A Christmas Carol -- Hartford Stage

Michael Preston. Photo: T. Charles Erickson

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas
Adapted by Michael Wilson from the novel by Charles Dickens
Choreographed by Hope Clarke
Directed by Rachel Alderman (originally directed by Michael Wilson)
Hartford Stage
Through Dec. 30

By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The 20th anniversary production of Michael Wilson's adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this year with a new Scrooge, Michael Preston, who replaces Bill Raymond, who had played the Christmas-hating miser for most of Hartford' Stage's run of the holiday classic. Preston, a master juggler, had played inventor Mr. Marvel (Christmas Future) for the past six years. New casting also is in effect for other principal characters this year as well:  John-Andrew Morrison as Mr. Marvel; Kenneth De Abrew as Fezziwig; Rebecka Jones as Ghost of Christmas Past; Shauna Miles as Mrs. Cratchit. There also are some new costumes from Designer Alejo Vietti.

What Are the Highlights?
Some very good special effects with flying by ZFX, Inc. and lighting by Designer Robert Wierzel. It's become a holiday tradition for the Hartford area. This year 14 Hartt School at the University of Hartford students and 26 youths from across Connecticut are in the cast.

What Are the Lowlights?
This isn't one of my favorite adaptations. No surprise, given the subtitle, but the emphasis is on scary ghosts and special effects, not on the transformation of Scrooge's hard heart. The theater suggests the production is for children 8 and up. Scrooge always appears youthful and rather jolly to me (this one even juggles out of character with the one I have in mind from the Dickens text). Some color-blind and gender-neutral casting doesn't work well.

More Information:
A Christmas Carol has been extended through Dec. 30 at Hartford Stage, 50 Church st., Hartford. Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm; matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are $25-$90: hartfordstage.org.

Additional Casting:

Vanessa R Butler
Fred's Wife/Belle

Robert Hannon Davis
Bob Cratchit 

Kenneth De Abrew
First Solicitor/Undertaker/Fezziwig

Rebecka Jones
Bettye Pidgeon/Spirit of Christmas Past/Old Josie

Sarah Killough
Ghostly Apparition/Fred’s Sister-in-Law

Shauna Miles
Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig

John-Andrew Morrison
Mr. Marvel 

Michael Preston
Ebenezer Scrooge

Buzz Roddy
AM Scrooge/Second Solicitor

Alan Rust
Bert/Spirit of Christmas Present

Noble Shropshire
Mrs. Dilber/Jacob Marley

Terrell Donnell Sledge
Fred/Scrooge at 30

Laura Axelrod, Napoleonic Apparition/Nichola/Fred Party Guest
Jake Blakeslee, Topper
Rebecca Chism, Elizabethan Apparition
Brittany DeAngelis, Medieval Apparition/Wendy/Fred Party Guest
Jamaal Fields-Green, 1400s Soldier Apparition/Fezziwig Party Guest/Fred Party Guest
Dan Macke, 18th Century Apparition/Dick Wilkins
Alyssa Marino, Female Swing
Evan McReddie, Male Swing/Lamplighter
Daniel Owens, Teen Scrooge
Nicholas Rylands, Tudor Apparition/Fezziwig Party Guest
Dawniella Sinder, Martha Cratchit
Austin Tipograph, Second Solicitor AM/Fred Party Guest
Alessandro Gian Viviano, Mr. Toby/Christmas Future
Dominique Rose Waite, Rich Lady, Fiddler

Isabella Corica, School Boy

Hunter S. Cruz, School Boy

Ethan DiNello, Fruit Child/Ignorance

Lily Girard, Fan

\Norah Girard, School Boy

Nicholas Glowacki, Turkey Boy

Jaime Han, School Boy

Brendan Reilly Harris, Boy Scrooge/Fred Party

Emma Kindl, Claire

Amelia Lopa, Belinda

Timothy McGuire, School Boy

Andrew Michaels, Fruit Child/Ignorance

Majesty-Alexis Moore, Fruit Child/Want

Princess-Larrine Moore, Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl

Alexander O’Brien, Tiny Tim

Addison Pancoast, Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl

Ethan Pancoast, Peter

Meghan Pratt, School Boy, 

Tessa Rosenfield, Claire

Ankit Roy, Boy Scrooge/Fred Party

Sana “Prince” Sarr, Turkey Boy

Taylor Santana, Fan

Jordyn Schmidt, Fruit Child/Want

Fred Thornley IV, Peter

Ava Vercellone, Belinda

RJ Vercellone, Tiny Tim

Additional Credits:

Tony Straiges
Scenic Designer

Zack Brown
Original Costume Designer

John Gromada
Original Music and Sound Designer

Ken Clark
Musical Director

Derric Harris
Assistant Choreographer

Ben Furey
Vocal Coach

Shelby Demke
Youth Director

Catherine Michaels
Assistant Youth Director

William Steinberger
Assistant Director/Dramaturg