Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Ford's Theatre Hosts A Christmas Carol, Opening November 20th

Edward Gero stars in A Christmas Carol (Photo: Scott Suchman)

From our friends at Ford's Theatre...

Ford's Theatre 2014-15 Season Continues with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, November 20, 2014 - January 1, 2015

Edward Gero returns as Ebenezer Scrooge

Ford’s Theatre 2014-15 season continues with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and adapted by Michael Wilson, November 20, 2014 to January 1, 2015. Acclaimed Washington stage actor Edward Gero returns for the sixth year to play Ebenezer Scrooge in the production The Washington Post hailed as “musically high-spirited” and “infectiously jolly.”

Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Conceived by director Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic with abundant caroling and joyful dancing for the holiday season.

Gero and James Konicek (r) star in A Christmas Carol (Photo: Scott Suchman)

“Dickens’s tale of moral transformation champions compassion, good deeds and friendship. Ford’s Theatre Society has presented A Christmas Carol to Washington audiences for 33 years, and we are delighted to again have Edward Gero return to our vibrant production that is filled with familiar  music, lush costumes and characters the whole family can enjoy,” said Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault.

A Christmas Carol is made possible by Lead Sponsor AT&T; and Sponsors General Motors Company; Southern Company; Time Warner Cable; and Sunoco, Inc. The Ford’s Theatre 2014-2015 Season Sponsors are The Home Depot and Chevron.

THE DIRECTOR:
Michael Baron made his Ford’s Theatre directorial debut with the 2009 production of A Christmas Carol. He also served as associate director of the 2008 Ford’s production of The Civil War. Regional directorial credits include: LaChiusa’s Ladies; The Little Dog Laughed; A Year with Frog and Toad (Helen Hayes Award); December Divas; Lost Songs of Broadway I & II; Sex Habits of American Women; Songs for a New World; Ricky, Joe, and Michael John for Signature Theatre; School for Scandal and A Christmas Carol for Trinity Repertory; and productions for La Mama, Adventure Theatre and the Washington Savoyards. Baron holds an MFA from Trinity Repertory and has taught at American University, Brown University and College of the Holy Cross. Baron is currently Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.

THE CAST:
Acclaimed Washington stage actor Edward Gero returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he originated and has played at Ford’s since 2009. Gero also recently appeared at Ford’s as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! Gero’s many Washington credits include the role of Rothko in Arena Stage’s production of RED and more than 75 productions for the Shakespeare Theatre Company including King Lear with Stacy Keach, among others. His New York credits include Bull Durham for Musical Lab, and productions for Classic Stage Company and South Street Theatre. Gero’s regional credits include productions with Baltimore’s Center Stage, Goodman Theatre, Round House, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre and others. Gero is a 15-time nominee and four-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for roles in Skylight (Studio Theatre) and Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Richard II and Macbeth (Shakespeare Theatre Company). Additional credits include narration for The Discovery Channel, Science Channel and National Geographic. Gero has served on the teaching staff of George Mason University since 1990.

A Christmas Carol also features Carolyn Agan as Belle, Felicia Curry as the ghosts of Christmas Past and Future, Anne Stone as the Ghost of Christmas Present, James Konicek as Jacob Marley and Bobby Smith as Bob Cratchit, with Michael Bunce, William Diggle, Erin Driscoll, Lauren Du Pree, Kristen Garaffo, Rick Hammerly, Helen Hedman, Gregory Maheu, Calvin McCullough, Amy McWilliams, Jon Hudson Odom, Stephen F. Schmidt and Morgan Southwell.

The young cast of A Christmas Carol (roles rotate every other performance) includes Harrison Wright and Catalina Laje as Tiny Tim, with Cole Edelstein, Kevin Grieco, Hedy Hosford, Heidi Kaplan, Julia Laje, Camden Lippert, Shira Minsk, Joshua Otten, Ella Schnoor and Eli Schulman.

THE DESIGNERS:
Designs for A Christmas Carol include Scenic Designer Lee Savage’s striking iron work, which evokes London’s Covent Garden marketplace. The cast is outfitted in Alejo Vietti’s festive Victorian costumes. The design team also includes Lighting Design by Rui Rita, Original Music and Sound Design by Josh Schmidt, Choreography by Shea Sullivan, Wig Design by Charles G. LaPointe, Choral Direction by Jay Crowder and Dialects by Leigh Wilson Smiley.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS:
There will be audio-described performances of A Christmas Carol on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 13, 2014, at 2 p.m. A captioned performance is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2014, at 2 p.m. A sign-interpreted performance is Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

Ford’s Theatre has partnered with Mount Vernon, the Washington National Cathedral and the Willard InterContinental Hotel to create a festive December weekend package for two on December 4 through 7. Holiday package includes: two tickets to A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.; two tickets to hear Handel's Messiah at the Washington National Cathedral on Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.; two tickets for a Mount Vernon by Candlelight tour on Saturday, December 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and an overnight stay in an elegant Willard Room at the Willard InterContinental the evening of Saturday, December 6. Contest runs through midnight, November 26, 2014. Winners will be notified via email by Friday, November 28, 2014. Full contest rules and entry is available at http://www.fords.org/DC-Holiday.

For the last six years, the cast of A Christmas Carol has devoted time and energy to raising money for Washington charities dedicated to eradicating homelessness, hunger and poverty. Their efforts coupled with our audience’s generous support have raised more than $375,000 for local charities like Bread for the City, Covenant House Washington, Martha’s Table, Miriam’s Kitchen and So Others Might Eat. This year’s charity will be announced the week of November 17, 2014.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Charles Dickens * Adapted by Michael Wilson * Directed by Michael Baron

The Ford’s Theatre 2014-2015 season continues with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and adapted by Michael Wilson, November 20, 2014, to January 1, 2015. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic. Acclaimed Washington stage actor Edward Gero returns to play Scrooge in the production The Washington Post hailed as “musically high-spirited” and “infectiously jolly.”

DATES:
November 20, 2014 to January 1, 2015
Private Donor Performance: December 6, 2014 (matinee)

LOCATION: Ford’s Theatre is located at 511 10th Street NW, between E and F streets.

TIMES: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. (except November 27, December 16, 24, 25, 31 and January 1); Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. (except December 6). Mondays December 15, 22 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. Weekday noon matinees are November 26, December 3, 4, 10 and 11. Weekday 2 p.m. matinees are November 28, December 17, 18, 23, 26, 31 and January 1.

TICKETS: $22-$95.

ACCESSIBILITY: Ford’s Theatre is accessible to persons with disabilities, offering wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms and audio enhancement.

There will be audio-described performances of A Christmas Carol on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 13, 2014, at 2 p.m. A captioned performance is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2014, at 2 p.m. A sign-interpreted performance is Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

PARKING:
Paid parking is available at several independent neighborhood garages: the 24-hour QuickPark at the Grand Hyatt (entrance on 10th Street between G and H Streets NW), the Central Parking Garage (entrance on 11th Street between E and F Streets NW), and the Atlantic Garage below Ford’s Theatre (at 511 10th Street, NW).

METRO:
Metro Center station (Red, Blue, Orange and Silver Lines) is two and one half blocks north of the theatre from the Eleventh Street exit. Gallery Pl-Chinatown station (Red, Yellow and Green Lines) is two and one half blocks north of the theatre from the G Street exit. For further information, call Metro at (202) 637-7000.

Tickets at www.fords.org and Ticketmaster (800) 982-2787
Information: (202) 347-4833 Groups: (202) 638-2367