As Part of Its Family Festivities Series, Westport Country Playhouse will present a musical version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday, December 17, at 1 and 4 p.m.
Produced by TheatreWorks USA, the one-hour production is appropriate for grades 1 through 7. Tickets are $20. The musical captures the humorous and touching moments of Charles Dickens’ classic tale with all the familiar characters.
On Christmas Eve, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is complaining about having to give his clerk Bob Cratchit the next day's holiday off. Maintaining that Christmas is merely "humbug," Scrooge refuses to contribute to the local charity's fund for the poor. He even refuses the invitation of his nephew Fred to join his family for a holiday celebration. It is only later that night, when he is visited by a succession of spirits - the ghost of his deceased partner Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come, that Ebenezer considers the consequences of his past and present actions and reconsiders his outlook on life. Grateful for a second chance, Scrooge vows to help his fellow man - including Bob Cratchit and his frail son Tiny Tim, and is reunited with his family.
Though it may have only been a dream, Ebenezer Scrooge is a changed man. The Playhouse’s six-show Family Festivities Series is presented on selected Sundays from December through May, featuring musical productions based on classic and contemporary children’s stories. Upcoming Family Festivities musicals include “Nugget and Fang,” on Sunday, January 21, ArtsPower’s under-the-sea tale about Nugget, a minnow, and Fang, a shark, adapted from the popular book by Tammi Sauer, appropriate for grades Pre-K through 3; “Junie B. Jones,” on Sunday, February 11, TheatreWorks USA’s tale of outspoken, precocious, lovable Junie B. Jones, adapted from the bestselling series of books by Barbara Park, recommended for grades K through 5; “Pinkalicious, the Musical,” on Sunday, March 11, Vital Theatre Company’s production based on the bestselling book from Victoria and Elizabeth Kann about Pinkalicious who can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents, appropriate for ages 2 through 7; “How I Became a Pirate,” on Sunday, April 15, Dallas Children’s Theatre’s rollicking musical adventure about young Jeremy Jacob who joins Captain Braid Beard’s band of comical pirates, based on the bestselling book by Melinda Long, recommended for grades K through 5; and “Harry and the Dirty Dog,” on Sunday May 6, ArtsPower’s charming musical about a dog named Harry, who hates taking baths, based on the book by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, appropriate for grades K through 2. On Saturday, December 9, at 2:30 p.m., one week before the Playhouse presentation of “A Christmas Carol,” The Westport Library will offer “Story Explorers,” a free-of-charge program featuring an interactive book reading of “A Christmas Carol” and activities surrounding the book’s theme. The hour-long program promotes childhood literacy while also enhancing children’s experiences of attending the Playhouse’s Family Festivities shows. Presenting partners for “Story Explorers” are Westport Country Playhouse, The Westport Library, and Westport Young Woman’s League. “Story Explorers” Corporate Sponsor is KPMG.
For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), or view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
About Westport Country Playhouse
The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering: Live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; youth performance training and performance opportunities through Broadway Method Academy, WCP’s resident conservatory; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.