Grand Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the Biggest Production in the Theatre's History

The Grand Theatre rings in the holiday season with the all-time classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Marking Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum's directorial debut at the Grand, the show is the largest in the theatre's history, featuring over 20 cast members, sweeping sets, and intricate costumes. A CHRISTMAS CAROL premieres on the Spriet Stage November 28 to December 30, 2017 and the Grand is proud to welcome back London Life as the annual holiday show Title Sponsor.

Ebenezer Scrooge is played by Shaw Festival veteran Benedict Campbell, whose father, Douglas Campbell, was Scrooge in the Grand's 1997 production. Other cast members include Stratford Festival company members Sean Arbuckle, Alexis Gordon, and Blythe Wilson; among the Londoners are Jim Doucette, Patrick Monaghan, and Owen Barteet (who makes his acting debut as Tiny Tim); and High School Project (HSP) alumni include Aidan deSalaiz, Kelsey Falconer, and David Michael Moote.

The story offers all the ingre­dients for a theatrical event: singing, dancing, skating, and other surprises for the audience. "I have always thought the best way to understand A CHRISTMAS CAROL is to celebrate the extremes: bumbling Fezziwig makes us laugh, Belle breaks our heart, Spirit of Christmas Future scares us, all while Ebenezer Scrooge confronts the mess of a life that he has created and is offered the chance at full redemption. It's the combination of all of these powerful contrasts coming together that I think make A CHRISTMAS CAROL one of the greatest stories ever written," said Garnhum.

In the spirit of holiday giving and ongoing community support, the Grand Theatre is also thrilled to announce the #HumbugtoHunger campaign in conjunction with A CHRISTMAS CAROL in support of the London Food Bank and the Business Cares program. Cash donations will be collected after each performance. In addition, the Grand will be hosting Holiday Wish for Kids, an annual event that welcomes over 300 children and families, from 30 agencies across London, on November 28 and an evening of games, special treats, and a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus. Thanks to the theatre's generous donors and corporate supporters, this event is offered at no cost to the children and their families.

On selected dates, the Children's Museum will be at the theatre running pre-show activities for children on Sunday, December 17; Saturday, December 23, and Sunday, December 24.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is on the Spriet Stage from November 28 to December 30. Tickets are $29.95 to $88 (includes HST and CIF - prices subject to change). Tickets are available at www.grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519-672-8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum and Executive Director Deb Harvey, the Grand is a leading cultural hub proudly located in the heart of downtown London, Ontario. The Grand offers diverse, relevant, and original stories from around the globe through collaborations with national and international performing arts organizations and is committed to developing, producing, and premiering original homegrown stories through COMPASS, a New Play Development Program. The Grand supports educational programming and youth mentorship such as The High School Project, the only program of its kind in North America, and 100 Schools, a new community initiative that brings professional theatre to London-area schools in 2018 at no cost.

A not-for-profit regional theatre, the Grand produces and presents professional theatre on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the McManus Stage (144 seats). The Grand's season runs from September to May. The 2017/18 Season is on sale.