Guthrie Theater

A TWIN CITIES HOLIDAY TRADITION CONTINUES
AS THE GUTHRIE ANNOUNCES 26 LOCAL CAST MEMBERS FOR
35TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

TWIN CITIES TRADITION CONTINUES AT THE GUTHRIE
IN FRESH, 90-MINUTE ADAPTATION OF CLASSIC HOLIDAY TALE

Performances begin November 19; Opening November 21;
Playing through December 31, 2009

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Guthrie today announced complete casting for its 35th anniversary production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. A Minnesota tradition since 1975, the holiday classic will feature legendary stage and screen actor Peter Michael Goetz in his fourth Guthrie appearance as Ebenezer Scrooge, alongside a cast of 26 Twin Cities actors in a fresh, 90-minute adaptation by Barbara Field. Director Gary Gisselman (A Delicate Balance, Lost in Yonkers) returns for his ninth consecutive year at the helm of this perennial favorite. A Christmas Carol begins previews November 19, opens November 21 and continues through December 31 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/.

More than 800 actors have appeared in the Guthrie holiday production of Dickens' immortal story over the last 34 years, including many recognizable local names, as well as actors with flourishing careers outside the Twin Cities in film and television. This year's 35th anniversary cast will be no different, as nine veteran actors return to the Guthrie's holiday tradition, including Laura Esping (Mrs. Cratchit), Nathaniel Fuller (Blakely/Edwards), Richard S. Iglewski (Mr. Fezziwig/Cecil/Grasper), Charity Jones (The Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs. Dilber), Michael Kissin (Fiddler/Snarkers), Lee Mark Nelson (Bob Cratchit), Richard Ooms (Forrest/Joe/Mr. Queeze, the Schoolmaster), John Skelley (Young Scrooge/Mr. Grub, the Undertaker/Topper) and Angela Timbermann (Mrs. Fezziwig/Mrs.Grigsby/Dorthea).

This year's anniversary production will also mark the Carol debut of four Guthrie veterans - Robert O. Berdahl (Fred/Dick Wilkins), Steven Epp (Jacob Marley/The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Emily Gunyou Halaas (Mrs. Fred/Petunia Fezziwig), and James Ramlet (The Ghost of Christmas Present/Squeeze) -  as well as the Guthrie stage debuts for University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program students Elizabeth Pryce Davis (Marigold Fezziwig/Sophia) and Prentiss Standridge (Belle).

An 11-member children's ensemble rounds out the cast, which will feature Emily Albert-Stauning (Mary Cratchit/Want/One of Belle's Wards/An Alley Girl), Julius Andrews IV (An Alley Boy/A Street Vendor/A Schoolboy), Noah Coon (An Alley Boy/A Street Vendor/A Schoolboy), Jada Daniel (Nellie/Ali Baba/An Alley Girl/A Skater), Kyle Feller (Tiny Tim/Ignorance), Lexis Galba (Fan/An Alley Girl), Kate Howell (Belinda Cratchit/One of Belle's Wards/An Alley Girl), Jake Ingbar (Young Ebenezer/Caroler), Lily Jones (One of Belle's Wards/Fred's Servant Girl/An Alley Girl), Andrew Moy (Tom Cratchit/An Alley Boy/A Street Vendor/A Schoolboy) and Mac Rasmus (Peter Cratchit/An Alley Boy/A Street Vendor).

Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with his well-known "bah humbug," until one Christmas Eve he learns that his stinginess and uncaring attitude will doom him to walk the earth after death wearing a heavy chain created by his selfish ways. The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come visit Scrooge during a restless night, showing him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the desolate future should he continue his cantankerous ways. Inspired by Charles Dickens' immortal story, this perennial holiday production returns for its 35th year at the Guthrie.

Filled with music, magic and holiday spirit, this classic tale of redemption and the true meaning of the festive season has brought joy to thousands of theatergoers since the Guthrie's first staging in 1975. Since then, more than 800 actors have appeared in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie, with 18 different actors playing the role of Scrooge, including King Donovan (1975), Jeff Chandler (1976-1977), Jake Dengel (1978-1979), Richard Hilger (1980-1981), Seth Allen (1982), Richard Ooms (1983-1985, 1991-1995), John Lewin (1986-1988), John Bottoms (1989), Bruce Bohne (1990), Nathanial Fuller (1992-1995), Robert Stattel (1996), Jarlath Conroy (1997-1998), Philip Goodwin (1999), Charles Janasz (2000), Peter Michael Goetz (2001-2003), Charles Keating (2004) and, most recently, Raye Birk (2005-2008). Though the yearly presentation began in 1975, the theater did present a seven-person version of A Christmas Carol in 1972, with Bernard Behrens as Scrooge.

A longtime Guthrie favorite, Goetz first appeared in the theater's original adaptation as Charles Dickens - a role he performed from 1975-1978 - and later returning to play Scrooge in 2001, 2002 and 2003 under the direction of Gisselman.

The artistic staff for the 35th anniversary production of A Christmas Carol includes Neil Patel (Set Designer), Jess Goldstein (Costume Designer, 1996), David Kay Mickelsen (Additional Costume Design), Marcus Dilliard (Lighting Designer), Anita Ruth (Musical Director), Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer), Michael Lupu (Dramaturgy), Elisa Carlson (Voice and Dialect Coach), Lucinda Holshue (Voice and Dialect Coach), Myron Johnson (Associate Director/Movement Coach), Jason Clusman (Stage Manager), Robert Goudy (Assistant Director), Justin Hossle (Assistant Stage Manager) and Elizabeth R. MacNally (Assistant Stage Manager).