Actors Theatre Announces A CHRISTMAS CAROL Concert
It's the holidays, so what better time for friends and "family" of Actors Theatre to come together for a A Christmas Carol in Concert: A Special Fundraising Event to benefit Actors Theatre, at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 24 on the Herberger Theater Center Main Stage.
Cast members representing the past 10 years of A Christmas Carol will read all the lines and sing all the songs from chairs in front of the main curtain. There will be no sets or costumes.
"We're thinking of this as radio version of A Christmas Carol or even A Christmas Carol Unplugged," said Actors Theatre Producing Artistic Director Matthew Wiener. "What's so wonderful is that former cast members who brought the gift of this show to the community for 19 years are now bringing the gift of the show as a benefit for Actors Theatre."
Led primarily by the 2010 cast, the effort is being coordinated by actors Maria Amorocho, Gene Ganssle and David Vining. Actors Theatre staged its final run of A Christmas Carol in 2010, but Wiener said he "hopes to bring back the full production sometime in the future assuming we're able to achieve our fund-raising goals and continue operating."
"Many of us performed for years together in A Christmas Carol and we became like family getting together for the holidays," Vining said. "We can think of no better way to be able to give back to Actors Theatre than to help keep the doors open. And we can think of no better way to give back to the community than in this special performance."
Amorocho agreed.
"The memories I have from being a part of the cast go far beyond what we were able to produce on the stage," she said. "There was a very special bond among us having spent so much time together in rehearsals, on show nights and even acting together in the months and years that followed. We also built a special bond with the audiences that came back year after year. We grew up with them and they grew up with us."
Ganssle hopes the one-time fundraiser will lead to a full production in the next year or two. In addition to performing, he is producing a number of videos featuring cast-member interviews that will be posted on You Tube as well as The Actors Theatre Facebook page and website.
"You never really leave the family of A Christmas Carol once you've experienced it," he said. "This production stays in your heart. It's hard work, but it's the friendships and memories that stay with you. Seeing some of the same audience members come back year after year makes this show a very special bond and I'm grateful to renew it again while giving a little something back to Matthew and Actors Theatre to help them continue."
Tickets will only be available online at www.actorstheatrephx.org or by phone through The Actors Theatre office at (602) 253-6701. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Once the first 350 in tickets are sold, the cost will rise to $75 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under.
Seating is general admission although special seating will be available for Actors Theatre "Angels" providing an additional $500 in support of Actors Theatre's fund-raising efforts. As a fund raiser, the cost of admission is tax deductible.
Actors Theatre is now engaged in the second phase of a three-stage fund-raising effort to enable the company "to continue bringing thought-provoking theater to the community," Wiener said. The company hit its first goal of $70,000, which was needed by the end of November, and is now focused on raising $170,000 by the end of the year to stage its full six-show season. An additional $260,000 is needed by the end of June.
Ron May will direct Actors Theatre's third show of the season, Hunter Gatherers, from Dec. 30 to Jan. 15 on Stage West. Single tickets for Hunter Gatherers range in price from $27.50 to $43.50.
To purchase tickets to Hunter Gatherers, visit www.actorstheatrephx.org. Tickets also can be purchased at the Herberger Theater Center Box Office at (602) 252-8497.
For more information about A Christmas Carol Unplugged and Hunter Gatherers, visit www.actorstheatrephx.org.
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