Charles Dickens News

Here's what ComedySportz Houston has got going on for December, 2013!

The creative team and cast has been announced for Oliver!, which begins its limited holiday run December 6 at The Secret Theatre in Long Island City, NY. Performances run through December 22, 2013.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Wicked' at Sidetrack, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' four radio productions of 'It's A Wonderful Life,' BET's original 'dancesical,' Davenport's, the 'Black Nativity' and sing-a-long 'Grease' films, the Bar Show and more!

Back by popular demand, Centenary Stage Company presents this season's Family Holiday Spectacular A Christmas Carol: The Musical, running November 29 through December 15 in the Sitnik Theatre of The David and Carol Lackland Center. Charles Dickens' beloved Christmas classic is reborn in this musical extravaganza with a live orchestra and 75 performers appearing in dazzling dance numbers and moving songs.

Sir Howard Panter, the co-founder, Joint CEO and Creative Director of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) attended the investiture ceremony hosted by The Queen at Windsor Castle last Friday (22 November) where he received a Knighthood for Services to Theatre.

A Christmas Carol is a tale of an old, bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who goes through a profound experience of redemption over the course of one night. Mr. Scrooge is a moneychanger who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth. Everything else he holds in contempt, including friendship, love, and the Christmas season. His deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, visits him in the night and tells him that he will be visited by three spirits who will show him his past, present, and future. Mr. Scrooge's life changes as a result of these visits and he vows to become the man he could have always been: someone who loves others and gives to those around him.

Kick of the holiday season with theatre from The La Jolla Playhouse, The Cygnet Theatre, Othe Old Globe, Broadway San Diego, San Diego repertory Theatre, and the San Diego Jazz Festival!

Six diverse theatre companies are joining forces to offer the Holiday Theatre Passport, a unique and festive incentive for Chicago theatergoers to explore the city's many alternative holiday theatre offerings. Guests who attend four different productions will receive a free ticket from each theatre to one of their 2014 productions. Guests who attend all six productions will be entered into a drawing for one of five season subscriptions, consisting of memberships or ticket packages to the participating theatres. The Passport also includes discounts to select productions.

Director Elaine Gatchell will present Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", at Leddy Center's beautiful theatre at Verdant Pastures on Ladd's Lane in Epping, NH, December 6-15.

The Crown Center has released their calendar events from December 2013 to December 2014.

Ebenezer, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol by local playwright, producer and director, Edward Gibbons-Brown, will premiere at Safe Harbors of the Hudson's Lobby at the Ritz Theater Friday, December 13, through Sunday, December 15, 2013.

A Christmas Carol (AChristmasCarolOnStage.com) by Charles Dickens, in an adaptation by Patrick Barlow (39 Steps) is currently playing the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46th Street) where it opened last night, November 25th. A Christmas Carol is produced by Terri & Timothy Childs and Rodger Hess. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2013-14 Season with a holiday production of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carolby Tom Mula, who was inspired to rehab A Christmas Carol, the annual theatrical standby, after performing the role of Scrooge onChicago stages for nearly a decade. Due to brisk ticket sales, MTC has extended this 'thoroughly charming holiday treat' (Daily Herald) by eight performances. Directed by Jon Tracy, who helmed last year's hit It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, and featuring actorsKhris Lewin (A Steady Rain), Rami Margron (debut), Nicholas Pelczar (The Whipping Man) and Stacy Ross (God of Carnage), the production will run during the holiday season for 36 performances, from November 21 through December 22. Opening night is Today, November 26. Based in Mill Valley, MTC is a 47-year old professional nonprofit theater that is a destination for exhilarating performances, inspired new American plays and powerful theatrical experiences.

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! plays the Millburn, New Jersey theater through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Clear Space Theatre Company of Rehoboth Beach is putting the finishing touches on AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL in preparation for opening night on Friday, November 29th - directly following the Rehoboth Beach Christmas Tree Lighting. This year, Clear Space is presenting popular Charles Dickens' tale with a new and distinctly American slant, as it is relocated from London, England in 1843 to London, Kentucky in 1937 - toward the end of the Great Depression. With music by Clear Space Artistic Director Doug Yetter and lyrics by Michael Hulett, the production maintains all of the original characters as well as the themes we've all grown to love. Director and Production Set Designer Kevin Smith brings a fresh perspective to the traditional "old war horse" saga by adding much more "spirit," knowing that Dickens' intention was to write a ghost story which happens to occur on Christmas Eve, which this revitalized version cleverly delivers!

Sir Howard Panter, the co-founder, Joint CEO and Creative Director of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) attended the investiture ceremony hosted by The Queen at Windsor Castle last Friday (22 November) where he received a Knighthood for Services to Theatre.

Week two of the Dickens Abridged rehearsals have taken a turn from the sublime to the ridiculous and back to the sublime (with a detour to the gloriously inexplicable along the way). Simon Cummin, our producer, spent the weekend searching for a prop dog for Bill Sikes. He finally found a life-size, anatomically correct, stuffed Doberman male plus mate and four puppies on eBay. Unsurprisingly, Simon was the only bidder.

For one of the best Ebenezer Scrooges you're ever likely to see on stage, make a stop in Merced, CA. For a most enjoyable version of Charles Dickens' classic, 'A Christmas Carol,' visit Playhouse Merced's intimate and friendly theatre. The company's current production of Keith Ferguson and Bruce Green's version of the ghostly holiday tale features memorable new music mixed with well known carols. Led by a perfect dose of narration from Trevor Blondin and Chelsea King, this version pulls much from Dickens' own words.

Based on Charles Dickens' classic tale, 'A Christmas Carol' - 'Scrooge - The Musical' is a delightful musical adaptation from the 1970's film featuring Albert Finney as Scrooge.

Philadelphia actor Scott Langdon, who recently received rave reviews as King Arthur in The Media Theatre's production ofSpamalot, will perform his all of the roles in the original Charles Dickens masterpiece, 'A Christmas Carol' every weekend tonight, November 24 - December 22, 2013, at The Media Theatre. Click below for a sneak peek at Langdon in action!