The Grand Theatre rings in the holiday season with the all-time classic, <i>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</i>. Marking Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum’s directorial debut, the show is the largest in the theatre’s history, featuring over 20 cast members, sweeping sets, and intricate costumes. <i>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</i> 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 <i>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</i> 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 <i>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</i> 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 <i>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</i> 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 <a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com">www.grandtheatre.com</a>, by phone at 519-672-8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.
The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the 2017/18 Season Sponsor BMO Financial Group.
<b>About the Grand Theatre:</b>
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 <a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com/node/1484">COMPASS</a>, a New Play Development Program. The Grand supports educational programming and youth mentorship such as <a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com/node/1577">The High School Project</a>, the only program of its kind in North America, and <a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com/node/1578">100 Schools</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com/index.php/buy-now/2017-18-season/">2017/18 Season is on sale</a>.
<b>CAST</b>
Bob Cratchit SEAN ARBUCKLE
Tiny Tim OWEN BARTEET
Ebenezer Scrooge BENEDICT CAMPBELL
Mr. Fezziwig IAN DEAKIN
Fred / Dance Captain AIDAN DESALAIZ
Topper JIM DOUCETTE
Young Ebenezer / Peter Cratchit JUSTIN EDDY
Mrs. Dilber KELSEY FALCONER
Mrs. Fezziwig TRACEY FERENCZ
Fan LEAH GLIDDON
Belle ALEXIS GORDON
Belinda Cratchit MANYA HEGDE
Mrs. Cratchit RACHEL JONES
Abigail AMRIT KAUR
Boy Ebenezer NATHANIEL KEITH
Dick Wilkins / Fight Captain MICHAEL MAN
Spirit of Christmas Past BRENDAN McMURTRY-HOWLETT
Jacob Marley PATRICK MONAGHAN
Spirit of Christmas Future DAVID MICHAEL MOOTE
Voice of Charles Dickens CHRISTOPHER NEWTON
Martha Cratchit JORDYN TAYLOR
Spirit of Christmas Present BLYTHE WILSON
<b>PRODUCTION TEAM</b>
Director / Adapter DENNIS GARNHUM
Associate Director MEGAN WATSON
Set Designer ALLAN STICHBURY
Costume Designer KELLY WOLF
Lighting Designer BONNIE BEECHER
Videographer JAMIE NESBITT
Composer JEREMY SPENCER
Sound Designer JIM NEIL
Music and Vocal Director JENNIFER FAGAN
Fight Director SIMON FON
Voice and Dialect Coach JANE GOODERHAM
Choreographer KERRY GAGE
Skating Choreographer GEOFFREY TYLER
Stage Manager KELLY LUFT
<b>2017-11-22</b>
<b>London: The Grand Theatre celebrates the holidays with "A Christmas Carol" November 28-December 30</b>