Bucks County Playhouse premieres the new comedy, “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show,”December 8 through December 31.
Producers Robyn Goodman, Alexander Fraser, Stephen Kocis, and Josh Fiedler announced the new show which is written by the Broadway team of Gordon Greenberg (“Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn”) and Steve Rosen (“The Other Josh Cohen”). It is directed by Josh Rhodes (Broadway’s “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”).
Five actors, three ladders, lots of music, laughter and one of the most beloved holiday stories ever told come together for a new Christmas show that is perfect for the entire family. Terrorizing the good citizens of Bucks County, Ebenezer Scrooge rediscovers the spirit of Christmas in this riotous Dickens mashup set in New Hope. All the traditional elements of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” are intact — including the iconic ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future — comically reimagined in this holiday frolic. The authors have rebooted the story — charging five talented actors with the task of playing nearly three dozen roles while infusing the show with a lot of comedy and harnessing the energetic joy of the season.
“When we discussed the possibility of creating something new for the Playhouse’s holiday show, we immediately reached out to Gordon Greenberg, who directed our holiday productions of “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” (2012) and “Plaid Tidings” as well as Steve Rosen, most recently our Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls” and one of the funniest people we know,” says Robyn Goodman, Executive Producer. “Together they have created a high-energy, outrageously entertaining take on a story that is so familiar but has never been experienced this way before.”
“The production fits nicely with our work in the community. The New Hope Chamber has been decking the halls of this historic town to make it feel even more Dickensian this holiday season,” says Fraser. “We are very excited to welcome Broadway star Don Stephenson and cast to New Hope to show them the charm of a Bucks County Christmas.”
The cast stars Broadway veteran Don Stephenson as Ebenezer Scrooge. Don has appeared on Broadway in “The Producers,” “A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder,” “Parade,” “Dracula,” “By Jeeves,” “Titanic,” “Private Lives,” “Rock of Ages,” “Wonderful Town,” “Pardon My English,” and “The Bandwagon” (Encores!). He is joined by Evan Alexander Smith (Broadway’s “Amazing Grace”), Kate Wetherhead (Broadway’s “Legally Blonde” and BCP’s “Company”), James Ludwig (Broadway’s “Monty Phython’s Spamalot” – Original Cast) and Tracey Conyer Lee (“BEDBUGS!!! IT’S A MUSICAL” Off-Broadway).
Michael Carnahan is scenic designer. Brian C. Hemesath is costume designer. Cory Pattak is lighting designer and Matthew Given is sound designer. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting. Christopher Flores is stage manager.
In coordination with the production and as part of the Playhouse’s education program, Bucks County Playhouse is offering the opportunity for local theater-lovers and aspiring thespians to join a cast on the historic Playhouse stage as “Scene-Stealers.” Designed as an educational opportunity, the “Scene-Stealers” will be employed as “The Sons of Pitches” caroling group in “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show!” Following curtain call, “Scene-Stealers” will lead audience members into the Courtyard to sing Christmas Carols.
Not only does “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show” close out a very busy year at the Playhouse, which saw ticket sales increase by more than 30%, but it marks the fourth world premiere presented at the Playhouse in 2017. The summer season launched in May with the debut of “Clue: On Stage.” This fall, the Playhouse hosted a world-premiere musical, “Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story” and the new musical comedy, “The New World” will complete its run on December 2.
Comments are closed.