The Clarence Brown Theatre production of Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol" runs Nov. 29 through Dec. 22.
Featuring a cast of 30, lavish costumes and sets and music and merriment, this production has all the trimmings for a joyous family event.
"We’re creating a production which is a highly theatrical, and yet fairly specific, ‘realistic’ representation of time and place," said visiting guest director Edward Morgan. "Wonderful, textured costumes take us from the London of 1842 to Scrooge’s 18th century boyhood, and then all around the world. We meet poor Cockney folk and respectable Londoners. The multi-layered set conjures the dingy, crowded London streets and easily moves us from outside to inside locations while embracing the audience in a kind of storyteller’s frame. It’s an exciting set," Morgan said.
Originally written to help Dickens pay off a debt, "A Christmas Carol" was first published on December 19, 1843. Instantly successful, the morality tale about Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time.
"Jed Diamond is a terrific actor and his Scrooge will truly be memorable cruel, crusty, comical and finally quite moving," Morgan said.
"Around Jed is a cast of nearly 30 talented actors, including locals, graduate and undergraduate students and a handful of charming kids. This is going be a special event for the theatre, the university and the Knoxville community."
Diamond (Ebenezer Scrooge) is head of the graduate Acting program at UT. He has appeared on the Clarence Brown stage in A Flea in Her Ear, Born Yesterday, All the Way Home, and as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in 2005. Tiny Tim is Knoxville native Gregory Croisdale who is 7 years old. William ‘Phil’ Childress, a 2nd grade student at Green Magnet Math and Science Academy, also will play Tiny Tim. David Brian Alley (Bob Cratchit) is a CBT Resident Artist now in his eighth season, and also teaches acting for the Department of Theatre. Christopher Tramantana (Jacob Marley/Old Joe/Ensemble) is a third year Acting MFA student. Zack Fine (Fred) is in his third year of graduate Acting training.
Musical director Terry Silver-Alford is a member of the UT Theatre faculty and teaches Musical Theatre Performance, Acting, and Introduction to the Theatre. He has directed or musically directed over 100 productions and has created the scores for four original musicals and a variety of chamber and vocal music pieces. He is also creating original music for the upcoming production of The Life of Galileo, and directing the CBT spring musical Guys and Dolls.
Faculty and staff save $5 on regular admission, making tickets $15 for weeknights and matinees and $20 for Friday and Saturday night performances. For tickets, call the Clarence Brown Theatre box office at 865-974-5161, Tickets Unlimited at 865-656-4444 or online at http://clarencebrowntheatre.com/.