NAC ENGLISH THEATRE PRODUCTION A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY JILLIAN KEILEY FEATURING ANDY JONES AS SCROOGE DECEMBER 13 - 31, 2016
News Release
NAC English Theatre Production
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and Directed by Jillian Keiley
featuring Andy Jones as SCrooge
December 13 - 31, 2016
November 29, 2016 – OTTAWA (Canada) – “Keep Christmas in your own way and let me keep it in mine.” Ebenezer Scrooge
A Christmas Carol is as well-known as any work can be. All that has to be said is “Scrooge”, “God bless us everyone” or even “humbug”, and everyone catches the reference. In fact, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge has become as much a tradition of Christmas as the holidays themselves.
When Director Jillian Keiley and Set and Costume Designer Bretta Gerecke they wanted to tap into a common nostalgia about the story while at the same time engaging the audience in a fresh experience of the story – one at the intersection of memory and imagination.
“As you approach the theatre, you’ll walk through a twinkling white forest in the lobby. Inside the trees are perfectly made miniature versions of the story’s settings, with complete with tiny little lights and miniature tables,” said Ms Keiley. “When you take your seat in the theatre, the actors come out to present you with many of the objects that the story references.”
Among these objects will be costume sketches, bits of upholstery, and Jacob Marley’s chains, which will all be passed through the audience.
Once the show begins, with these objects fresh in your mind, the story plays out on a snowscape of memory – a blank-canvas version of what the audience has seen in preparation for the show, offering a rewarding and exciting way to experience an old and familiar story.
The cast is as unique as the design itself, featuring artists from across the NAC worlds of theatre, music and dance. Leading the way is the one and only Andy Jones in the role of old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, whose life is changed forever when he is haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve. Jack Volpe, a Montreal-based artist who is Deaf, and Bruck Horak, a Toronto-based artist who is legally blind, bring audiences into the story as the Narrators, and also portray two of the spirits.
Throughout it all, A Christmas Carol remains a powerful moral allegory about the importance of goodwill and generosity in a time of economic hardship and poverty. Over the course of the night, Scrooge witnesses the power of charity, and is warned of the dangers of a society where money is valued above family, friendship, and community.
Featuring Marc Béland, Bénédicte Bélizaire, Louis Brault, Sébastian Cimpaye, Attila Clemann, Lili Connor, Max Dillabough, Charles Douglas, Bruce Horak, Andy Jones, Dulcinea Langfelder, Chloe O’Malley, Emily Pearlman, Ry Prior, Chris Ralph, Clara Silcoff, Jack Volpe, Kristina Watt and Nigel Shawn Williams. Joining the actors onstage are Tim McCoy playing Cello, and Jonathan Monro and David Terriault on Keyboards.
Assisting Ms Keiley and Ms Gerecke in bringing this story to life are Music Director, Orchestrator and Arranger Jonathan Monro, Lighting Designer Michael Walton, Choreographer Dayna Tekatch, Sound Designer Don Ellis, Assistant Director Corey Payette, Stage Manager Samira Rose, Assistant Stage Manager Loreen Gibson, and Apprentice Stage Manager Laurie Shannon.
A Christmas Carol
December 13 – 31, 2016
NAC Theatre
Pay-What-You-Can Performance:
Tuesday, December 13
Previews:
Wednesday, December 14 and Thursday, December 15
Opens:
Friday, December 16
A Christmas Carol Points of View:
Saturday, December 17 at 12:45 p.m. in NAC Salon
Experience this English Theatre production through an encounter with two special guests, each offering their own unique perspective on the piece.
Talkbacks:
Wednesdays, December 21 and 28 and Thursdays, December 22 and 29.
Stay in your seats for a post-show question-and-answer session with cast members of A Christmas Carol.
American Sign Language (A.S.L.) Presentation:
Sunday, December 18 at 2 p.m.
The NAC is continually striving to make theatre accessible to all audiences. In order to do so for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, English Theatre presents an A.S.L. interpretation performance.
Performance Schedule:
7:30 p.m. – December 13 – 17, 20 – 23, 26 – 30
2 p.m. – December 17, 18, 24, 31
Tickets:
Starting from $32
Tickets are available:
- Online on the NAC’s website: www.nac-cna.ca
- In person at the NAC Box Office at 54 Elgin Street
- At all Ticketmaster outlets**
- By telephone 1-888-991-2787**
**A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster.
Groups of 10 or more contact grp@nac-cna.ca or visit www.nac-cna.ca
Find out more about the NAC English Theatre on Facebook and YouTube. To discover some fascinating facts about A Christmas Carol visit nac-cna.ca/englishtheatre.
A Christmas Carol is part of the NAC’s Share the Spirit program presented by Sun Life Financial – the eighth year for Share the Spirit, an initiative aimed at families who, for economic or health reasons, may not have the opportunity to enjoy live performances at the NAC.
Share the Spirit is made possible through the support of Presenting Sponsor Sun Life Financial, a Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa at the Associate Partner level, and Supporting Partners The Honourable John Manley, P.C. O.C. & Mrs. Judith Manley, Glenview Management Limited and the Leacross Foundation, as well as other donors who have contributed to Share the Spirit through the NAC Foundation Donors’ Circle. Visit nac-cna.ca/share
Extended Stay Canada is proud to be the Official Hotel Partner for the National Arts Centre English Theatre.
-30-
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, PLEASE CONTACT:
|