilarious behind-the-scenes tour of the North Pole. Packed with David Sedaris's signature wit, The Santaland Diaries is a delightfully irreverent holiday classic for those of us who prefer our eggnog spiked.

Actors Theatre will welcome two returning artists: former Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough will direct and Bear Brummel will star as the hilarious Crumpet the Elf. Brummel is an alumnus of the 2017-2018 Professional Training Company.

Also returning to this production of The Santaland Diaries are Scenic Designer William Boles, Costume Designer Mike Floyd, Lighting Designer Paul Toben, and Sound Designer Paul Doyle. Jessica Kay Potter will serve as the stage manager.

The Theatre will offer an open-captioned performance (December 7), an audio-described performance (December 8) and a sensory-friendly performance (December 14). For more information on the facilities and all services offered, visit ActorsTheatre.org/Accessibility.

Tickets can be purchased by calling The Actors Theatre Box Office at 502.584.1205 or online at ActorsTheatre.org. Special ticket rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 502.585.1210.

Large print and braille programs are always available at the entrances to all theatres. Supplemental materials are also available, from Coat Check or the House Manager, for audience members to familiarize themselves with the characters and events of the play, including moments that might be intense or surprising. Sensory packets with fidgets and noise-cancelling headphones will also be available. For more information on our facilities and all services offered, visit ActorsTheatre.org/Accessibility.