A.C.T. Presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL 12/3-27

American Conservatory Theater presents the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by acclaimed Bay Area director and actor Domenique Lozano. A.C.T.'s annual production of this beloved family-friendly gem has been called "a Carol built to banish ‘bah humbugs' for years to come" (The Oakland Tribune) and "a holiday treat for the entire family" (KGO Radio). A sparkling, music-infused celebration of goodwill, A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol stars Bay Area favorite James Carpenter as Scrooge for his fourth year in this iconic role. A.C.T. core acting company members Gregory Wallace and René Augesen make their A Christmas Carol debuts as Bob and Anne Cratchit and are joined by fellow company member Jack Willis, who returns as the Ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's nightmarish late-night visitor. A Christmas Carol runs December 3-27, 2009, and press night is Tuesday, December 8, at 7 p.m. As advance sales for this season's production of A Christmas Carol are 45% ahead of last year, early ticket purchasing is recommended. VIP seating is available for all performances of A Christmas Carol. Holders of VIP tickets enjoy the best seats in the house, a limited-edition A Christmas Carol souvenir book, access to the Carol Lounge during intermission, and intermission treats. Tickets, starting at $14, are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

"Dramatizations of A Christmas Carol have become an important American family ritual at holiday time, regardless of individual religious background or faith. In the last two seasons, parents and grandparents have told us that the Carol experience is more important than ever," says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. "With everyone tightening their belts at this time, we are so proud that A.C.T. can continue to be a part of Bay Area families' holiday traditions." A.C.T. is committed to making this family-oriented classic affordable for the Bay Area with family four-packs and special group discounts. With family four-packs, a family of four can attend select performances of A Christmas Carol for the price of two tickets-as low as $32. Visit www.act-sf.org/promotions or call 415.749.2228 and mention the code "MARLEY" to receive more information and to purchase family four-packs. This limited-time offer ends December 3 and is subject to availability. Groups of 15 or more receive discounts up to 50% for A Christmas Carol. Contact Edward Budworth, A.C.T. group sales manager, at 415.439.2473 for more information about group discounts and to purchase.

Originated in 2004, this version of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff, stays true to the heart of Dickens's timeless story of redemption and brings a playful sensibility to his rich language. Each of the four ghosts that haunt the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and lead him to his transformation are theatrically staged: a children's favorite, Scrooge's former business partner, Jacob Marley (Willis), clad in chains, climbs out of Scrooge's bed; the Ghost of Christmas Present (Bay Area favorite BW Gonzalez) is a Bacchic spirit of fecundity and abundance, robed in striated green velvet; the Ghost of Christmas Past (member of the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program class of 2010 David Jacobs, in his A.C.T. mainstage debut) is a candle, "lit from within, emanating radiance, who descends on a swing," says Perloff; and the Ghost of Christmas Future is a giant black ghost puppet that takes over the entire stage of the American Conservatory Theater. Dickens's lovely descriptions of the abundance of Christmas bounty are staged as "The Waltz of the Opulent Fruit," with six young actors taking on the roles of French plums, Turkish figs, and Spanish onions, to the delight of audiences. Perloff adds: "Dickens believed that triggering the imagination is the key to triggering change in a person's heart. Scrooge's remarkable transformation is brought about by three ghosts. Ghosts! Dickens realized that if Scrooge's imagination could be stimulated, it would be possible for him to wake up on Christmas morning an entirely new man. What an incredible endorsement of the power of art."

Now in its 33rd year at A.C.T., A Christmas Carol is a cornerstone of the A.C.T. repertory and has become a holiday tradition for families from all around the Bay Area. Performed to date nearly 1,000 times to a collective audience of more than 800,000, A Christmas Carol has employed nearly 1,000 actors and 600 backstage staff. "I adore this play," says director Lozano. "It's a thrill to work on this story, which is about community, with a community of artists for which it is tailor-made."

A holiday event for audiences of all ages, A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol features a multigenerational cast of performers led by James Carpenter as Ebenezer Scrooge. Joining Carpenter are A.C.T. core acting company members Jack Willis as the Ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's nightmarish late-night visitor, Gregory Wallace as Bob Cratchit, and René Augesen as his wife, Anne Cratchit. Acclaimed Bay Area actors Jarion Monroe and Sharon Lockwood return as the ever-festive Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, along with BW Gonzalez, who will be reprising her role as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Rounding out the cast are 22 young actors from the A.C.T. Young Conservatory and the entire third-year class of the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program. The M.F.A. Program performers-many of whom traditionally receive their Actors' Equity cards as a result of their participation in A Christmas Carol -are Nick Childress, Jon Gentry, Caroline Hewitt, Sara Hogrefe, Sophia Holman, Omozé Idehenre, David Jacobs, Emily Kitchens, Mairin Lee, Lakisha May, Philip Mills, Kyle Schaefer, Alex Ubokudom, and Tobie L. Windham. This beautiful production features sets by Tony Award-winning designer John Arnone (The Who's Tommy and The Full Monty on Broadway) and period costumes by Beaver Bauer of Teatro ZinZanni. With original songs and score by composer Karl Lundeberg and choreography by Val Caniparoli of San Francisco Ballet, A Christmas Carol also features lighting design by Nancy Schertler, sound design by Jake Rodriguez, and musical direction by Laura Burton.

A.C.T.'s A Christmas Carol is made possible by generous support from presenting sponsor AT&T and producing sponsor Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Additional support for A Christmas Carol is provided by Wells Fargo.