A Christmas Carol - 1996 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

Charles Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol' is returning to Frederick for the twenty-first straight year with Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. The cast of over two dozen actors portraying the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, Future and Tiny Tim will transport audiences to Victorian England as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge learns the error of his miserly ways and embraces the true spirit of Christmas.

A Broadway Christmas Carol, created by Kathy Feininger, returns to MetroStage for the holidays through Dec. 28 for a fifth season . It has been the holiday show for the past four seasons and has become a holiday tradition here at MetroStage. Prior to 2009, it had played to sold out houses at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, for seven consecutive years ending in 2004.

A seasoned group of Broadway helmers are bringing magic, drama, history, romance and more to the Great White Way this season. Below, BroadwayWorld rounded up this fall's directors for an in-depth look at their careers.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced A Broadway Christmas Carol, created by Kathy Feininger, will return to MetroStage for the holidays today, Nov. 25-Dec. 28 for a fifth season.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced A Broadway Christmas Carol, created by Kathy Feininger, will return to MetroStage for the holidays Nov. 25-Dec. 28 for a fifth season . It has been the holiday show for the past four seasons and has become a holiday tradition here at MetroStage. Prior to 2009, it had played to sold out houses at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, for seven consecutive years ending in 2004.

Charles Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol' is returning to Frederick for the twenty-first straight year with Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production at the Weinberg Center for the Arts. The cast of over two dozen actors portraying the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, Future and Tiny Tim will transport audiences to Victorian England as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge learns the error of his miserly ways and embraces the true spirit of Christmas.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Dee Snider's Christmas show starts, and 'First Wives Club' and 'N' get their stars. Patsy Cline comes round again, as do the Q Brothers and 'Christmas Schooner.' Peeps gear up for 'Into The Woods,' 'Phantom' inspires television, and 'Billy Elliot' dances into movie theaters and into the Drury Lane Oakbrook!

Producers Jonas Neilson, Paul Lambert and Elizabeth Williams announced today that they've found the founding members of the First Wives Club for the new Broadway-bound musical's premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre. Tony Award-winner Faith Prince will play 'Brenda,' Mamma Mia's Christine Sherrill will play 'Elise,' and Wicked star Carmen Cusack will play 'Annie,' in the iconic roles created on film by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, respectively.

KEVIN JAMES producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies Paul 'Blart: Mall Cop' (2009) and 'Zookeeper' (2011) will bring his hilarious stand-up comedy to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts tonight, October 23 at 7:30 PM.

In August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece The Piano Lesson, the past threatens to pull apart brother and sister. Bernice treasures a one-of-a-kind piano, an heirloom with carved figures of their enslaved ancestors. Boy Willie suddenly arrives from the South determined to sell the piano and buy the land his family worked on. When the ghost of the piano's original owner appears, family conflicts escalate to a dramatic confrontation. With lyrical language rolling from the rowdy to the tender, this is one of Wilson's finest.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, the hilarious whodonit opening Bristol Riverside Theatre's season tonight, September 30-October 26. Directed by Gus Kaikkonen, the ensemble cast features Dan Hodge, Matt Leisy, Karen Peakes, and Adam Sowers.

Rubicon Theatre of Ventura opens the company's 17th Season (The Search…) with 2 Pianos 4 Hands, written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. Winner of the coveted Dora Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Tony), 2 Pianos 4 Hands is a musical comedy for anyone who has ever had a dream. Directed by Thomas Frey, this hilariously funny production features two actors, two pianos and multiple characters as fifteen years of piano playing unfolds in all its glory. Stories of crazy instructors, obsessed parents, torturous recitals, and other high points of musical training are accompanied by musical selections ranging from classical to pop to jazz. Along the way, these virtuoso actors/pianists portray a dazzling range of characters and display piano wizardry featuring the music of Beethoven, Bach, Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. 2 Pianos 4 Hands opens October 18 with low-priced previews October 15 - 17. Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays through November 16. For tickets, call 805.667.2900 or go to rubicontheatre.org.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce MetroStage's 2014-15 season which will reprise some of the favorites from years past and welcome back many of the artists who have contributed so much on our stage over the past 30 years, both in our present location and dating back to the early 1990's on Duke Street.

The Guthrie Theater presents the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

Slightly Altered States Theater Company presents the World Premiere of MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL, an absurdist comedy by Sari Caine, directed by Sherri Eden Barber. Inspired by Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the play was a PlayPenn 2013 semi-finalist and short-listed for both the 24/7 (UK) and the Ronald Duncan Award (UK). Previews begin tonight, September 12 at The Flea Theater with opening slated for Monday, September 22.

Hands on a Hardbody is a new rock musical about 10 Texans whose new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end and armed with nothing but hope and ambition, they'll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In this hard-fought contest, only one winner can drive away with the American dream.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, the hilarious whodonit opening Bristol Riverside Theatre's season on September 30-October 26. Directed by Gus Kaikkonen, the ensemble cast features Dan Hodge, Matt Leisy, Karen Peakes, and Adam Sowers.

Kathryn Rossetter, who appeared on Broadway opposite Dustin Hoffman in Death Of a Salesman and is currently head of the MFA Acting Program at the New School for Drama, will join Adam LeFevre (Broadway's Footloose, Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls) in the World Premiere of MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL, an absurdist comedy by Sari Caine. Inspired by Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the play was a PlayPenn 2013 semi-finalist and short-listed for both the 24/7 (UK) and the Ronald Duncan Award (UK). It is produced by Slightly Altered States Theater Company and directed by Sherri Eden Barber. Previews begin September 12 at The Flea Theater with opening slated for Monday, September 22.

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on the grandest stages in the world. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre under the Artistic Direction of Kurt Beattie is proud to announce the Mainstage productions taking place in the 50th Anniversary Season in 2015. The mid-century mark will reflect ACT's contribution to the field throughout history and looking to the future with the theme, What Was, What is, and What Will Be. 2015 brings cause to celebrate two other milestone anniversaries: ACT will celebrate the 40th year of producing founder Gregory A. Falls' adaptation of A Christmas Carol, as well as the 90th anniversary of the 1925 Fraternal Order of Eagles building, ACT's historic landmark home since 1996. Commemorative celebrations and engagement opportunities will occur throughout the year. A brief history of ACT's founding is included following the season titles.

Hands on a Hardbody is a new rock musical about 10 Texans whose new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end and armed with nothing but hope and ambition, they'll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In this hard-fought contest, only one winner can drive away with the American dream.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce MetroStage's 2014-15 season which will reprise some of the favorites from years past and welcome back many of the artists who have contributed so much on our stage over the past 30 years, both in our present location and dating back to the early 1990's on Duke Street.

The 'Alley Theatre @ UH' season begins with Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies and Veanne Cox in award-winning Texas playwright Horton Foote's The Old Friends, a Southwestern premiere.

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

'Dance is a metaphor for expression, for freedom. In Footloose we use dance to express ourselves when we have no words. [As characters] we are all closed off, and finally at the end of the story, we are loosened; we become individuals again.' Speaking is Kristen Martin, who plays Ariel in Maine State Music Theatre's final season production of Footloose, which runs from August 6-23. Her co-star, Eric Sciotto, agrees that his character, Ren, is 'on a journey to find himself after being abandoned by his father. Ren sees in Ariel a troubled soul who reminds him of himself. They recognize immediately that they are kindred spirits.'