Pioneer Theatre Company Presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL, 11/30-12/15

Pioneer Theatre Company presents A Christmas Carol: The Musical November 30 – December 15, 2012. Following a ten-year run of sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden, this new musical by the eight-time Oscar-winning composer of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid is sure to provide a festive evening of entertainment for the whole family.

Jamie Jackson plays the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Jackson's theatre credits include: The 39 Steps (off-Broadway), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (National Tour), Sweeney Todd, Phantom, My Fair Lady (Gateway Playhouse), Annie, Michael Archangel (Fulton Theatre), The Brain That Wouldn't Die! (NYMF), Great Expectations (Goodspeed Opera), King Lear, The Crucible, Henry IV, Part 1 (Sydney Theatre Company). His TV credits include Zero Hour and Flight of the Conchords, and he appeared in the film My Man Is a Loser. This is his PTC debut.

The cast of characters that interact with Scrooge on that famous Christmas Eve include Kevin Earley as Bob Cratchit, Ephie Aardema as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Gerry McIntyre as The Ghost of Christmas Present, Justin Ivie as Jacob Marley, Robert Anthony Jones and Keala Settle as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, and Anson Bagley as Tiny Tim. The ensemble also includes actor/singer/dancers Jessica Azenberg, Jaron Barney, Jessica Blair, Lenny Daniel, Ian Doherty, Cecily Ellis-Bills, Alexandra Hicken, David Guy Holmes, Jeff Kuhr, Gregory Neff, Adam Pellegrine, and Dance Captain Nikol Wolf. Child actors Christian Labertew, Noah Mayfield, Abigail Scott, Maggie Scott, Emily Terran, and Flynn White round out the cast.

PTC's Artistic Director Karen Azenberg directs and choreographs the production. A Christmas Carol: The Musical marks her directorial debut since assuming the position of PTC Artistic Director. In previous seasons as a guest artist, Azenberg directed the regional premiere of Next to Normal, as well as Rent and Miss Saigon. She created the musical staging for the record-breaking 2007 production of Les Misérables. Originally from New York, her work there includes Lyrics and Lyricists (92nd St. Y), Blocks (a collaboration with Jonathan Larson), Prom Queens Unchained, and choreography for Richard Greenberg's The Dazzle (Roundabout). Other credits include national tours of Carousel and Brigadoon, Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Regional Theatre Premiere at Geva), West Side Story (over 15 productions; Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Choreography), A Christmas Memory (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), and Same Time Next Year (Indiana Repertory Theatre). Azenberg is on the board of the New York Musical Theatre Festival and is the President of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Tom Griffin is the show's musical director and conductor. Scenic design is by PTC resident artist George Maxwell. Carol Wells-Day designs costumes for this production. Lighting design is by guest designer Phil Monat. Hair and makeup design is by PTC resident designer Amanda Fench. Sound design is by PTC resident designer Matthew Tibbs.

Performances run from November 30 through December 15 at 7:30PM on Mondays through Thursdays, 8PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2PM on Saturdays at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre (300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City.) Tickets are $38 - $59 in advance and $5 more when purchased the day of the performance. Kids in grades K – 12 are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, call the box office at 801-581-6961 (from 10AM-6PM, Mondays-Fridays) or visit www.pioneertheatre.org.

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