Photo Flash: Ford's Theatre Presents A Christmas Carol

The Ford's Theatre 2011-2012 season continues with "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens and adapted by Michael Wilson, November 18 to December 31, 2011. In this celebrated telling of Dickens' ghost-infused holiday tale, audiences will hear familiar carols, encounter imaginative stage tricks and discover the goodwill, compassion and charity that inspire the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a transformative journey. Acclaimed Washington stage actor Edward Gero returns to play Scrooge in the production The Washington Post hailed as "musically high-spirited" and "infectiously jolly."

"A Christmas Carol" is made possible by Lead Sponsor AT&T; and Sponsors Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Southern Company; General Motors and Sunoco, Inc. Ford's Theatre's 2011-2012 season sponsors are The Home Depot and Chevron.

THE DIRECTOR
Michael Baron made his Ford's Theatre directorial debut with the 2009 production of "A Christmas Carol". He also served as associate director of Ford's 2008 production of "The Civil War." Regional directorial credits include "LaChiusa's Ladies," "The Little Dog Laughed," "December Divas," "Lost Songs of Broadway I & II," "Sex Habits of American Women," "Songs for a New World" (at Strathmore) and "Ricky, Joe, and Michael John" for Signature Theatre, "School for Scandal" and "A Christmas Carol" for Trinity Repertory and productions for La Mama, Adventure Theatre and the Washington Savoyards. Baron holds an MFA from Trinity Repertory and has taught at American University, Brown University and College of the Holy Cross. Baron is currently Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.

THE CAST
Acclaimed Washington stage actor Edward Gero returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge. Gero's many Washington credits include more than 70 productions for the Shakespeare Theatre Company including "King Lear" with Stacy Keach. Regional credits include productions for the Goodman Theatre, Studio Theatre, Arena Stage, Round House, Olney and Baltimore's Center Stage, among others. Gero is a 12-time nominee and four-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for roles in "Skylight" (Studio Theatre) and Shakespeare's "Henry IV," "Richard II" and "Macbeth" (Shakespeare Theatre Company). Additional credits include narration for The Discovery Channel, Science Channel and National Geographic. Gero has served on the teaching staff of George Mason University since 1990.

"A Christmas Carol" also features Carolyn Agan as Belle, Christopher Bloch as Bob Cratchit, Felicia Curry as the ghosts of Christmas Past and Future, Anne Stone as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Drew Eshelman as Jacob Marley with Michael Bunce, Steven Carpenter, Kristen Garaffo, Rick Hammerly, Helen Hedman, Kellee Knighten Hough, Gregory Maheu, Amy McWilliams, Stephen F. Schmidt, Tom Story, Bligh Voth and Vishal Vaidya.

The young cast of "A Christmas Carol" includes Remy Brettell and Sam Ellis as Tiny Tim with Rachel Boyd, Holden Brettell, Noah Chiet, Cheyenne Cummings, Jasmine Dantzler, Jamie Goodson, Breana Hogberg, Lexi Rhem, Jeremy Scheck, Rudy Schreiber and Katja Volker.

THE DESIGNERS
The designers for "A Christmas Carol" have invigorated Charles Dickens' timeless tale with abundant caroling and joyful dancing for the holiday season. Scenic Designer Lee Savage's striking iron work evokes London's Covent Garden marketplace. Alejo Vietti outfits the cast in festive Victorian costumes with playful designs for the ghosts of Christmas Past and Present. The design team also includes Lighting Design by Rui Rita, Original Music and Sound Design by Josh Schmidt, Choreography by Shea Sullivan, Wig Design by Charles G. LaPointe, Dialects by Leigh Wilson Smiley and Choral Direction by Jay Crowder.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS
There will be audio-described performances of "A Christmas Carol" on Saturday, December 10, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. Sign-interpreted performances are Thursday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17, at 2 p.m.