Southwest Shakespeare Company Presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL 11/26

Southwest Shakespeare Company to present the Holiday Classic A Christmas Carol, opening on November 26th in Mesa, AZ.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: For the first time in SSC's 18-year history we present Charles Dickens' beloved A Christmas Carol. Relive this timeless classic--- and characters such as Tiny Tim, the Fezziwigs, Bob and Mrs. Cratchit, and Ebenezer Scrooge---with the whole family! Experience this unforgettable holiday favorite in a way that only Southwest Shakespeare could present---a classic story presented by Arizona's classical theatre company. A Christmas Carol is the ultimate family holiday experience, as you enter the world of Charles Dickens and see onstage this funny, moving story that has transcended generations. Don't miss the adventures of Scrooge as he is visited by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. With Artistic Director Jared Sakren hitting the boards as Scrooge!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is produced by Southwest Shakespeare Company, previewing November 26th, 2011 at 2pm, and Opening that evening at 7:30pm. The show runs November 26 - December 17, 2011, in the Anita Farnsworth Studio Theatre, Mesa Arts Center, One East Main Street, Mesa (Center and Main Street; half-mile east of Country Club Drive). Performances are Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances / matinees: Sundays, November 27, December 4, and December 11 at 3 p.m. and Saturdays, December 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL was published on 17 December 1843. The story, described by Dickens as a "ghostly little book", tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of several ghosts. Inspired by Dickens' own childhood experiences working in a factory among the poor, the novella met with instant success and critical acclaim and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and somberness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print, and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.

Ticket prices: Adults - $33.50; Seniors/Students w/ID - $25; Children - $12.50; Matinees - $25; Student Rush with ID - $12.50. Call the Box Office at 480-644-6500. Group rates at 480-641-7039.

Director Dan Schay has this to say: "This adaptation goes right to the heart of this familiar story. Scrooge has become a universal symbol for selfish greed, and yet he has the capacity to be utterly transformed in just one night. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future haunt him with one simple goal - to open his eyes to humanity and what it really means to live a rich and fulfilling life. This classic story is as current as tomorrow's headlines, and this retelling, theatrical yet straightforward, relying on the power of Dickens' words and of the stage itself, has entertained and moved audiences again and again."

Educators: For in-classroom workshops, previews and post-show discussions, contact Education Director Dawn Tucker at 610-301-2233 or education@swshakespeare.org.