A new musical adaptation of the Classic Christmas story by Dickens, A Christmas Carol, is set to open at the Arts Theatre November 25th of 2009 with music set by Steve Edis and directed by Susie McKenna. Previews will be open to the public beginning on November 11th and the show will run until January 10th 2010.
Scrooge will be played by Gareth Hale who is best known for his part in the comedic partnership of Hale and Pace. Together with Pace he was responsible for television programming such as Pushing Up Daisies, The Saturday Gang, and The Management. Hale?s acting credits include his role as Doug MacKenzie on Family Affairs from 2003-2005 and his role in The Royal as Jack Bell.
Also scheduled to make appearances in the Christmas musical are Simon Lipkin, Michael Matus, and Rebecca Thornhill.
Set design will be by Lotte Collet, Choreography by Frank Thompson, and lighting by David Howe. Richard Brooker will be responsible for sound, Ian MacGregor will be the musical director, and the entire show will be produced by Tiny Tim Productions.
The plot the adaptation of A Christmas Carol is simple and recognized by most with main character Sidney who hates Christmas accidentally getting locked in a theatre with his nephew Danny who are forced to perform the musical in front of the audience.
Alongside the two main characters, two out of work actors, a theatre cat, and a mouse that suffers from stage fright are on hand to help out. With a little help of some magical stage props and a well rehearsed stage team and orchestra the Dickens classic is well worth a family outing to the West End to see during the Christmas season.
