McCarter Presents Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL

McCarter Theatre Center is proud to announce the return of A Christmas Carol, directed by Adam Immerwahr. This family-friendly production runs December 4 - 29 in the Matthews Theatre. A popular annual event for families all across the region, McCarter Theatre Center's production brings Charles Dickens' timeless story of memory and redemption beyond the stage and out into the aisles and lobbies. Of special note this year is the addition of a sensory-sensitive relaxed performance on December 28 (details below).

About the Show
Ebenezer Scrooge (Greg Wood) is no fan of Christmas. He "bah humbugs" every glimmer of holiday happiness. Cheer is costly and good-will is bad for business. This Christmas, however, things are going to be a little different. This annual holiday tradition will usher you into the spirit of the season with all the joy, wonder, and generosity Scrooge discovers.

McCarter's version of Ebenezer Scrooge's magical journey through Christmas past, present, and future combines period-specific music with 21st century design and special effects. Featuring a cast of professional actors joined by more than three dozen ensemble members chosen from the greater Princeton community, audiences will experience an immersive Dickensian environment from the opening of the theater doors to the final bows. Adults and children will meet characters and discover new surprises in the lobbies during the pre-show and enjoy a myriad of special effects and dance numbers on stage.

Since its publication in 1843, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has come to embody everything that is good and right about the human spirit - not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. Originally written in rebuttal of the squalid working conditions of child laborers in Industrial Age England, A Christmas Carol remains a heartwarming tale of redemption, hope, and love. McCarter's latest reimagining of this annual tradition has been honored with acclaim by audiences and critics alike, praising the Community Ensemble, in particular.

About the Creative Team
A Christmas Carol combines David Thompson's (The Scottsboro Boys) adaptation with music by the late Michael Friedman, choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress on Broadway), scenic design by Daniel Ostling (many at McCarter including Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery), costumes by Linda Cho (The Age of Innocence at McCarter), lighting by Lap Chi Chu (McCarter's A Delicate Balance and The Convert), sound design by Darron L West (Tony Award® - Peter and the Starcatcher, many McCarter productions including Murder on the Orient Express ), wig design by Carissa Thorlakson, and special effects by Jeremy Chernick (Broadway'sHarry Potter and the Cursed Child). New to the production this year is Musical Director Cris Frisco, founder and Artistic Director of The New Voice Project and Musical Director at Opera Fayetteville. Also joining the creative team for this year's production are Jessica Bedford as Associate Director, Greer Gisy as Choreography Supervisor, and Susan Finch as Dialect Coach.

About the Cast
With an impressive roster of Broadway and regional credits, the cast of A Christmas Carol features returning McCarter Carol veterans Zeke Edmonds, Anne L. Nathan, Jon Norman Schneider, Sue Jin Song, Greg Wood, and Frank X. Newcomers to the production include Paul Deo Jr., Billy Finn, Sharina Martin, Steven Rattazzi, and Kristin Villanueva.

About the Community and Young Ensembles
McCarter is proud to announce members of the 2018 Community and Young Ensembles:

Rocco Barbera and Madison Russell of Morrisville, PA; Amy Blair, Maria Palumbo, and Sapphire Srigley of Ewing, NJ; Sherice Brown of Fort Dix, NJ; Frank Caroselli of Spring Lake, NJ; Jane Ericksen of Lawrence, NJ; Michael Karnaukh and Elias Malavet of Princeton, NJ; Peter Newes of Chatham, NJ; Rodney Genwright, Karen Jones, Juan Ortiz, Tara Parkman, Tristan Takacs, and Shan Williams II of Trenton, NJ; Andrew James Gordon of West Windsor, NJ: Domonique Jarrett of East Windsor, NJ; Andrea Kristensen of Hopewell, NJ; Leah Senseney of Philadelphia, PA; Adam Thomas Smith of New York, NY; Ken Weingartner of Hightstown, NJ; and Carolyn Anzuini of Bordentown, NJ.

In addition, two Community Ensemble members are cast in major roles for this production: Adele Batchelder of Rocky Hill, NJ makes her McCarter debut as the Ghost of Christmas Present; and Tess Ammerman of Morrisville, PA returns to the roles of Fan and Miss Kate.

The Young Ensemble is comprised of twelve local children: Uriah Amacker and Brielle Rowell of Trenton, NJ; Ethan Chang of Princeton Junction, NJ; Camille Grove, Romy Johnson, Julianna Pallacan, Marin Pallacan, and Sam Roman of Princeton, NJ; Zahra Lohoue of Pennington, NJ; Alexander Perez of Ewing, NJ; Alicianna Rodriguez of Hamilton, NJ; and Vyshakh Thejaswi of West Windsor, NJ.

About the Director
Adam Immerwahr (Director) is the former Associate Artistic Director at McCarter (directing credits include The Understudy and The Mousetrap) and former Resident Director at Passage Theater. He is currently Artistic Director of Theater J in Washington, D.C., the nation's most prominent Jewish theater. NYC directing credits include work at The Public, Theater Row, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Wild Project, and NYU's Studio Tisch. Internationally, he directed the African premiere of The Convert (nominated for Zimbabwe's National Arts Medal). Adam has directed and developed work for Walnut Street Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Theater J, Passage, Luna Stage, Hangar Theatre, Bristol Riverside, Premiere Stages, PlayPenn, and others. Graduate of Brown University. Drama League Directing Fellow (2008). www.Adamimmerwahr.com.

About McCarter Theatre Center
McCarter Theatre Center's mission is to create world-class theater and present the finest performing artists for the engagement, education, and entertainment to the community. Under the artistic leadership of award-winning playwright and director Emily Mann and Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg, McCarter produces a vibrant six-play Theater Series each season. Winner of the 1994 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre, world premieres include Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (2013 Tony® - Best Play); Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays; Emily Mann's Having Our Say; and Danai Gurira's The Convert. Other works which later moved to Broadway include Brian Friel's Translations, Nilo Cruz's Anna in the Tropics (Pulitzer Prize), and Frank McGuinness' translation of Electra. Through the leadership of Special Programming Director William W. Lockwood, McCarter brings the best artists from around the world to Princeton, New Jersey, including upcoming visits from Dianne Reeves, Esperanza Spalding, Andy Borowitz, and many more. Education and outreach efforts serve tens of thousands through student matinees, in-school residencies, and adult education classes. McCarter is supported by contributions from Princeton University, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, corporations, foundations, and from over 2,000 individuals. More at mccarter.org.

Photo: T. Charles Erickson.

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