A Christas Carol originally published on December 19, 1843, recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and yet To Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. The book has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages; the story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.
STC’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been lovingly recreated for the whole family. With one actor playing many characters, puppets portraying the ghosts of Christmas and a fully-orchestrated musical score, STC’s traditional telling of the holiday classic, will give you the giggles, move you to tears, and fill you to the very brim with the cozy, homey Christmas cheer that we all cherish so much.
This dramatic adaptation has met with critical and box office success since it premiered in 2003, touring Nova Scotia, New Brunswick as well as tours to North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. This is the first time it has played in Ontario.
Taking on the herculean task of creating many different characters is local actor, writer, director and teacher, Matthew Heiti. Matthew has published a novel, The City Still Breathing and his produced plays include Receiver of Wreck, Plague: a [sic] love story, Aviatrix and Black Dog: 4 vs the wrld and Mucking in the Drift. He has served as Playwright-in-Residence with STC and Pat the Dog Theatre Creation and for five years led the Playwrights’ Junction workshop. Matthew directed There’s a Mouse in My House and #TheWaterTower at STC and was also associate director on The Romeo Initiative. As an actor, he has performed with many indie and professional companies in Sudbury, Toronto, Burlington and Fredericton.
Celebrated puppeteer, Adam Francis Proulx has designed, created and will operate the Ghosts of Christmas puppets. An actor and director originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Adam has worked onstage with such companies as Neptune Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, Theatre Obscura, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia and Walt Disney World Entertainment. He was also in the first Canadian cast of Avenue Q. His puppetry work can be seen on the Australian TV series Oh Yuck!. He has spent the last three seasons as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia.
The production also features a chorus of carolers from STC’s Students On Stage program: Eric Belanger, Kieran Jensen, Kevin Kelly, Kaylee Ross and Mackenzy Zatylny.
Jeremy Webb (Adaptation) is the Artistic Director of Neptune Theatre and before that of Halifax’s Eastern Front Theatre. He ran his company Off The Leash Creative since 2009. He grew up in Cambridge, England and trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before moving to Canada in 1998.
Scott Macmillan (Composer) seeks opportunities in all aspects of music making inspiring exploration into genres from rock to blues, classical to choral, Celtic to jazz, as well as modern and avant-garde. He is a musical treasure, playing a significant role expanding audiences for Atlantic Canadian music both nationally and internationally for over 40 years.
STC’s Artistic Director, John McHenry is excited to be directing this production. Last season, his first as AD, he directed Plaid Tidings, Here on the Flight Path and The Birds and The Bees. On other stages he has directed and/or choreographed for Huron Country Playhouse, Garden City Productions, Music Theatre Etobicoke, Thistle Theatre, St. Marys Community Players and Hamilton Theatre Inc.
The design team for Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reunites Brandon Kleiman (set and costumes) and Kirsten Watt (lighting). Hilary Nichol, previously at STC with Plaid Tidings, is the Stage Manager and Alanna Wrenshall, returning after Playing With Fire: The Theo Fleury Story, is the Apprentice Stage Manager.
Each Mainstage production at STC this season runs for just one-and-a-half-weeks, so with just 11 performances from December 5 to 14, you don’t want to leave it too late to book your tickets. Order online at sudburytheatre.com, call the STC DiBrina Box Office at 705.674.8381 x21 or stop by in person at 170 Shaughnessy Street in Downtown Sudbury and let Scrooge, Marley, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and the three seasonal spirits fill you with joy this holiday season.
In keeping with making theatre accessible to everyone there is a Pay What You Can Afford performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Saturday, December 7 at 2:30pm and a Relaxed performance on Saturday, December 14 at 2:30pm. For more information on Relaxed performances visit sudburytheatre.com.
ABOUT STC
STC is the leading professional English-language theatre between Barrie and Thunder Bay. Founded in 1971, the STC mission is to engage and entertain our audiences and to promote and develop our local playwrights and their stories in a season that runs from September through May. STC aspires to educate and inspire the imagination of our youth, emerging artists and our patrons.
STC is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and engages artists under the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA). For more information visit sudburytheatre.ca
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