Annapolis Shakespeare Company presents world premiere adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Oct. 27, 2017 - PRLog -- Annapolis Shakespeare Company (ASC) will present a world premiere adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, adapted by Sally Boyett and Donald Hicken and directed by Donald Hicken November 25 - December 31, 2017 at ASC's new theatre located at 1804 West Street in Annapolis, MD.  Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. This world premiere captures the magic and joy of Dickens' Yuletide classic with Annapolis Shakespeare Company's signature flair.

The production is directed by award-winning regional director Donald Hicken.  Hicken is a Resident Director of Annapolis Shakespeare Company where he recently directed THE TEMPEST, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and THREE SISTERS.  A Tony Award^® finalist educator and director, Hicken also received the 2000 Helen Hayes Award^© for Outstanding Director of a Resident Play, THE GLASS MENAGERIE.  Hicken has directed nineteen productions at Everyman Theatre including the upcoming LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.  He has staged galas featuring Ray Charles, Ben Vereen, Tony Bennett and George Burns. He was Department Head of Theatre at The Baltimore School for the Arts from 1979 - 2015.  Hicken was a founding board member of The Baltimore Theatre Alliance, served on its Advisory Board and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Hippodrome Foundation.

Broadway actor Brian Keith MacDonald^† stars as Ebenezer Scrooge.  MacDonald is a Resident Company Member who has been featured in over a dozen ASC productions, and is currently starring as Poe in ASC's POE… AND ALL THE OTHERS.  Broadway credits include THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with Al Pacino.  Regional credits include (D.C.) Shakespeare Theatre Company's KING LEAR with Stacy Keach.

Also featured is ASC Resident Company Member Laura Rocklyn as Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilber.  Rocklyn was recently seen as Alice in ASC's world premiere of ALICE AND THE BOOK OF THE WONDERLAND.  Her extensive theatre credits include SENSE & SENSIBILITY at The Folger Theatre.  TV/Film credits include The Fox TV Series Patriots: Legends and Lies as Abigail Adams.  Additional cast members include Craig Allen playing Ghost of Christmas Present and Mr. Fezziwig (recently seen in the film adaptation of KING LEAR with Alexander Barnett), Olivia Ercolano^† as Belle, (ASC Resident Company Member with regional credits including Everyman Theatre), Dexter Hamlett as Jacob Marley (last seen in ASC's THE TEMPEST,and a 2008NAACP Theatre Award nominee), Bill Dennison as Bob Cratchit, Bethany Mayo^† as Ghost of Christmas Past, Ian Charles^† as Fred, Jack Russ^† as Young Scrooge, Jackie Madejski^† as Martha Cratchit, and introducing Joseph D'Angelo^† as Tiny Tim.

^†indicates the performer was recently in ASC's Helen Hayes Awards^© Recommended production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

ASC's world premiere of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is adapted by Sally Boyett and Donald Hicken and follows their recent successful adaptation of the world premiere of ALICE AND THE BOOK OF WONDERLAND.  The production is directed by Helen Hayes Award^© winning director and Tony Award^® nominee Donald Hicken, projections designed by Joshua McKerrow^※, choreography and sound design by Sally Boyett^※, lighting design by Adam Mendelson^※, costume design by Sandra Spence^※, and voice and dialect coaching by Nancy Krebs^※.  The production is stage managed by Resident Stage Manager Justine Cerruto.

^※indicates Annapolis Shakespeare Company Resident Designer

Visit us at http://www.AnnapolisShakespeare.org

ASC's 2017-18 Season continues with Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward and directed by Sally Boyett, which runs January 26 - February 25, 2018.  Experience what happens when a comfortable marriage in a peaceful English village is turned upside down by a seance and a visitor from the other side.  Blithe Spirit is Noel Coward's comic masterpiece!   



The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and directed by Donald Hicken with Sally Boyett runs March 16 - April 15, 2018.  The Glass Menagerie is a modern American classic of great tenderness, charm and beauty.  Tennessee Williams' most personal work for the stage continues to fascinate audiences around the world.


Kiss Me Kate with Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter and directed by Sally Boyett runs May 4 - June 3, 2018.  With romance, comedy, sophistication, and behind-the-scenes high jinks, Kiss Me Kate combines the irreverent humor of two brilliant writers: Cole Porter and William Shakespeare.


OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING

The Miser by Moliere runs May 15 - September 25, 2018.  Moliere's Commedia-inspired masterpiece centering around the classic conflict between love and money.  ASC's sixth annual production to be presented Tuesdays in the outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern.



Love's Labour Lost by William Shakespeare and directed by Sally Boyett and Donald Hicken runs for three weekends in July 2018, Friday-Sunday at 7:30pm.  Love's Labours Lost is a delightful comedy about young love with a surprise ending, performed under the stars.  The production is ASC's third annual epic outdoor Shakespeare!

TICKETS

Ticket prices range from $30-$65.  Box office: 410-415-3513.  www.AnnapolisShakespeare.org

ABOUT ASC

Annapolis Shakespeare Company (ASC) is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company engaging the community with bold, re-imagined, entertaining and accessible interpretations of Shakespeare and the classics.  ASC is a proud member of theatreWashington/Helen Hayes^© awards and the Shakespeare Theatre Association, an international association of theatres dedicated to producing Shakespeare's work.  ASC is the only professional classical theatre in the region dedicated to a resident company model.  Responding to these new initiatives and this major step forward for Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Sally Boyett further explains:  "The new theatre will provide us the facility to suit our Broadway aesthetic and allow us the opportunity to move our work and our company to the next level and beyond in order to realize our vision to become the regional destination for Shakespeare and the classics."