A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Philip Grecian
A radio play staged reading directed by Angela Howell
A familiar story told as a radio drama onstage, complete with sound effects and music cues, A Christmas Carol begins with the storyteller and his friends discussing the tale they will tell. They decide on an opening line, and the storyteller begins, transforming into the mean and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge as he speaks. Throughout, the storyteller remains in the Scrooge characterization as the other actors narrate in their natural voices while assuming new voices and dialects, becoming every character in the tale. A Christmas Carol is staged with minimal costuming and a simple set. The actors read from scripts at the three floor microphones downstage while all sound effects and music are performed live. The original Dickens story is all here: Scrooge refuses a Christmas dinner invitation from his nephew, Fred, turns away charity workers raising money for the poor and bullies his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Jacob Marley makes his visit while the sound effects crew shakes chains and the music director plays eerie chords. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to Fezziwig's party, and we hear the music and the dancing feet on the wooden floor. The Ghost of Christmas Present leads him through the streets of London to his nephew's house, where he joins, invisibly, in a guessing game, discovering how much fun he can have if he opens his heart, just in time to visit Bob Cratchit's family and open his heart to Tiny Tim. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, whose "voice" is provided by the music director's keyboard, shows Scrooge his horrible fate. Scrooge awakens at home a changed man as he turns back into the storyteller to finish the story and Tiny Tim delivers the final line, "God bless us, every one!" Originally produced by public television station KTWU in Kansas, A Christmas Carol has aired on television throughout North America.
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois
Featuring Gannon Celebrities:
Dec. 1st: Dr. Walter Iwanenko
Dec. 2nd: Dr. Lori Lindley
Dec. 3rd: Dr. Sarah Ewing
Dec. 8th: Edwin Voll
Dec. 9th: Dr. Keith Taylor
Dec. 10th at 2pm: Dr. Karinna Vernaza
Dec. 10th at 8pm: Dr. Steven Ropski
Gannon Students can enter the coupon code DICKENS for $5 off of the sale price. One code per transaction. You will need to show your student ID when arriving to the theatre.
Box office opens at 7PM and seating starts thirty minutes prior to curtain. There is no late seating available.
We will be holding a
food drive to benefit Gannon’s Store U-Knighted for Student Food Emergencies.
Donations will be collected at the show. Those who sign up to bring a donation
at this link (must be logged into a Microsoft Outlook account) will have their name entered
in a drawing to win a $100 gift card.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL Thursday, December 1 2022, 8pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Friday, December 2 2022, 8pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Saturday, December 3 2022, 8pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Thursday, December 8 2022, 8pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Friday, December 9 2022, 8pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Saturday, December 10 2022, 2pm
$10.00
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Saturday, December 10 2022, 8pm
$10.00
Buy now
UPCOMING AUDITIONS
Auditions for DUSK: A BITE-SIZE LOVE STORY, an original Twilight parody musical written and directed by Morgan Kennedy with music by Daniel Ruffing and George Meucci, will be held next week at the Schuster Theatre.
AUDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE:
Tuesday, December 6: 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, December 7: 7pm to 9pm
The musical is still in development and will have its first workshop performance at Gannon University's Schuster Theater February 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25, 2023.
We are seeking actor/singer/dancers who are excited to work on a developing production. A positive attitude, flexibility, and great work ethic is required.
Please prepare a monologue and song of your choice and be ready to learn a dance. We intend to cast a large ensemble.
As always, Schuster Theatre welcomes community members to audition with the understanding that the education of Gannon students comes first and they may be given preferential casting.
DUSK is broody and fun parody of the first installment of the Twilight Saga, which had an undeniable grip on the world in the early 2000s (and an undeniable grip on meme culture ever since). Whether you love, hate, or love to hate Twilight, this show is for you.
*DUSK: A BITE-SIZE LOVE STORY is no longer attached to the Gannon trip to Scotland in August 2023.*
CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)
R COLLINS - Child. Bia and Edwin’s half-human half-vampire daughter. Stubborn, sassy, Gen Z.
BIA COLLINS - Immortal 18 y/o. Reluctant mother and uncomfortable narrator. Vampire.
BIA STORK - 17. Uncomfortably awkward. Is “not like other girls.” Human.
CHUCK STORK - Late 40s. Bia’s dad. He loves beer, baseball, and fishing. He is new to this whole parenting thing; evidenced by his palpably awkward but well-meaning relationship with Bia. He has a secret infatuation with “Dr. Daddy.” Human.
THE COLLINS FAMILY
AURA - Immortal. Psychic. Bubbly, bossy, and omniscient. She is always seen with some type of divination tool (Tarot cards, scrying runes, a Magic 8 Ball, etc.). Vampire.
JULIUS - Immortal. Silent. He always looks extremely anxious. Former soldier. Vampire.
EGGLET - Immortal. The ultimate himbo. Head empty, no thoughts. Very bro-y. He lives for gainz and a good time. Vampire.
GEMMA - Immortal. “Best known for too much bronzer and always being on a diet.” Essex native with a strong English accent. Not at all supportive of Bia and Edwin’s romance. Vampire.
EDWIN - Eternally 17, and eternally emo. Very broody and conflicted. Struggles with a personal sense of morality and existentialism. Bia’s love interest. Vampire.
DR. DAD - Vampire patriarch. Supportive father and loving husband. The town’s lead surgeon. He has amazing patience and self-control, and a special soft spot for Edwin. Vampire.
MOM - Collins family matriarch. Doting wife and mother. Extremely nurturing and gentle. ‘50s housewife ideal. Vampire.
ENSEMBLE - High school students/dancers. A few featured ensemble roles available. Mostly human.
Your support will have a direct impact in helping us reach our $12,000 goal to get our students to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024! Visit https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/Fringe23 to donate today!
Up Next in Our 2022-2023 Season
NEXT TO NORMAL by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt
Next to Normal, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Next to Normal was also chosen as "one of the year's ten best shows" by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times. Dad's an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling manic depression for 16 years. Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart. This deeply moving piece of theatre provides a wonderful opportunity for performers to explore dramatic material and showcase vocal talents with an energetic pop/rock score. Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life.
April 20-29, 2023
Did you enjoy our production of THE TEMPEST?
- Our tip jar is still open! Share the love and help us get to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland next summer!
