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Fellow Passengers to Take Audiences on a Journey ** Ticket Contest**

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Fellow Passengers-1048Let’s play a game.
Name this line:

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round… as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on their journeys.”

 

Well – if you’re not sure – you’re not alone. This line is from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, although you wouldn’t know it from the many, many (many, many, many) variations you’ve no doubt seen over the years. The Dayton Playhouse will Fellow Passengers-1134remedy that with an adaptation of the holiday classic that more closely resembles the original.

 

Fellow Passengers (which takes its name from the above quote) is a three-person reading that closely follows the original text. Megan Cooper, Franklin Johnson and Charles Larkowski bring audiences on a journey over the course of the evening as we watch Scrooge discover the meaning of Christmas. Directed by Dodie Lockwood, the language is the true star of the show. Costume pieces are hinted at – a cap here, a shawl there – just enough to convey the multiple characters portrayed by each actor. Lights and music shift as Scrooge journeys from scene to scene and learns what Christmas means.

 

Audiences who are familiar with the tale know that Scrooge’s old friend Marley introduces him to three ghosts who remind him of who he used to be and show him the direction his life is heading if he doesn’t change. But there’s so much more to the story. Fellow Passengers strips away the spectacle (huge sets, elaborate costumes, multiple song breaks) that occasionally accompanies holiday shows and focuses on that classic story.  According to Lockwood, this adaptation is “chock full of the beautiful language of Dickens’ original work.”

 

Fellow Passengers-1115
 Lockwood continues, “I was fortunate to find this beautifully written piece and was taken with it immediately. It has previously been produced only in Seattle, so we are happy to premiere it in Dayton. The play slips in and out of Dickens’ richly drawn characters and transports us adventurously through the old streets of London to witness Scrooge’s past, present and future. This unique script is quite a challenge for even these three very talented actors.”

 

This fresh adaptation was written by Greg Carter, director of the Strawberry Workshop in Seattle, Washington. Performed by Chuck Larkowski, Megan Cooper, and Franklin Johnson, each playing multiple roles. Nostalgic Victorian Christmas carols performed by local musicians Michael and Sandy Bashaw, will be featured throughout the production along with original pieces developed by the Bashaws for this presentation. Dodie Lockwood is directing the production assisted by Richard Brock. Set design by Chris Newman; Light design by Anita ; Costumes by Robin Farinet; Produced by Kelli Locker. Sound and Light support from Josh Davis and Greg Nichols.

SPECIAL DAYTON MOST METRO DEAL! For the Thursday, December 12 performance ONLY – you can attend for only $10 if you mention that you saw it on Dayton Most Metro. Fellow Passengers-1099Also – see below for a great ticket giveaway opportunity.

Fellow Passengers will open Friday, December 6 and will run through December 15. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Dayton Playhouse is at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH 45414. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Special discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more, with an additional group discount on Thursday, December 12. Reservations are encouraged and may be made at www.daytonplayhouse.com, or by calling the Dayton Playhouse box office at 937-424-8477. The box office is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., however, messages may be left at any time and calls will be returned. Group sales must be done directly through the box office.

Fellow Passengers B&W-1075  DMM does have a couple of pairs of tickets to give away for some lucky readers to see this show as our guests.  If you’d like to enter the drawing to win these tickets, just comment below and share this story on your page and fill out the entry below.
Our contest has ended.  Congratulations to ticket winners Amy Feltner and Steve Stawser!

 

 

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