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12/04/2019 11:01 PMKathleen Turner as Scrooge?
Yes, and, thanks to a collaboration between Jacqui Hubbard’s Ivoryton Playhouse and the New Haven Symphony, there will be five opportunities in four locations this holiday season to see and hear the renowned actress with the husky voice in the iconic role, alongside James Naughton as the three ghosts, in a radio-play version of the classic tale by Charles Dickens.
To make this production of A Christmas Carol a reality, it took the efforts of many people.
Elaine Carroll, executive director of the New Haven Symphony, says Elliott Forrest, a New York City radio host (WNYC and WQXR), for many years produced a radio play version of A Christmas Carol in New York City on WNYC, with various Broadway performers playing Scrooge. One year, Turner did the role.
Forrest always wanted to add music to the production, Carroll says. Thus began another collaboration between him and the New Haven Symphony. John Foster was commissioned to compose music for the production, as well as arranging familiar carols.
The next step was to bring in someone who could help with the other actors needed for the show.
Enter Hubbard, artistic director of Ivoryton Playhouse. Hubbard and the Playhouse have a history of creative collaborative work with non-profit organizations and arts groups.
Thus was born this special A Christmas Carol.
Hubbard has cast the show with regulars at Ivoryton and has included herself (she is an actor) as Mrs. Crachit. The small cast will play multiple roles as was common in radio drama. Hubbard will also serve as the director. Forrest is the producer.
Since this is a radio play version, don’t expect elaborate sets. Some limited costume pieces and props will be used. The sound effects, a vital part of any radio play, will be handled by Fred Newman, who was responsible for the sound effects for The Prairie Home Companion.
The performances include two at Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton—on Sunday, Dec. 8 and Monday, Dec. 9—as well as performances at Lyman Center on the Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven on Friday, Dec. 13; at the First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison on Saturday, Dec. 14; and at Edgerton Center for the Perfomring Arts, Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield on Sunday, Dec. 15.
A Twisted Take on Dickens
Both the New Haven Symphony and Ivoryton Playhouse have other holiday performances planned as well.
The symphony will offers its annual Holiday Extravaganza Pops concert, this year with New Haven’s Heritage Chorale. There will be three performances on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Woolsey Hall, 500 College Street, New Haven; Saturday, Dec. 21 at Hamden High School, 2040 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden ; and Sunday, Dec. 22 at Shelton High School, 120 Meadow Street, Shelton. Information and tickets for these are available at newhavensymphony.org or call 203-787-4782.
Ivortyon is offering another version of A Christmas Carol with An Actor’s Carol billed as a twisted take on Dickens’ classic written by Charles Evered, from Friday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 22. The premise of this play, which premiered in 2015 starring Hal Linden, is that an actor who has played Scrooge so many times he is “drained of artistic passion” encounters his own three ghosts. Four actors play 17 characters in what is described as a “hilarious new look at a classic.” Evered is a graduate of Yale Drama School who has written plays and televisions scripts. Michael Iannucci will play the actor (Hugh Pendleton) and Scrooge. Iannucci has performed in several shows at Ivoryton. For tickets to this production at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, visit ivorytonplayhouse.org or call 860-7674-7318.
The Dickens classic is also showing up at Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford, with its annual production of A Christmas Carol—A Ghost Story of Christmas through Saturday, Dec. 28. Michael Preston returns for his second year as Scrooge. This is the well-loved production now in its 22nd year. I enjoy returning to it regularly. A sensory-friendly performance for children, adults and families is on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Ever wondered about the relationship between Scrooge and Marley? Marley and Scrooge: Frenemies Reimagined is a one-night only event at Hartford Stage on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Author Jon Clinch will read passages from his new novel Marley, which, as the press material says, is “a reimagined origin story that dives deep into Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge’s twisted relationship.” As part of the evening, actors Preston and Noble Shropshire, who portray Scrooge and Marley, will not only read a scene but share their thoughts on this relationship. It’s a free event, but reservations are recommended. You can contact hartfordstage.org for information and reservations or tickets.
A more local touch will be given to the story in A Connecticut Carol at Goodspeed Opera House’s Terris Theater, 33 North Main Street, Chester. This is the third year for this new musical, which features well-known Connecticut figures and references. Once again, Tony Award-nominee Robert Cuccioli is playing Scrooge/William Gillette. It runs through Saturday, Dec. 28. For tickets, visit goodspeed.org or call 860-873-8668. Among the special events during the run is a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Dec. 29. Other events include a wine tasting, kids night ($15 tickets for kids with the purchase of an adult ticket), teacher’s night out, and Thursday dinner packages.
For Adults Only
Other theatrical events scheduled is the funny and loved Christmas on the Rocks at TheaterWorks in Hartford through Monday, Dec. 23. Various contemporary playwrights imagine the adult lives of different children featured in well-loved holiday stories and movies. This year, Ted Lange (probably best remembered as the bartender on The Love Boat) is lending the sympathetic ear at the bar on the edge of the universe. For tickets, visit TWHartford.org or call 860-527-7838.
Another humorous look the holidays is SantaLand Diaries, about an out-of-work actor who finds employment as an elf in the huge Macy’s SantaLand. Not only does he live to tell about it, but he has multiple funny stories of his experiences. This is at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford through Saturday, Dec. 21. For tickets, visit Playhouseonpark.org or call 860-532-5900.
For Younger Audiences
While A Christmas Carol can be appropriate for some younger audiences, Connecticut provides special theater events for those under 10.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical will be at the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford in Hartford, Friday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 15. A special “relaxed” program (similar to sensory-friendly) will be on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. This musical appeared on Broadway and each holiday season, the show tours. For tickets, visit bushnell.org or call 860-987-5900.
The Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport has Rudolph through Sunday, Dec. 29. This is its own musical take on the classic story. It’s geared toward younger children; you can bring snacks and the audience sits at tables. Many of the actors are young also. It does tend to sell out quickly. For tickets, visit ticket.mycabaret.org or dtcab.com or call 203-576-1656.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport has The Elf Christmas Spectacular, which is described as “a whimsical tale of an elf who goes to hilarious lengths to win a talent competition and a spot on Santa’s sleigh.” Audiences can sing along and meet Santa after the show. Performances are at 1 and 5:30 p.m. For information, visit theklein.org or call 800-424-0160.
Elf on the Shelf is at the Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford. It’s a new musical about the tiny elf trying to bring back holiday cheer to a family facing challenges. Multiple performance times are available on Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. For information, visit oakdale.com.
The Kate in Old Saybrook is presenting Jolly Old St. Nicholas on Sunday, Dec. 8. It’s described as how Santa helps Tuck and his father overcome Mr. Grumpasaurus’s efforts to spoil Christmas. For ticket, visit thekate.org.
Nutcrackers: Both Traditional & Nontraditional
The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet, is getting multiple performances throughout Connecticut including a broadcast version at The Kate, 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook of the Bolshoi ballet’s production on Saturday, Dec. 21.
The Eastern Connecticut Ballet has a full-scale production with more than 100 dancers and 35 musicians at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London. Sara Mearns and Jared Angel, who dance with the New York City Ballet, will dance the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker. This production has a Connecticut touch: It is set in New London in the 1850s and includes a battle on the high seas and a snowstorm in the Arctic. It’s on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15. For information, call 860-444-737 or visit gardearts.org.
Other traditional Nutcrackers include The Nutmeg Ballet’s production at the Bushnell in Hartford (Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15), and the New Haven Ballet’s production at the Shubert Theater, 247 College Street, New Haven, (Friday, Dec. 13, Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15).
Two nontraditional Nutcrackers are on the bill. First is Connetic Dance’s production, Nutcracker Suite and Spicy, which fuses ballet, modern dance, ballroom, tap, jazz, and hip hop. It’s at the Wadsworth Atheneum Theater, 600 Main Street, Hartford, Friday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 22 for its 10th year. On Friday, Dec. 13, the Atheneum will be screening a film documentary on the creative process involved including its cultural relevance to contemporary audiences. Call 860-251-9194 for tickets.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns to the Bushnell in Hartford on Friday, Dec. 27. Besides the dancers, there is a DJ on stage and an electric violinist. For tickets, visit thebushnell.org.
A New Year’s Nutcracker is set for Saturday, Jan 4. Studio B Performing Arts Center is doing the production at the High Lane Club, 40 High Lane, North Haven. According to the press materials, it is New Year’s 2019 and Clara is now a young woman and photographer; Dosselmeyer is now Aunt Drosselmeyer. For information and tickets, email shannon.cushing@hotmail.com.
Music, Music, Music
The holiday season is synonymous with music and Connecticut offers a multitude of musical forms.
Goodspeed is presenting Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas on Friday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 22. It’s at the Opera House in East Haddam starring Evan Tyrone Martin. It’s billed as an emotional evening of story-telling and songs including Cole’s most famous Christmas hit, “The Christmas Song,” as well as non-holiday songs. For tickets, visit goodspeed.org or ccall 860-873-8668.
There’s Making Spirits Bright with the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus on Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 6; Pentatonix at Mohegan Son on Saturday, Dec, 7; Don We Now with the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 14; Rock This Town Christmas Spectacular at The Kate on Friday, Dec. 13; Shoreline Ringers Christmas Handbell Concert on Sunday, Dec. 15; and Under the Streeetlamp–Hip to the Holidays at The Kate on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Wednesday, Dec. 4. Also at The Kate is The Everly Brothers Experience Christmas Show on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Other musical events include The Canadian Brass Holiday Show at the Bushnell on Tuesday, Dec. 17, Holiday Cirque Spectacular with the Hartford Symphony Pops at the Bushnell on Saturday, Dec. 21, and The Ten Tenors–Home for the Holidays at the Shubert on Friday, Dec. 6.
If you’ve enjoyed those concerts from Vienna on New Year’s Day, the Strauss Symphony of America is presenting Salute to Vienna—New Year’s Concert at the Bushnell on Saturday, Jan. 4. It features singers, ballroom dancers, and ballet to go along with the Strauss waltzes and other music. Tickets are available at bushnell.org.