Start the Holidays Right with A Christmas Carol

By Genevieve Heinrich
Photos by Bob Goodfellow

Tara McGovern; Tim Budd

Iowa City - You would not be wrong to call me a curmudgeon. Every year, I struggle a bit more with the onset of the holiday season: I wrestle with expanding and contracting faith, I rage against super-sales and unrealistic wish lists, I fight the impact of sad memories (and moreso, sometimes, of happy ones). 'Tis the season of recalling that I am imperfect - that I likely will never buy my daughter the laptop she requests every year, that I will never bake as many Christmas cookies as my mother did, that I've abandoned my family's tradition of elaborately decorated presents in favor of my partner's habit of writing Tos and Froms directly on the wrapping paper, in Sharpie. In short, it's not easy for me to get "into the Christmas spirit."

A Christmas Carol can do it, nearly every time. Charles Dickens' tale of remembrance and redemption can, in its best incarnations, cut through my carefully honed cynicism and remind me to lighten up, already, because we are each of us filled with light. Riverside Theatre's current production is one of these best incarnations. The show is a performance of Paul Morella's adaptation of the story, framed as Dickens himself (Tim Budd) telling us the tale. It is, ostensibly, a one-man show - although, the clever and lovely ways that musician Tara McGovern is woven into the action belie that claim. Riverside's holiday offering is simple and effective: truly fine storytelling.

A Christmas Carol Opens November 28

Tim Budd. Photo by James Caldwell.

Iowa City -This holiday season actor Tim Budd will perform Paul Morella's solo adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, November 28 to December 14 at Riverside Theatre. Ron Clark will direct. Audiences will get to experience the unforgettable characters and vivid imagery of this ghost story through Dickens’ own words in the style that was originally intended. The experience will be made complete with live music by fiddler Tara McGovern (of The Beggarmen).

A Christmas Carol runs Thursday–Sunday, November 28 – December 14, 2014. Tickets: Adults, $28-30; Riverdog Pass Holders, $25; Youth, $18; Student Rush, $20. Details at riversidetheatre.org, or by phone at 319-338-7672. Riverside Theatre is located at 213 N. Gilbert Street, Iowa City, Iowa.

A Christmas Carol is the fourth show of Riverside’s 34th season of professional theatre.

A Christmas Carol Will "Bless Us, Every One"

by Sharon Falduto
photos by Jackie Jensen at ICPixx

Fenna Scherrer as Tiny Tim;
Joseph Dobrian as Ebeneezer Scrooge

Coralville - I would be awfully surprised if you didn’t already know the story of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is a tale so enduring that it has inspired countless retellings, from Mr. Magoo to the Muppets, and suggested the name of Donald Duck’s miserly uncle. But in case you have just arrived here from another land, I will summarize. It is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a flinthearted old man who cares more for money than people. He is visited by spirits in an effort to save his soul from eternal torment.

Director Josh Sazon’s spare set decoration served the piece well. The dim lighting and lack of opulent backdrop served to place the audience in grim Industrial Revolution-era London. Scenes changed easily with the introduction of only a few set pieces to illustrate Scrooge’s counting house, his clerk Bob Cratchit’s house, and other locales. The costumes were evocative of Victorian era England, with women in full black skirts and bonnets and the men in long coats and hats. Scrooge spends most of the play in his dressing gown with a matching night cap covering his bald pate.

Joseph Dobrian’s Scrooge was the right amount of menacing and miserly for the part, indicating his disapproval of requests for such small favors as more coal with a harsh retort. His stentorian tones well suited the delivery of Scrooge’s classic lines. He dismisses a request for charity: are there no jails? No workhouses? If people are dying, then best they get on with it and decrease the surplus population! His dour demeanor in the beginning of the show makes his transformation after the last ghostly visit even more surprising and enjoyable to watch.

A Christmas Carol Opens December 13

Glenn Schmitz and Fenna Scherrer

Coralville - City Circle Acting Company will present the Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

Performances are December 13 and 20 at 7:30 pm and December 14, 15, 21, 22 at 2:00 pm.

This year’s production of A Christmas Carol has been adapted from the original Charles Dickens’ novella by the director, Josh Sazon, and is very true to Dickens’ original text. This re-envisioned staging of the timeless classic will delight and brighten your holiday season with its timeless message of hope, peace, and love.

Tickets are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at www.coralvillearts.org, by calling 319.248.9370, or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street.

ASL interpreters will be translating the performance on Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 pm. Please call 319.248.9372 to request seating in the ASL section before December 12.

City Circle invites audience members to share some holiday warmth with those in need by donating hats, mittens and scarves for the lobby Mitten Tree. Donations will be shared with HACAP and Coralville Family Resource Centers. Those bringing items will be entered into a raffle for tickets to a future production.

Source: City Circle press release

A Christmas Carol Cast Announced

Coralville - "The cast for City Circle's A Christmas Carol has been announced. The show, directed by Josh Sazon, plays Dec 13-22.

A Christmas Carol Auditions

Coralville - City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will hold auditions for its holiday production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Saturday, October 5 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Coralville Public Library.

Be prepared to read from the script. Monologues are welcome. You will be asked to sing a few bars from a favorite Christmas carol, a cappella. To schedule an audition, complete and submit the audition form at www.citycircle.org. Walk ups are welcome.

A Christmas Carol will be performed December 13 – December 22, 2013 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

(Source: City Circle Press Release)

A Christmas Carol is a Wonderful Family Show

by Matthew Falduto

Photo by ICPixx

There are times when we really need to escape from the real world and disappear into an uplifting story of Christmas cheer. Friday was one of the days. So my oldest daughter and I were so fortunate to experience City Circle’s production of A Christmas Carol, based on the novel by Charles Dickens and adapted for the stage by Barbara Field. Playing to a nearly sold out crowd, this talented group of actors allowed us to journey back in time and experience a classic Christmas story.

This is the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, an angry, miserly man who is mean to everyone and lives a life completely devoid of cheer. He is visited by three ghosts who remind him of his past, show him the present he has blind to, and finally suggest a sad future. Through it all, Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas.

The Christmas cheer began before we entered the theatre as a number of the actors sang Christmas carols in the lobby. Both my daughter and I appreciated the familiar Christmas songs and judging by the merry eyes and smiling faces all around us, we weren’t the only ones.

Michael Blake’s set was simple and perfect, with multiple levels that director Elizabeth Tracey used to excellent effect. Quick scene changes done by the cast and usually accompanied by music or action kept the play moving between scenes. However, one criticism I have is that there were many times when the pacing lagged during the scenes. Hopefully, that can be attributed to opening night jitters.

One aspect I really enjoyed in this show was the music. While not a musical in normal sense of the word, this production took every opportunity to incorporate some entertaining melodies into the play. A lively dance in the middle of the show was also wonderful to watch. Music Director Elisabeth Ross and Dance Coach Barbara Zillis did an excellent job adding these touches to the show.

Scott Strode was excellent as Scrooge. He was perfectly believable as the cantankerous miser and watching his transformation at the end of the play was a wonderful pay off for the audience. Strode also did an excellent job with the humor throughout the show. Kudos to director Tracey for bringing out those moments.

The company was a talented one from the oldest to youngest actors. Steve Rosse and Jean Grewe were particularly fun to watch as the lively Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. All of the Cratchit kids (Jesse Schuerer, Nolan Bertelli, Carson Slezak, Abby and Mady Nachtman) were great, too, and with their parents (Dawn Slezak and Mark Tracey) created a believable and happy family. Special props to Robert Kemp as Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, who livened up the show every time he was on stage.

Some of the most affecting scenes were during Scrooge’s journey into the past. Jessica Murillo as the Ghost of Christmas Past possessed a sadness that allowed us to begin to feel for Scrooge… perhaps he was worth saving after all. And then both Andy Stewart and Michael Penick, who played Scrooge as a boy and young man respectively, gave the sort of powerful performances so necessary for the audience to believe Scrooge’s final transformation. While it was hard to care for old Scrooge, Stewart’s boy Scrooge was so heartfelt, we were immediately invested in him. And when Penick’s young man Scrooge is faced with the path that will doom him to the sad present we know so well, we are desperately hoping he’ll make the right choice this time. Stewart and Penick’s roles are crucial to making the play work and both actors were excellent.

Finally, I have to mention my daughter’s favorite actor in the show. Brett Borden played Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s business partner returned from the dead to warn Scrooge of the terrible path he is following. Marley ascends from Hell into Scrooge’s living room, with lights and fog that were beautifully done. Borden relishes every haunted moment of the ghostly role and it’s a gripping performance that immediately catapults us into the otherworldly aspects of the show.

If you’re looking for a show to take the family to this holiday season, I highly recommend City Circle’s A Christmas Carol. It’s fun, funny, filled with beautiful music and quite simply a touching story that will warm your heart. Don’t miss it!

A Christmas Carol Opens December 14

Coraville - "A Christmas Carol opens Friday, December 14 and runs for 6 performances over two weekends. You won’t want to miss the holiday classic that’s true to the Dickens’ story, with a 'musical twist.' According to director Liz Tracey, “the show has been infused with Christmas carols appropriate to the time and they add beautifully to the story."

Performances are December 14, 15, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m. and December 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. There will be a reception for cast, crew and audience members following the December 16th matinee.

Tickets are available online at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in-person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street."

(source: City Circle)

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol, 2012

Coralville - From City Circle:

"Occasionally, a story comes along that is so enduring that we label it a 'classic.' Very rarely, a classic will have such magic and be so beloved that it becomes tradition! This is the case with Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. City Circle is pleased to be continuing that tradition by bringing it to you again, and is proud today to announce the cast of this year's production. Director Liz Tracey would like to extend her thanks to all who auditioned. 'You made my decision making difficult. If you were not cast but are still interested in helping out with the show in any other way please feel free to contact me.'

• Ebenezer Scrooge———Scott Strode
• Bob Cratchit———Mark Tracey
• Tiny Tim———Laila Moellering (Understudy: Jesse Schuerer)
• Blakely———Mandy Moellering
• Mrs. Forrest———Michelle Altmaier
• Mrs. Grigsby———Valerie Keffala
• Ghost of Christmas Past———Jessica Murillo
• Young Ebenezer boy———Andy Stewart
• Fan———Lily O'Brien
• Schoolmaster (Mr. Queeze)———Jeff Emrich
• Fezziwig———Steve Rosse
• Dick Wilkins———Doug Williams
• Belle Crawford———Sydney Hayes
• Mrs. Fezziwig———Jean Grewe
• Petunia———Madison Atwood
• Marigold———Riley Brannian
• Flutist———Megan Hill
• Fiddler———Kaitlin Clemmons
• Ghost of Christmas Present———James Kurtzleben
• Peter Cratchit———Nolan Bertelli
• Tom Cratchit———Carson Slezak
• Mary Cratchit———Abby Nachtman
• Mrs. Cratchit———Dawn Slezak
• Belinda Cratchit———Mady Nachtman
• Martha Cratchi———Lauren O'Brien
• Cecil———Monty Hendricks
• Topper———Doug Williams
• Mrs. Fred———Sydney Hayes
• Dorothea———Michelle Altmaier
• Edwards———Brian Tanner
• Sophia———Mandy Moellering
• Girl Wan———Sophia Arzu
• Boy Ignorance———Jesse Schuerer
• Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come———Jeff Emrich
• Grasper———Monty Hendricks
• Joe———Brian Tanner
• Mrs. Dilber———Jessica Murillo
• Undertaker———Roger Phelps
• Nellie———Serena Collins
• Maid———Mackenzie Voigt
• Narrators, Carolers, Pallbearers———Howard Meadows, Deborah Meadows, Michelle Meadows de Urquizo
• Street Children———Dylan Davenport, Lucie Brennan, Sierra Reese, Sawyer Slezak

The first read through is Sunday October 21 at 5pm at The Community of Christ Church in Coralville. Tracey requests that no one cut their hair or go tanning from now until Christmas! Any questions can be directed to liz@citycircle.org. Congratulations to all. Have fun getting into the *spirit* of the season!"

Auditions for A Christmas Carol

Coralville - A Holiday Tradition Returns!

"The air has only just started to taste of fall, but here at City Circle, we're already thinking about Christmas... and the winter magic of A Christmas Carol. Now is your chance to join the Cratchit family or channel your spookiest apparition. This adaptation, by Barbara Field, was a beloved staple for many years at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Auditions will be held on Thursday, Sep 20, 6-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sep 22, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Coralville Public Library.

Director Liz Tracey will be asking auditioners to either read sides from the show or recite a prepared monologue. She would also like to hear each person sing a snippet from their favorite Christmas carol. She is hoping for a broad and diverse cast, and encourages actors of all ages and backgrounds to audition. A complete list of roles and their descriptions can be found at citycircle.org/category/auditions.

No one can resist the rush of joy A Christmas Carol brings. Come help City Circle warm the most humbug hearts this holiday season! The show runs Dec 14-16 and 21-23 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Contact the director at liz@citycircle.org with any questions, or to schedule an alternate audition time."

City Circle's Christmas Carol not to be missed

by Elizabeth Breed

Coralville - Charles’s Dickens A Christmas Carol is arguably the most famous holiday tale of all time. We all know the story. Crotchety, greed old man Ebenezer Scrooge is too tight fisted with his money to realize that wealth perhaps isn’t jangling in your pockets, but rather the love you feel from other people. It takes him a haunted vision, and three spirits to help him realize this truth. I’ll assume that I don’t need to elaborate on the tale, because this beloved story has been engrained in our hearts since we were young. When I walked into the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night, I was ready to hear the story I had heard a thousand times before, and I was ready to become immersed in the tale again. I was ready to experience the show that millions have grown to love, and with the help of City Circle Acting Company of Coralville, I was not disappointed.

The man himself, Ebenezer Scrooge, is played skillfully by veteran actor Scott Strode. Strode filled Scrooge’s shoes with grace, and he was able to handle any series of complex emotions that a role like this requires. Scrooge’s transformation was well played by Strode, and the audience could truly feel the joy felt by Scrooge at the end of the play after he has his revelation. Strode was able to bring moments of honest humor to the role, but that being said, at many times I felt it a little inappropriate to the story. Specifically, early on in his first scene in the office, I noticed the audience chuckling a few of Strode’s deliveries. While humorous, I felt that it didn’t necessarily fit the character at that stage in the play. Because of that, it made it difficult for me to invest in Scrooge’s story because there seemed to be no extreme between greedy Scrooge and reformed Scrooge. That being said, I found Strode’s performance quite enjoyable during more touching moments, particularly when Scrooge witnesses the Cratchit family prepare their Christmas dinner.

Monty Beal as Bob Cratchit and Robin McCright as Mrs. Cratchit lead their brood with as much touching humor as I’ve ever seen portrayed. Beal’s portrayal of Bob contained a level of innocence and devotion that made Bob even more likable than already presumed. McCright’s snarky Mrs. Cratchit was lovely, and her interaction with the young actors playing her children was both playful and honest. The Cratchit children, played by Ally Halverson, Logan Natvig, Conner Ammar, Isabel Jones, and Stephanie Engelhardt, had incredible stage presence and chemistry, making them reminiscent of a real family. Additionally, Katey Halverson’s portrayal of Tiny Tim was both touching and frankly, downright adorable. A particular moving moment was when Tiny Tim sings a beautiful tune, completely a capella. Halverson is able to evoke many powerful emotions for such a, excuse me for saying, tiny actor. That young lady has great things in her future.

A favorite performance of mine was that of Patrick DuLaney in the role of Jacob Marley. His entrance onstage punctuated with a thunderous wail was haunting, and the rest of his delivery of his short scene seemed to be something straight out of a horror movie. It added a level of tension that made the audience uncomfortable, but in the best way, adding desperation to Scrooge’s journey. Very well done, indeed.
The three Ghosts are played by Josh Sazon, Steve Rosse, and Richard Adams, and all three of them portray very memorable secondary roles. Sazon’s Ghost of Christmas Past is poised and eloquent, and his other role as Snarkers later in the play includes a dialogue between him and DuLaney that was an audience favorite, inciting applause for the short exchange. Rosse’s Ghost of Christmas Present walks a fine line between poignant and lighthearted. Adams’s portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Past is also particularly remarkable considering the only body part you can see are his hands and one only hears him speak through loud, haunting sighs of air. Additionally, Adams’s portrayal of Young Ebenezer is quite skilled, as he is able to convey a sense of growth, as well as descent in a very short period of stage time.

The ensemble is rounded out by many stand-out performances. It’s almost as if the rest of the cast were populated with scene-stealers! Brett Myer’s Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, is lively and truthful, and because of his stage presence, the audience falls in love with him immediately. Danielle Paulsen pulls double duty as Belle, the woman that Young Scrooge falls in love with, and Fred’s wife, two roles that she is able to make her own. Steve Rosse and Jean Grewe as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig are flamboyant and entertaining, and Michelle Altmaier as Dorothea, a party guest of Fred’s, completely steals the scene with her charm and humor.

Special accolades are due to the many children actors in this play. In addition to the Cratchit children, every child’s performance in this play was very endearing and very accomplished. Bailey Raso as Nellie, the young girl that Scrooge speaks to the morning after the ghosts’ visit to him, is able to hold her own against Strode’s Scrooge. Andy Stewart as the young boy version of Scrooge is empathetic and Lily O’Brien’s portrayal of Scrooge’s sister, Fan, is equally as loveable.

Particular mention should be made to the design team. The stationary, basic set was very effective, as the actors were able to use the same structure in all the scenes. Different locations were emphasized by set dressing and lighting effects, presenting a space uncluttered with large, unnecessary set pieces. The only critique I have is in regards to one particular set change. During a scene change into the Cratchit home, the Cratchit children were bringing on their own set pieces, and then exiting the stage, only to return later at their cue. It seemed awkward and could have been prevented if some of the adult actors could have brought on the pieces instead. City Circle did use the space to its full advantage, using beautiful and enhancing lighting design, as well as a fun effect of having fake snow fall onstage during one pivotal scene from Scrooge’s childhood.

All in all, the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol did a marvelous job in this holiday staple. Dicken’s story is a classic, and the City Circle production not only did it justice, but it also enhanced it in the best way possible through apt performances, and a very beautiful design. Truly a production not to be missed!

City Circle's A Christmas Carol opens Friday

Coralville - Using a sparkling adaptation by Barbara Field, City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will bring the classic tale Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to life on the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts stage this holiday season.

The Dickens story, which ushered in many of our current ideas of "classic" holiday traditions, charts the path of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption from selfishness and greed. Timeless lessons of community spirit, generosity and love make this seasonal parable particularly applicable to our current times.

Director Liz Tracey promises a heart-warming evening with more than a few thrills as the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future--as well as a truly frightening appearance by the ghost of Scrooge's business partner Marley--seek to give Scrooge a tour through his life and destiny.

Featuring a 20 person cast including Scott Strode as Scrooge, Patrick DuLaney as Marley, Josh Sazon as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Steve Rosse as the Ghost of Christmas Present, this production is a must-see event for theater fans of any age!

Showtimes:
Friday, December 9 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 pm
Friday, December 16 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 18 at 2:00pm

Tickets are available at the Center Box office, online at www.CoralvilleArts.org or by calling 248-9370.

Premium Seating: $25 (+ $2 facility fee)
Adults: $20 (+ $2 facility fee)
Seniors & Students: $15 (+ $2 facility fee)

Children 10 & Under: $10 (+ $2 facility fee)

A Christmas Carol opens Friday

Cedar Rapids - 'Tis the season to welcome back those favorite holiday shows we all know and love. Theatre Cedar Rapids will present A Christmas Carol beginning this weekend and running through December 17.

Charles Dickens’ famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from embittered skinflint to generous benefactor has been dramatized by John Mortimer with typical flair and wit in this definitive adaptation, premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Retaining Dickens’ own ironic point of view through the use of a Chorus, whose asides and observations enrich and propel the drama, Mortimer has created a panoramic view of Victorian London with all the much-loved characters – miserly Scrooge, the loving Cratchits, faithful nephew Fred – in place. Starring new and familiar adult faces to the TCR stage, this production also includes 22 adorable local youth actors. This is one holiday show for the entire family.

This show is directed by Leslie Charipar and stars Michael Dulaney as Scrooge. You can order tickets here or by calling 319-366-8591.

Auditions for TCR's A Christmas Carol This Weekend

Cedar Rapids - Did you not get cast City Circle's production of A Christmas Carol? No problem - TCR is also producing the show for the Christmas season. TCR will hold one day of youth auditions and two days of adult auditions for A Christmas Carol this weekend. Auditions will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 for children, and at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Sept. 25 and 26, for adults. They will take place at TCR's home in the Iowa Theater, 102 Third St. SE. Leslie Charipar is directing.

Performing Nov. 25 through Dec. 17, A Christmas Carol is a new stage adaptation of the classic novel by Charles Dhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifickens. For specific information on available roles or general audition requirements, call (319) 366-8591 or visit here.

Auditions for Christmas Carol Coming Soon

Coralville - Director Elizabeth Tracy invites actors to audition for A Christmas Carol Monday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 21 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm at the Coralville Library (Downstairs Conference Rooms). Contact CityCircleChristmasCarol@gmail.com to schedule an audition or to ask questions.

Actors are asked to prepare a short 1-2 minute monologue or read from scripts provided at the audition.

The production will begin rehearsals September 26, 2011. Performances will be at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, December 9 -18, 2011. For more information, go here.