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Personal Space Theatrics Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Returns...

The unique sights and sounds of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" return to New York after sold-out runs in both 2004 and 2005. Personal Space Theatrics (Stephen Wargo, Artistic Director; Joseph Guidetti, Managing Director) continues its fifth Season with the largest "Carol" to be presented in NYC this Holiday Season. The production runs December 8 - 22 at TBG Arts Center (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor).

Adapted and directed by Stephen Wargo with musical arrangements by Dianne Adams McDowell this "Carol" is more than just a holiday standard. Stripped of the flying machines and hoop skirts associated with other stage versions, this piece focuses on ensemble storytelling of Dickens' words coupled with an expansive score of traditional carols and hymns. This year's production promises new surprises as adapter/director Stephen Wargo has incorporated two new songs to the score and will be staging the piece in-the-round, making for the most intimate Christmas Carol experience available to New York audiences this Holiday season. This one-of-a-kind take on Dickens' story has had audiences cheering since PST first presented it in concert form in 2002.

The Production:

PST's approach to this seminal Christmas tale is grand, mythological, eerily dark and genuinely joyous in its simplicity. "The characters and moments of this story have risen to the level of modern myth," says adaptor/director Stephen Wargo. "The style we work with in presenting this story to our audience incorporates Greek and Folk storytelling techniques that, while relying less on stage glitz, heighten the importance of the language and the characters for the audience. As with all PST productions, our audience shares the space and the story with the actors, so they can join in Scrooge's spiritual and psychological journey and realize first-hand how profound and moving it really is."

The show's score, which consists of new choral arrangements of both traditional and rarely-heard carols and hymns, has been assembled and arranged by ASCAP, BMI, Helen Hayes and Barrymore-award-winning composer and orchestrator Dianne Adams McDowell. McDowell's many credits include Broadway (Starmites) off-Broadway (Bring in the Morning at the Variety Arts; The Wind in the Willows at the New Victory) and regional theater (Constant Star at Syracuse Stage, Arena Stage, Delaware Theatre Company, Merrimack Repertory Theatre.)

            

Rounding out the creative team are musical director/conductor Jamie Reed, choreographer Kate Vallee, scenic designer Taline Alexander, lighting designer Timothy Swiss, costume designer Kathleen Leary, sound designer Chris Rummel and properties master Casey Smith.

Reprising his tour de force, fierce and terrifying turn as Ebenezer Scrooge is New York and West End veteran Robert Ian Mackenzie, recently seen off-Broadway in India Awaiting at the Samuel Beckett and regionally in Stageworks Hudson's Underneath the Lintel. Joining him are Paul Aguirre (Fezziwig)*, Frank Anderson (Marley's Ghost)*, Antonio Copeland (Ghost of Christmas Present), Stephanie Ferro (Fan), Kelly Francis (Elizabeth)*, Nathan Freeman (Young Scrooge), Justin Hall (Tiny Tim), Carol Hickey (Mrs. Cratchit), Kathleen Hinders (Mrs. Fezziwig)*, Andrea McCullough (Charwoman)*, Adair Moran (Belle)*, Nicholas Alexiy Moran (Bob Cratchit)*, John McCarthy Moriarty (Turkey Boy), Allyson Pace (Ensemble), Shelley Rae Phetteplace (Ensemble), Justin Randolph (Topper), Daniel Scott Richards (Ensemble)*, Steven Douglas Stewart (Peter Cratchit)*, Caitlin Thurnauer (Martha Cratchit), Michael Turay (Fred), Ryan Wagner (Ghost of Christmas Future), Emily Wright (Catherine), and Katie Zaffrann (Ghost of Christmas Past). (*Member of Actors Equity Association)

Personal Space Theatrics:

Breaking Theatrical Boundaries since 2001, Personal Space Theatrics was founded with the guiding principle that Theatre was created for audiences. We envision a new environment of play-going, one where actors, audiences and plays themselves meet together in the same literal space without the conventional dual separation of stage and auditorium. For more information, logon to www.smarttix.com

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