Get in the spirit with A Christmas Carol

Plan on celebrating the joys of Christmas in Arrow Rock in December! The Lyceum stage will once again be aglow with good spirits and Christmas tradition as Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, A Christmas Carol, comes musically to life starring Lyceum favorite Ron Wisniski as Ebenezer Scrooge, returning for his fourth straight year. There will only be 13 performances running from December 13 through December 23.

The Lyceum brings to life the familiar story of a seemingly heartless miser given one last chance at redemption by four visiting ghosts. On Christmas Eve Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes an incredible transformation as he views with new eyes his past, present and the possibilities of the future. A Christmas Carol is now a cherished annual tradition in Arrow Rock and is made possible through the generous support of LammTech of Sedalia.

Lyceum Producing Artistic Director, Quin Gresham, directs his adaptation of the Dickens classic. “Dickens’ timeless and heartwarming message, more than a dozen holiday songs, and a brilliant cast will certainly fill audiences with Christmas spirit this December,” said Gresham. “Thanks to the continued embellishments by Resident Scenic Designer Ryan J. Zirngibl, Ron Wisniski’s brilliant performance as Scrooge, and a stunning cast of familiar favorites, I have no doubt that this will be our most powerful Christmas Carol yet!”

The Lyceum is pleased to announce that the role of Ebenezer Scrooge will be played, once again, by Lyceum favorite, Ron Wisniski. Mr. Wisniski originated the role in the inaugural production of A Christmas Carol in 2014, a role he has also played at Syracuse Stage. Other Lyceum appearances include the devilish Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees, the flamboyant Roger Debris in The Producers, Diary of Anne Frank, You Can’t Take It With You and Hello Dolly. Ron appeared in the National Tours of Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Annie (FDR), and Tintypes (Teddy Roosevelt) and has appeared in more than 200 productions at theatres nationwide.

Ben Gougeon returns to the Lyceum playing Scrooge’s long suffering clerk, Bob Cratchit. Mr. Gougeon made his Lyceum debut this season as Dr. Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles. Other favorite credits include: NYC: The Visitation (Witness Immersive), Half Moon Bay (Nylon Fusion), The Drunkard (Metropolitan Playhouse). REGIONAL: Escanaba in Da Moonlight (Farmers Alley), Of Mice and Men (Booth Tarkington). FILM/TV: The Price, A Crime to Remember, Black Mask.

Returning to the role he originated in the inaugural production of A Christmas Carol, Timothy Shew plays the jovial Ghost of Christmas Present and Scrooge’s first employer, Mr. Fezziwig. Tim’s long history with the Lyceum began nearly 40 years ago as a resident company member. Mr. Shew has appeared in 11 Broadway shows including, most recently, Kander and Ebb’s The Visit with Chita Rivera, Evita with Ricky Martin, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, and Jean Val Jean in Les Misérables.

Playing the dual roles of Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilber will be Lyceum regular April Woodall. April returns to Arrow Rock where she has appeared in Into the Woods, Little Women, Tom Sawyer, The Sound of Music, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Music Man, and Fiddler on the Roof. Regional credits include: Maine State Music Theatre, Fulton Theatre, American Theatre Group, Mill Mountain Theater, Little Theatre on the Square, Gateway Playhouse, Bristol Riverside Theatre; Hedgerow Theatre, Flashpoint Theatre, Center City Theatre Works, The Seaport History Museum Theatre, The Eagle Theatre, and The Devon. Barrymore and SALT nominations for the title role in Souvenir – a fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins (Montgomery Theatre; Cortland Repertory Theatre); and a Carbonell nomination for her performance of Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

Robert Elliott returns to play the dual roles of Old Joe and Jacob Marley after playing Matt Drayton in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner earlier this season and last year as the domineering Capt. Queeg in The Caine Mutiny. Mr. Elliott began his career as a company member at the Missouri Repertory Theatre and at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival. Extensive work over the years at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Indiana Rep. Other regional credits include Syracuse Stage, Asolo Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, PCPA Theatrefest, Cleveland Playhouse, Roundabout Theatre.

Returning to the role she has played in all four years of A Christmas Carol, Laura Sexauer plays the violin-wielding Ghost of Christmas Past; Manon Halliburton returns as Mrs. Cratchit; Bailey Jordan Reeves returns in the dual roles of Scrooge’s first love, Belle, and Fred’s wife, Anne; Lyceum favorite Ben Nordstrom makes his A Christmas Carol debut as Scrooge’s nephew Fred as well as Marley’s younger self; Michael Dewar returns as one of Scrooge’s debtors and Scrooge’s younger self; and Adam McCall, Michael Brennan, Paula Danner, Jonathan Brown, Paula Bear, Myke Andrews and Cher Desiree Alvarez in appear in a variety of roles.

The cast of 26 actors also features a number of young performers from neighboring communities including Lilian Buie, Simeon Buie, Cailyn Chaney, Sophia Christy, Lauren Kennon, Cooper Rainwater, Abigail Rainwater, Spencer Rainwater and Logan Musselman as Tiny Tim.

The creative team for A Christmas Carol includes Quin Gresham (Director/Adaptor), James Woodland (Resident Musical Director, Composer), Stephanie Berg (Composer), Kristen Nordstrom (Choreographer), Ryan J. Zirngibl (Resident Scenic Designer), Randy B. Winder (Resident Lighting Designer), Kerri S. Packard (Costume Designer), Jon Robertson and Ryan Matthew Hall (Sound Designers), Ivan Cano (Production Stage Manager), and Laura Berrios (Assistant Stage Manager).

Single Tickets for A Christmas Carol are priced at $37.00 for adults. Senior, student and children discounts are available as are special group rates. Performances are December 13 – December 23, 2017, Evening performances are at 7pm and matinees are at 2pm. For tickets: www.lyceumtheatre.org, (660) 837-3311 x1, or in person at the Lyceum’s box office at 114 High Street, Arrow Rock, MO 65320.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3), professional theatre located in the unique village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, a 19th century National Historic Landmark. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences in the heart of Missouri for 57 years producing a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies. Each year, this 416 seat theatre attracts professional talent from across the country to produce an eight show season (June-December). Performers, designers, directors, and technicians take residence in Arrow Rock for five months to bring its patrons Broadway caliber productions throughout the summer.

The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.