FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761 November 12, 2009 MILWAUKEE’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY
TRADITION! Generously Sponsored by For 34 years, no show is more anticipated and treasured than The
Rep's annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL performed at the beautiful
Pabst Theater. This timeless holiday classic will touch your soul
and brighten your holiday season with its message of hope and redemption.
Gather your friends and family for a true holiday tradition unlike
anything else found in Milwaukee. Tickets
for A CHRISTMAS CAROL can be purchased in person at The Rep Ticket Office at
108 East Wells Street or by phone at 414-224-9490. Tickets can also be purchased
online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com. Milwaukee Repertory Theater Resident Acting Company member James
Pickering returns
to his role as Ebenezer Scrooge for this year’s production
of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In The Rep's initial production of Charles
Dickens's classic ghost story at the Pabst Theater in 1976, he
and his wife, actress Rose Pickering, appeared as the Cratchits.
Jim is delighted to return to the historic Pabst Theater to perform
in The Rep’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This
will be his 23rd appearance in the Yuletide fable. His recent endeavors
in other Rep productions include Dave Moss in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, Jim
Conover in STATE OF THE UNION, the dual roles of Major Milroy and
Dr. Downward in ARMADALE, Charlie in Edward Albee’s SEASCAPE,
Pishchik in THE CHERRY ORCHARD and The Judge in THE GOVERNMENT
INSPECTOR. In addition to his work on Rep stages, he has done two
films, Baraboo and No
God No Master, both shot in Wisconsin. He is an accomplished
vocal talent, having narrated numerous PBS documentaries, most
notably the Emmy Award-winning The
Making of Milwaukee. In company with his wife, Rose Pickering,
he is a prior recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award from
Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture, the Outstanding
Artist Award from the City of Milwaukee and the all-time Actors
Hall of Fame Award from Milwaukee Magazine. Joseph Hanreddy, Director and Co-Adapter, is in his 17th
and final season as the Artistic Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He
has directed over 30 productions for the company as well as authored and performed
in several others. Many plays produced during Joe’s tenure have earned
national and international recognition. A Wall Street Journal review
of the 2006/07 production of THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, under his direction, stated
that “revivals of so complex a theatrical undertaking must of necessity
be rare, and I very much doubt you'll see a better one than this.” The
Rep’s production of an original adaptation of MOBY DICK was named one
of the top ten productions in the nation by Time Magazine in 2002.
The Rep’s production of SILENCE, remounted in Tokyo, also under Joe’s
direction, received the Yomuri-Shinbun award, Japan’s highest dramatic
honor. Joe has continued The Rep’s strong history of premiering new American
plays, and approximately 50 new plays, translations and adaptations have been
mounted during his tenure. Recent premieres, which have subsequently been produced
in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and regionally, include THE NIGHT IS A CHILD,
BACH IN LEIPZIG, PARAGON SPRINGS and FORCE OF NATURE. THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES,
which was commissioned by The Rep and premiered in the Stackner Cabaret, is currently
enjoying a successful Off-Broadway run. During Joe’s tenure, The Rep has
recruited such acclaimed international directors as Ben Barnes, the former Artistic
Director of Ireland’s Abbey Theatre, László Marton, Artistic
Director of the Vigszinház Theater in Budapest, Hungary and Paolo Landi,
Ganshi Mureta, Lev Stukalov and Mark-Wing Davey from Italy, Japan, Russia and
Great Britain, respectively, to create innovative productions of world classics.
The Rep has also produced original interdisciplinary and multicultural collaborations
with both international and local performing arts organizations including Ko-Thi
Dance Company, the Omsk State Drama Theater and the Subaru Theater Company
of Japan. Joe has sat on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and
the Theater Communications Group, as well as has served as an on-site evaluator
for the NEA. He has also recently been a guest professor at Northwestern University
and the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware. Joe recently had this to say about Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL; “It’s
the story that best captures the truest and purest spirit of Christmas. Ebenezer
Scrooge’s long night with the Ghosts of the Past, Present and Future
is a living example of how the practice of charity and compassion can lead
to humane working conditions, opportunity and a decent life for all. A CHRISTMAS
CAROL is also one of the most hopeful of stories. Ebenezer’s great epiphany
is understanding that the man he was in his younger years is not the man he
must be forever, and that living a life that takes into account the well being
of others is essential to living fully and joyfully. This is the elemental
and universal lesson of life, the cornerstone of all religions and the perfect
complement to the celebration of Christ’s birth. Edward Morgan, Co-Adapter, is a freelance
director, writer and teacher. His projects this year include: MARY’S
WEDDING at
Next Act Theatre; the Hanreddy/Morgan version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at
Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville; a remount of WINTER'S TALES and
another new holiday show with John McGivern; BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR at
Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk; THE FLU SEASON for the MFA program at the
University of Tennessee and several casting projects for Cirque
du Soleil, with whom he is a Casting Partner. Mr. Morgan served
for six seasons as Milwaukee Rep’s Associate Artistic Director, directing
numerous productions there, including CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, A DELICATE BALANCE,
THE WEIR, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE and several of his own scripts, including
adaptations of GHOSTS, SOUNDING THE RIVER: HUCK FINN REVISTED and
a handful of shows for the Stackner Cabaret. Mr. Morgan is a graduate of Trinity
Rep Conservatory, a recipient of the Drama League of NY Director’s Project
fellowship; he and his work have been honored in Washington, DC with Helen
Hayes nominations and awards. Mr. Morgan has written for various magazines
and on grants from the Wisconsin Council for the Humanities, Irish Fest Foundation
and Pier Wisconsin. For advance production shots of A CHRISTMAS CAROL visit milwaukeerep.com. Milwaukee Repertory Theater Resident Acting Company Members who will appear
in this year’s production include: Lee E. Ernst (Reverend
Waghorn/Ghost of Jacob Marley/Jacob Marley/Old Joe); Torrey Hanson (Bob
Cratchit/Businessman); Gerard Neugent (Young Scrooge/Lighthouse
Man/Mourner) and James Pickering (Ebenezer Scrooge). Other actors to round out this year’s stellar cast include: Drew
Brhel (Mr. Grimgrind/Mr. Philpot/Fezziwig Worker/Sailor Captain); Carey
Cannon (Mrs. Crachit/Cook at Fezziwig’s); Wayne T.
Carr (Mr.
Twyce/Mr. Oatway/Milkman/Mr. Topper/Businessman/Mourner); Timothy Douglas (Mr.
Scadger/Ghost of Christmas Past/Barnaby); Nell Geisslinger (Belle/Lucy/Mourner/Mrs.
Oatway); Grant Goodman (Fred/Fezziwig Worker/Businessman); Elizabeth
Ledo (Catherine/Fan/Mrs. Miggott); Jonathan Smoots (Mr.
Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present) and Jenny Wanasek (Mrs.
Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig/Madeline). Members of the The Rep’s Acting Intern Company in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
this year include: Jesse Dornan (Ghost of Christmas Future), Jeffrey
Frieders, Rob Glidden (Mr. Mudd), Xzavien Hollins, Adam
C. Meredith, Mariel Neto, Annie Rubino, Dylan
Saunders, Olivia Williamson and Joetta Wright. The cast of A CHRISTMAS CAROL has 18 child actors. The children’s cast
includes: J.T. Backes (Peter Cratchit); Thaddeus Bruno (Dick
Wilkins); Keegan Cimler (Boy Scrooge); Peter deGuzman (Percy
Smudge); Maddy Ernst (Children’s Ensemble); Olivia
Gonzalez (Children’s Ensemble); Christiane Herrmann (Tiny
Tim); Sydney Kirkegaard (Martha Cratchit); Casey Kitzman (Children’s
Ensemble); Sophie Kobylinski (Mary Cratchit); Connor
Mills (Tiny Tim); Mitch Roehl (Ignorance/Emsemble); Veronica
Seher (Children’s Ensemble); Zachary Seher (Children’s
Ensemble); Kaitlyn Serketich (Belinda Cratchit); Sam
Skogstad (Children’s Ensemble); Megan Watson (Want/Ensemble)
and Emily Zaffiro (Alice Cratchit). The design/production team for A CHRISTMAS CAROL includes Marjorie Bradley
Kellogg (Scenic Designer); Martha Hally (Costume Designer); Nancy
Schertler (Lighting Designer); Aimee Hanyzewski (Associate
Lighting Designer); Barry G. Funderburg (Sound Designer); Lara
Leigh Dalbey (Makeup/Hair/Wig Designer); Randal Swiggum (Music
Director); Jenee O’Conner (Co-Music Director); Cate
Deicher (Dance Choreographer); Ed Burgess (Movement
Choreographer); Jack Greenman (Dialect Coach); Shawn
Guylas (Children’s Director); Briana J. Fahey (Stage
Manager); Amanda Weener (Assistant Stage Manager); Holly
Burnell (Assistant Stage Manager); Hannah Binish (Stage
Management Intern); Kate Roberts (Children’s Stage Manager)
and Dylan K. Sladky (Assistant Director).
Special Events for A CHRISTMAS CAROL SHARE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH THE CAST OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival The Jingle Bus returns this year and provides convenient transportation to view the Holiday Lights Festival for only $1, leaving from the Warming House location at Plankinton Arcade in The Shops of Grand Avenue, 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue between 6 – 9 pm on Thursdays through Sundays, November 20 through January 3. Hot cocoa, coffee and cookies will be served to awaiting Jingle Bus riders. Coloring books and crayons will also be distributed to the little ones. Call Milwaukee Downtown for more information at 414-220-4700 to receive a free holiday guide or visit their website at: MilwaukeeHolidayLights.com. LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT STOCKING STUFFER?
MILWAUKEE’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION! Generously Sponsored by FACT SHEET THEATER: Pabst Theater
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