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a christmas carol

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

December 2, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 9 Comments

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!

 

 

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews Tagged With: a christmas carol, Dayton Playhouse

ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: A Christmas Carol (Zoot Theatre Company) – Holiday Whimsy

December 13, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. Leave a Comment

A CHRISTMAS CAROL -John Gary Thompson, JJ Parkey, Heather Atkinson and Lizzy Miller (Photo: Scott J. Kimmins)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL -John Gary Thompson, JJ Parkey, Heather Atkinson and Lizzy Miller (Photo: Scott J. Kimmins)

Excellent puppetry boosts Zoot Theatre Company’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Dayton Art Institute.

 
As the familiar, redemptive Christmas Eve journey of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge transpires, adapted and helmed by Aaron Vega, it’s difficult not to be amazed by puppet designer D. Tristan Cupp’s artistry. Every marvelously detailed creation brims with personality from Ebenezer’s beak-like nose and thin frame to an adorably diminutive youngster with a penchant for caroling. Most eye-catching is his clever reimagining of the Ghost of Christmas Past (recounting Ebenezer’s history in the form of a film projector) and the Ghost of Christmas Present (a humorous copper conception). Due to the slight monotony of Vega’s narrative-driven adaptation, which emotionally resonates but could have been better paced without an intermission, Cupp’s contributions, which also include fine illustrations, are vital to selling the story in a fresh, unexpected fashion.
 
Still, Vega sprinkles the proceedings with inspired moments including the wonderful reveal of Ebenezer’s late partner Jacob Marley (expertly lit by John Rensel) and the spooky use of videography for the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. His decision to place the actors in shadow late in Act Two is a notable misstep (the actors are occasionally unintelligible which slows the action), but his staging is atmospheric, fluid and playful nonetheless.
 
Exhibiting great versatility as puppeteers, the compatible cast, adopting decent British accents and nicely costumed with a Victorian sensibility by Shirley P. Wasser, features the welcomed return of Wright State University theater graduates Ryan James Imhoff and JJ Parkey along with Heather Atkinson, Lizzy Miller and J. Gary Thompson. The tall, striking Imhoff is a terrifically conflicted Young Ebenezer and an absolutely earthy delight as the boozy Ghost of Christmas Present. Parkey, bubbly and expressive as ever, is a funny, genial and warm Bob Cratchit as well as a fittingly ominous Marley. Atkinson and Miller, a charming pair, respectively shine as Mrs. Cratchit and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Oddly, Thompson, comfortably strapped to the Ebenezer puppet akin to Julie Taymor’s visualization of Timon in “The Lion King,” is more cranky than colorful, lessening his appeal in a role with numerous layers. Even so, he endearingly reiterates the joy permeating throughout Ebenezer’s chuckle-inducing transformation, which remains the ultimate heartwarming hallmark of this enduring tale.
 
“A Christmas Carol” continues through Dec. 15 in the NCR Renaissance Auditorium of the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Act One: 45 minutes; Act Two: 48 minutes. Tickets are priced at $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and $12 for children 12 and under. For tickets, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org. For more information, visit http://zootttheatrecompany.org.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews Tagged With: a christmas carol, Aaron Vega, Heather Atkinson, J. Gary Thompson, JJ Parkey, John Rensel, Lizzy Miller, Ryan James Imhoff, Shirley P. Wasser, tristan cupp, Zoot Theatre Company

Coming up in Dayton theatre, 12/14 – 12/23

December 13, 2012 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Hello again, one and all. I can’t believe that this edition will bring us right up to the edge of Christmas and, ergo, nearly to the dawn of 2013. Things do tend to slow down a bit as we coast into the Holiday Season, most shows are done with their runs before Christmas and new ones don’t really start up again until we get into January. But there are still several offerings out here for you to sample. For starts!

Closing This Weekend!

12 Dancing Princess

Xenia Area Community Theatre (X*ACT)

The Skinny:X*ACT bills this production as a “Holiday family show,” and indeed this story is one that will please the youngest among us. Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, it follows the 12 daughters of a king who are locked in their bedroom each night, and yet appear each morning with shoes worn out from dancing.

Dates: Closing on the 16th.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the door, for more information please visit the X*ACT website, here.

A Christmas Carol

Zoot Theatre Company

The Skinny: Dayton’s puppet theatre company takes on Dickens seasonal classic, delightfully retelling this classic morality play as only Zoot can.

Dates: Closing this weekend, on the 15th.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Art Institute website, here.

Scrooge

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Adapted from the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” this musical closely follows the classic story with the miserly Ebenezer undergoing a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas past, present and future.

Dates: Three performances left, closing on 12/16.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Playhouse website, here.

Annie

Troy Civic Theatre

The Skinny: The famous musical version of Lil’ Orphan Annie is,indeed, a Christmas-set offering. This show is a heart-warming favorite, sure to please families with kids, or without.

Dates: One more weekend, closing on the 15th.

Tickets: Tickets are available for reservation by calling 937-339-7700. Pricing information can be found at the Troy Civic Theatre website, here.

Continuing!

Oliver!

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: Christmas Eve in London, 1838. A small group of working-class, wayward souls gather in a tavern to celebrate when a small, unexpected guest prompts a spontaneous telling of the popular Oliver Twist. With traditional music-hall flair, they delve into Charles Dickens’ haunting moral tale as the lines between story and reality blur. Sized perfectly for The Loft Theatre, this reimagining of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical will touch your heart and challenge your spirit. It’s Oliver with a twist, indeed! Dayton Most Metro’s Russell Florence reviewed Oliver! Click here to read it!

Dates: You’ve got several more chances to catch this wonderful production, which runs through the 22nd.

Tickets: Tickets are available through the Human Race Theatre Company website, here.

One Weekend Only!

In The Spotlight!

Playhouse South

The Skinny: Playhouse Souths annual revue-style evening of musical theatre selections, this year entitled “At The Movies” and featuring numbers from musicals, TV shows and movies.

Dates: Two performances only, December 2oth and 21st.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Playhouse South website, here.

 

So, that all gives you plenty to see up to Christmas eve eve eve (12/22)!  Remember, a night at the theatre is not only a wonderful date, it’s also a splendid holiday gift! There’s 9 days til Christmas and 2 nights of Hanukkah left…head to your favorite theatre box office and buy tickets!

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Tagged With: a christmas carol, annie, Chris Shea, christmas musicals, christmas theatre, Dayton Playhouse, Kevin Moore, oliver, Playhouse South, Scott Stoney, scrooge, the human race theatre company, The Loft Theatre, tristan cupp, troy civic theatre, xact, Zoot Theatre Company

Coming up in Dayton Theatre, 11/30 – 12/9

November 29, 2012 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Welcome back, theatre lover! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’ve gotten into the cinematic heavyweight season now, with all the studios releasing their highly anticipated pieces, hoping to garner little golden statues. But remember, there are also pieces of theatre in the area just as highly anticipated and every bit as delightful!

Closing This Weekend!

 

White Christmas

The Schuster Center

The Skinny: Irving Berlin’s classic Christmas tale comes to the Schuster Center stage in all it’s glory!

Dates: Only a few performances left, closing on Sunday, 12/2!

Tickets: All ticketing information is available online, here

 

Now Running!

A Tuna Christmas

The Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: It’s Christmas time and local radio personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie tell us all about the annual Christmas lawn display contest that Viola Carp keeps winning (14 times), the troubled local production of A Christmas Carol and along the way introduce us to a host of colorful characters, each one funnier than the last, in this little mythical Texas town.  Two actors portray more than twenty roles in this hilarious production.

Dates: A Tuna Christmas runs 2 more weekends, closing Sunday the 9th. The Saturday performances for this weekend and next are at 5 pm.

Tickets: Ticketing information is available via the DTG website, here.

Opening This Weekend!

Oliver!

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: Christmas Eve in London, 1838. A small group of working-class, wayward souls gather in a tavern to celebrate when a small, unexpected guest prompts a spontaneous telling of the popular Oliver Twist. With traditional music-hall flair, they delve into Charles Dickens’ haunting moral tale as the lines between story and reality blur. Sized perfectly for The Loft Theatre, this reimagining of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical will touch your heart and challenge your spirit. It’s Oliver with a twist, indeed!

Dates: With a run extended past it’s original dates, Oliver! now opens Friday, 11/30 and runs through 12/22, making it a perfect Christmastime date.

Tickets: Tickets are available online at the Human Race Theatre Company website, here.

Scrooge

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Adapted from the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” this musical closely follows the classic story with the miserly Ebenezer undergoing a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas past, present and future.

Dates: Opening on 11/30 and running three weekends to close 12/16.

Tickets: Tickets are available online at the Dayton Playhouse website, here.

A Christmas Carol

Zoot Theatre Company

The Skinny: Dayton’s puppet theatre company takes on Dickens seasonal classic, retelling a familiar story in the way only Zoot can.

Dates: Opening 11/30 and running 3 weekends, closing December 15th.

Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase online at the Dayton Art Institute website, here.

Annie

Troy Civic Theatre

The Skinny: The famous musical version of Lil’ Orphan Annieis,indeed, a Christmas-set offering. This show is a heart-warming favorite, sure to please families with kids, or without.

Dates: Opening 11/30 and running 3 weekends, to close on 12/15.

Tickets: Tickets are available for reservation by calling 937-339-7700. Pricing information can be found at the Troy Civic Theatre website, here.

One Night Only!

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Tipp City Players

The Skinny: Another Christmas-themed offering; Tipp City is bring a readers-theatre rendition of the Dr. Seuss morality play of a green man whose heart “grew three sizes that day.”

Tickets: Admission is free, but donations are warmly appreciated. Information is available on the Tipp City Players website, here.

 

 

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews Tagged With: a christmas carol, a tuna christmas, charles dickens, christmas musicals, christmas theatre, dayton theatre guild, oliver, puppet theatre, the human race theatre company, The Loft Theatre, the schuster center, the victoria theatre association, tristan cupp, White Christmas, Zoot Theatre Company

Coming Up In Dayton Theatre, 11/16 – 12/2

November 15, 2012 By Sarah Caplan Leave a Comment

Among the offerings in this installment I get to tell you about four different pieces of literature being brought to the stage by 5 area theatres. What is it about novels that make such good theatrical fodder? Our tour of books-on-stages begins with:

Closing This Weekend!

 

The Never Ending Story

Kettering Children’s Theatre

The Skinny: Lovers of the classic 1984 fantasy movie of the same name are probably already aware that it was first a book by Michael Ende. KCT’s production of this tale of adventure and self-discovery uses charming puppets (made by local artisan Ayn Wood) to bring to life  the Gnomics and fan favorite Falkor (the Luckdragon) among others. KCT is theatre for children and by children.

Dates: One weekend left, Friday and Saturday (11/16 and 17) performances are at a family-friendly 7 pm and Sunday (11/18) is at 2.

Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase at the door (cash only). For any information further, please call the Rosewood Arts Center office at (937) 296-0294

 

 

 

 

Legally Blonde

Playhouse South

The Skinny: A musical retelling of the story of Elle Woods’ journey through Harvard Law. Most people are familiar, at least passingly, with the 2001 Reese Witherspoon movie of the same name, but Did You Know: That movie was based on a novel by the same name.
Dates:  Two performances left, Friday and Saturday (11/16 and 17).

Tickets: For ticketing information, please visit the Playhouse South website, here.

 

You Better Watch Out

Brookville Community Theatre

The Skinny:A heartwarming holiday comedy about family, love and the spirit of Christmas

Dates: One weekend left! Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets: Reservations are highly recommended and may be made by calling the Brookville Flower Shop at 937-833-3531

Opening Next Weekend!

Scrooge!

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Based on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, this musical closely follows the classic story with the miserly Ebenezer undergoing a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas past, present and future.

Dates: Weekends, opening Friday Nov 30 and closing Sunday Dec 16.

Tickets: For all reservation and purchase information, please visit the Dayton Playhouse Website, here.

Speaking of Dickens…

A Christmas Carol

The Zoot Theatre Company

The Skinny: Like Scrooge!, but with less singing. This is a more straight-forward retelling of the ghostly holiday favorite, using Zoot’s signature beautiful puppetry.

Dates: Weekends, November 30th through December 15th.

Tickets:  Online ticketing for this event doesn’t seem to be working just now, but a wealth of event information can be found on the ZTC event page on Facebook, here.

Speaking of Dickens (wait, that sounds familiar…)

 

Oliver!

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: Christmas Eve in London, 1838. A small group of working-class, wayward souls gather in a tavern to celebrate when a small, unexpected guest prompts a spontaneous telling of the popular Oliver Twist. With traditional music-hall flair, they delve into Charles Dickens’ haunting moral tale as the lines between story and reality blur. Sized perfectly for The Loft Theatre, this reimagining of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical will touch your heart and challenge your spirit. It’s Oliver with a twist, indeed!

Dates: The original dates of the run have been extended, and now the show will open 11/29 and run through 12/22, making tickets a perfect Hanukkah or early-Christmas present!

Tickets: All ticketing information can be found online, here.

A Tuna Christmas

The Dayton Theatre Guild

The Skinny: It’s Christmas time and local radio personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie tell us all about the annual Christmas lawn display contest that Viola Carp keeps winning (14 times), the troubled local production of A Christmas Carol and along the way introduce us to a host of colorful characters, each one funnier than the last, in this little mythical Texas town.  Two actors portray more than twenty roles in this hilarious production.

Dates: November 23rd – December 9th. Remember, in the 2nd and 3rd weekends, Saturday performances are at 5:00 pm.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Theatre Guild website, here.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

The Victoria Theatre Association

The Skinny: The beloved musical movie of the same name stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen and features some of Berlin’s best-known songs including “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” and the title song that you may have heard once or twice before.

Dates: November 27th through December 2nd.

Tickets: For ticketing information, please visit the Victoria Theatre Association website, here.

 

Audition Notice!

Ghosts

Directed by Matthew Smith

Dayton Theatre Guild

The Guild is bringing to life Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama. The ‘‘ghosts’’ in this play are taboo topics that cannot be openly discussed.  This drama is one of Ibsen’s most powerful works, but also one of his most controversial.  Family sins are revisited when a son returns home to dedicate an orphanage in his father’s name and becomes involved in a tryst that ends in the painful knowledge of long suppressed family truths.

 Dates: November 26th and 27th.
For more information, including a breakdown of characters and ages, as well as audition requirements, please visit the auditions page of the DTG website, here.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Tagged With: a christmas carol, charles dickens, christmas theatre, dayton community theatre, dayton theatre guild, Human Race Theatre Company, kettering children's theatre, oliver, Playhouse South, scrooge, the dayton playhouse, the victoria theatre association

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