Of the many adaptations of the
Charles Dickens classic, it is A Christmas Carol: The Musical by
composer Alan Menken (The Little
Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) and
lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island, Ragtime) that takes
the joy and celebration found in the novella and brings it to life on stage.
Charles Dickens, known for many
important works of literature like Oliver Twist and Great
Expectations, also wrote one of the most beloved stories about Christmas.
Published in 1843, professor and editor Richard Michael Kelly contextualized
Charles Dickens quintessential Christmas story as having ushered forth a
renewed vigor in celebrating “the most wonderful time of the year.” This
novella, A Christmas Carol, is as timeless as the holiday that it celebrates.
According to Professor Kelly,
Puritans in America and England stopped celebrating Christmas by the 17th
century and it wasn’t until the late 1830s that people began singing Christmas
carols in the streets again. The publication of the Charles Dickens novella and
its critical and commercial success brought back Christmas as we know it —the
giving of gifts and Christmas cards, the decoration of trees, and all the other
trappings of this beautiful holiday.
It is a story that we all know: a
bitter, old miser called Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas and calls it
“humbug.” But the three ghosts of the season — the ghost of Christmas past, the
ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas future— soon visit him
and they open up his eyes to the world. It is the journey of an angry, greedy,
and selfish individual and his discovery of the true meaning of Christmas.
It is a redemption story that is
so beautifully written that underneath its joyful celebration of giving and
love, it subtly takes stabs at the oppressive social structures prevalent in
Britain during that time. Significantly enough, that message still rings so
true today.
Christmas is a time for
celebration — for singing and dancing and being around people you love — and
that lends itself perfectly to musical theater. A Christmas Carol: The
Musical was written by Tony Award nominee Mike Ockrent and Tony Award
winner Lynn Ahrens, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Alan Menken;
winner of eleven Grammy Awards, eight Oscar Awards, seven Golden Globes, the
Olivier Award, Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and two Outer Critics Awards.
What better way to celebrate the
holiday cheer than a trip to the theater to remind yourself what the true
meaning of Christmas is.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical stars theater veteran Miguel
Faustmann as Ebenezer Scrooge, Ariel
Reonal as Jacob Marley, Norby David
as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Franz
Imperial as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ela Lisondra as the Ghost of Christmas Future, and introducing Rocco Buser and Dewayde Dizon as
Tiny Tim. It also stars Raul Montesa
as Bob Cratchit, Anna Santamaria as Mrs. Cratchit, Jun Ofrasio as Mr. Fezziwig,
Dawn Eduave as Mrs. Fezziwig, Nel Gomez as Fred, Al Gatmaitan as Young Ebenezer
Scrooge, Mitzie Lao as Emily, Gian Gloria as Sally, together with Tory Cortez,
Andre Ruelo and DM Garcia
alternating as Jonathon and Scrooge at 12,
Rayne Cortez and Ella Gonzalez as
Grace Smythe, Ornela Buser and Cerise Ramirez as Fan, Mari Yapjoco and Joe Ng as Fred’s son.
Rounding up the cast are Kyle
Francisco as Martha Cratchit, GM Hernandez as Mr. Smythe, JP Basco as Young Marley, Will Angeles as Beadle, Kendrick Ibasco as Mr. Hawkins, Josh Ramirez as John William Scrooge, Jonjon Martin as Harry, Mara Javier as Mrs. Mops, Mariella Laurel as Scrooge’s mother, Shalee Vicencio and Ina Salonga.
A Christmas Carol is directed by Robbie
Guevara, together with Onyl Torres as assistant director, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, PJ Rebullida & Yek Barlongay as
choreographers, Mio Infante as scenographer, Martin Esteva as lighting designer, Myrene
Santos as hair and makeup designer, Dong Calingacion as technical director, Philleep Masaquel as technical supervisor, Jaime Godinez & Rards Corpus as
Sound Designers, Chuck Ledesma as
sound effects designer, GA Fallarme as
video & projection designer, Ian Cartalaba as
costume supervisor & design assistant.
Heading
the production team are executive producers Santi Santamaria (9 Works
Theatrical) and Joe Caliro (Globe Live), Denise Seva (Globe Live Director for Events and
Production), with 9 Works Theatrical’s Anna Santamaria as company manager, Toff de Venecia as PR director, Jonjon Martin and Issa Tuason as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, Arma Bonilla as stage manager, JC Inocian as photographer, and Gian
Nicdao as graphic designer.
A
Christmas Carol will be shown on December 3
to 4, 9 to 11 & 16 to 18, 21 & 22, 2016 at 8:00pm, and December 25,
2016 at 7:00pm, at Globe Iconic Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, Bonifacio
Global City, Taguig.
To stay updated
on the ticket availability, just
contact 586.7105, 0917.554.5560, Ticketworld at 891.9999, or email info@9workstheatrical.com.
Facebook: 9WorksTheatrical. Twitter & Instagram: @9WTonline.
Facebook: GlobePH. YouTube: GlobePH. Twitter & Instagram:
@enjoyGlobe.
Hashtag: #Globe9WTAChristmasCarol
A Christmas Carol
is
brought to you by 9 Works Theatrical & Globe Live, presented by MasterCard
& HUAWEI, co-presented by FOX, Star World & Bonifacio High Street, with Makeup Forever as the official makeup partner, Uniquely Pinoy and
MVNDO.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is presented through special arrangement
with Music Theatre International (MTI).
*Text from press release. Furst three photos from the top by the author; the rest from press release.
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