A wealthy, well-dressed Victorian man scowls at a street vendor in London.
Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge and Rayanne Gonzales as the Fruit Vendor with (background) Justine “Icy” Moral and Emily Zickler in the 2018 Ford’s Theatre production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Michael Baron. Photo by Scott Suchman.

A Christmas Carol

A Holiday Tradition

date November 15, 2018 — December 30, 2018
2 hours with one intermission
Recommended for ages 5 and older

Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in a production heralded as a “rich visual and vocal treat” (TheaterMania) and “infectiously jolly” (Washington Post).

Artistic Team

Writer Charles Dickens
Adapted By Michael Wilson
Director Michael Baron
Associate Director Craig A. Horness
Scenic Design Lee Savage
Costume Design Alejo Vietti
Lighting Design Rui Rita
Original Music & Sound Design Josh Schmidt
Choreography Shea Sullivan
Wig Design Charles G. LaPointe
Choral Direction Jay Crowder
Dialects/Vocal Director Rachel Hirshorn-Johnston
Production Stage Managers Craig A. Horness & Brandon Prendergast
Assistant Stage Manager Taryn Friend
Casting Patrick Pearson

Cast

Headshot of actor Jonathan Atkinson

Jonathan Atkinson

Topper/Young Marley

Headshot for actor Hasani Allen

Hasani Allen

Solicitor #1

Michael Bunce

Solicitor #2/Undertaker

Headshot for actor Ryan Burke.

Ryan Burke

Solicitor #2/Undertaker

Headshot for actor Michael Kevin Darnall

Michael Kevin Darnall

Fred/Young Scrooge

Headshot of actress Shannon Dorsey

Shannon Dorsey

Mrs. Fred

Headshot for actress Maria Egler.

Maria Egler

Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig

Headshot of actress Kristen Garaffo.

Kristen Garaffo

Mrs. Fred’s Sister/Beggar Woman

Headshot for actress Rayanne Gonzales.

Rayanne Gonzales

Fruit Vendor/Ghost of Christmas Present

Headshot for Rick Hammerly.

Rick Hammerly

Mr. Fezziwig

Headshot of actress Yesenia Iglesias.

Yesenia Iglesias

Mrs. Cratchit

Headshot of actor Gregory Maheu

Gregory Maheu

Bob Cratchit

Headshot for actress Justine "Icy" Moral.

Justine “Icy” Moral

Doll Vendor/Ghost of Christmas Past/Ghost of Christmas Future

Stephen F. Schmidt

Jacob Marley/Old Joe

Craig Wallace

Ebenezer Scrooge

Headshot of actress Emily Zickler.

Emily Zickler

Belle

Christopher Mueller

Understudy

Melissa Victor

Understudy

Headshot of actress Samantha Hayes.

Samantha Hayes

Martha Cratchit

Headshot for actress Ariel Russell.

Ariel Russell

Martha Cratchit

Chase Reaves

Tiny Tim

Headshot of actor Aidan Fuller.

Aiden Fuller

Tiny Tim

Headshot of actress Avery Nokes.

Avery Nokes

Fan

Headshot of actress Ainsley Deegan.

Ainsley Deegan

Fan

Headshot for actor Sawyer Makl.

Sawyer Andrew Makl

Peter Cratchit/School Boy

Headshot of actor Vaughn Mussman.

Vaughn Mussmon

Peter Cratchit/School Boy

Headshot for actor Kai Mansell.

Kai Mansell

Turkey Boy/Ignorance/Boy Scrooge

Headshot for actor Jack St. Pierre.

Jack St. Pierre

Turkey Boy/Ignorance/Boy Scrooge

Headshot for actress Parker Ellis.

Parker Ellis

Belinda Cratchit/School Girl

Headshot for actress Madison K. Fields.

Madison K. Fields

Belinda Cratchit/School Girl

Headshot for actress Clare Carys O'Connell.

Clare Carys O’Connell

Want/School Girl

Headshot for actress Hazel Hay.

Hazel Hay

Want/School Girl

Synopsis

The Gist

As children sing joyful Christmas carols, three storytellers begin to tell the tale of an old man named Scrooge….

 

Act I

 

The play opens on Christmas Eve, 1843. Ebenezer Scrooge is working at his money lending business with his clerk, Bob Cratchit.

 

Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, stops by to invite Scrooge to join him for Christmas dinner, but Scrooge rejects the offer without a second thought. Two solicitors stop by to ask that Scrooge consider donating to the poor, but Scrooge angrily declines and sends the men out.

 

Mr. Cratchit asks Scrooge for his wages and reminds him that Mr. Marley, Scrooge’s old partner, gave Mr. Cratchit Christmas Day off just before he died on a Christmas Eve seven years ago.

 

Scrooge returns home where he encounters his housekeeper, Mrs. Dilber. As she leaves, Scrooge barks that he expects her at work on Christmas morning. Now alone in his bedroom, Scrooge hears strange stirrings. From the darkness, the ghost of Mr. Marley suddenly appears.

 

Mr. Marley warns Scrooge that he was condemned to live as a ghost because of his greed. Marley tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him that evening. This, Marley explains, will be Scrooge’s last chance to avoid Marley’s fate.

 

As the hour strikes one, the Ghost of Christmas Past appears in Scrooge’s bedroom. She and Scrooge travel to the Christmases of Scrooge’s youth. First, they see a memory of Fan, Scrooge’s older sister, who tells young Scrooge to come home for Christmas. We learn that Fan grew up to have a son, Scrooge’s nephew Fred, and that Fan died long ago.

 

Next, the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge a memory of Scrooge and Marley as young men apprenticing for Mr. Fezziwig. Mr. Fezziwig is hosting a joyful Christmas Eve party for all his workers. Belle, Scrooge’s sweetheart, joins in the merriment and Scrooge proposes to her.

 

Before the Ghost of Christmas Past departs, she shows Scrooge yet another Christmastime: a sad event where Belle leaves Scrooge, returning his engagement ring. Belle tells Scrooge that he has changed and has become obsessed with money. Scrooge does not go after her.

 

Scrooge watches the scene in agony, begging the Ghost of Christmas Past to return him home.

 

Act II

 

As the hour strikes two, the Ghost of Christmas Present appears. She is a jovial spirit who uses a special elixir to bring good tidings to all. She and Scrooge travel to present-day Christmases around London. First, they see the Cratchit family’s Christmas. Their house is small but filled with children: BelindaPeter, Martha and Tiny Tim.

Tiny Tim is very ill and uses crutches, but he still rejoices in the blessings he has and tries to spread Christmas cheer. Scrooge asks the spirit whether Tiny Tim will live, and the Ghost of Christmas Present says no.

 

Next, Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present travel to the Christmas Party of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred. Fred’s party is full of games and laughter. There, Fred tell his friends that he will never give up on his uncle because he knows that his mother, Fan, truly loved Scrooge.

 

As the hour strikes three, the Ghost of Christmas Future appears, and the two travel to a Christmas yet to come. They find that Scrooge has died alone in his home and that people are pleased to be rid of their cantankerous neighbor and to make a profit by selling his belongings.

 

They also see that Tiny Tim has died and that the Cratchit family is in mourning. Scrooge is overcome with emotion and vows to prevent this grim future from coming true by reforming his ways.

 

Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning a changed man. He accepts Fred’s invitation to Christmas dinner, gives Bob Cratchit a raise and pledges to help Cratchit find the best care for Tiny Tim. He even invites everyone to a Christmas luncheon at his home.

 

As the show ends, we learn that Scrooge kept his promises. Tiny Tim lived, and Scrooge became a second father to him. Scrooge became a good man and a good friend. Most importantly, he continued to bring Christmas cheer to all!

From the Gallery

"Musically high-spirited! Infectiously jolly!"
– The Washington Post
"Dickens’s tale seems right at home in Ford’s Theatre! [It takes] full advantage of the 19th-century architecture and charm of the historic playhouse. Ingenious set pieces and special effects heighten the magic of Dickens’s holiday tale."
– DC Theatre Scene
"Offers feel-good holiday cheer, suspense and sheer entertainment. It's quite remarkable to watch [Craig Wallace's] transformation from the miserly and unforgiving Scrooge to a generous and witty Scrooge. The show is fun for all ages; a must-see this holiday season."
– DMV Collective

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