Local youth actors, including several from West Hartford, have been cast in Hartford Stage’s 18th annual production of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas, which will run from Nov. 27 – Dec. 27, 2015.

Max McGowan of West Hartford will share the role of Tiny Tim in the Hartford Stage 2015 production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Submitted photo

Submitted by Hartford Stage

Over the past 17 years, Connecticut families have been thrilled by Dickens’ supernatural tale of redemption, which introduced the exclamation “Bah! Humbug!” and popularized the perennial greeting “Merry Christmas.” Adapted and originally directed by Michael Wilson, A Christmas Carol is directed by former Hartford Stage Associate Artistic Director Maxwell Williams (The 39 Steps, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Reverberation at Hartford Stage).

Max McGowan, age 7, from West Hartford, and Norah Girard, age 5, from Longmeadow, MA, and will handle the pivotal role of Tiny Tim in alternating performances.

Additional youth actors cast (in alternating performances) include: Tiana Bailey, age 11, from Bloomfield, as Belinda Cratchit; Ella Bernarduci, age 12, from Avon, as Claire; Atticus Burrello, age 11, from Ashford, as Turkey Boy; Lily Bucko, age 13, from Higganum, as Fan; Charlize Calcagno, age 5, from Burlington, as Fruit Child/Want; Luciana Calcagno, age 7, from Burlington, as Fruit Child/Ignorance; Celine Cardona, age 9, from Meriden, as Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl; Sophia Friedman, age 11, from West Hartford, as Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl; Lily Girard, age 10, from Longmeadow, Massachusetts as School Boy; Nicholas Glowacki, age 9, from West Hartford, as School Boy; Tyra Harris, age 9, from Bristol, as School Boy; Emma Kindl, age 10, from Marlborough, as Belinda Cratchit; Audrey Linquist, age 6, from Canton, as Fruit Child/Want; Aidan and Dermot McMillan, age 12, from Middletown, as Peter Cratchit; Addison Pancoast, age 6, from Rocky Hill, as Fruit Child/Ignorance; Ethan Pancoast, age 10, from Rocky Hill, as School Boy; Ankit Roy, age 10, from Ellington, as School Boy; Jane Shearin, age 13, from Newtown, as Fan; Fred Thornley IV, age 10, from Colchester, as Boy Scrooge/Fred Party; Sophia Rose Tomko, age 12, from Somers, as Claire; Jack Wenz, age 12, from West Hartford, as Peter Cratchit; Sammy Wetstein, age 12, from Simsbury, as Boy Scrooge/Fred Party Boy; Julia Weston, age 9, from Hartford, as School Boy; and Tilden Wilder, age 9, from Simsbury, as Turkey Boy.

Other performers include:

Veteran character actor Bill Raymond (Lincoln, Michael Clayton, The Wire) returns again this season as Ebenezer Scrooge for all public performances. Buzz Roddy (Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 30 Rock) returns to portray Scrooge during the student matinee performances.

The cast also includes Kristen Adele as Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig; Robert Hannon Davis as Bob Cratchit; Johanna Morrison as Bettye Pidgeon/Spirit of Christmas Past/Old Josie; Michael Preston as Mr. Marvel; Alan Rust as Bert/Spirit of Christmas Present; Noble Shropshire as Mrs. Dilber/Jacob Marley; Terrell Donnell Sledge as Fred/Young Scrooge; Charlie Tirrell as First Solicitor/Mr. Fezziwig/Undertaker; and Gillian Williams as Mrs. Fred/Belle.

Student actors from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford include: Greg Benedict, 1400s Soldier Apparition, Dick Wilkins; Michael Buckhout, 18^th Century Apparition, Fezziwig Party Guest, Fred Party Guest; Morgan Dean, Elizabethan Apparition, Wendy; Andrew Lemieux, Male Swing, Teen Scrooge; Riley Lassin, Rich Lady, Guest at Fred’s Party; Krystin Lilly, Medieval Apparition, Guest at Fred Party; Stephen Mir, Mr. Toby, Christmas Future; Ella Mora, Napoleonic Apparition, Nicolas, Beggar Woman, Weird Sister; Asha Potter, Restoration Apparition, Martha Cratchit; Jordan Simpson, Lamplighter; Alexander Settineri, Tudor Apparition, Topper, Fezziwig Party Guest; Nicole Vazquez, Female Swing; and Mac Westcott, 2^nd Solicitor (AM), Fiddler, Fred Party Guest.

Hartford Stage Artistic Associate Rachel Alderman serves as Associate Director for A Christmas Carol; Martin Lechner is Stage Manager; Kelly Hardy is Assistant Stage Manager; Stephanie Holmes will serve as Youth Director; Abby Weston is the Assistant Youth Director. Fiona Kyle will be the Dramaturg, assisted by Hartt School student Marisa Skillings.

The artistic team also includes set designer Tony Straiges; costume designer Alejo Vietti; lighting designer Robert Wierzel; original music and sound designer John Gromada; choreographer Hope Clarke, assisted by Derric Harris; musical director Ken Clark; and dialect coach William DeMerritt.

Since its arrival in Hartford, A Christmas Carol has garnered rave reviews not only from audiences but from critics, as well. The Hartford Courant says of A Christmas Carol: “Round of applause to Noble Shropshire, who as Jacob Marley does some spectacular high-flying maneuvering – and acting – amid more clouds of dry ice that could shroud the banks of London…More than a quarter of a million people have laughed, cried and been moved by Bill Raymond’s dastardly, delightful and heart-filled Scrooge.”

United Technologies serves as the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor for A Christmas Carol.

Information and Special Events

• Dates & Times: The production runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 27. Weeknight and evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and select weekday matinees begin at 2 p.m. For a full schedule of dates and times, visit hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol.
• Sensory-Friendly Performance: Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Hartford Stage will host its second annual sensory-friendly performance. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a theatre experience that is welcoming to all families of children with autism or other disabilities that create sensory sensitivities.
• Family Fun Night: Bring kids of all ages on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Before the show, our spooky ghosts will greet and entertain. After the show, get autographs from all your favorite characters! The event is free with the purchase of a ticket for that evening’s performance.
• Market Days: Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping at Hartford Stage! Local artisans will showcase unique gift items in our lobby, free to the public, from 12:30-2 p.m. Buying a ticket for the matinee performance of A Christmas Carol gives you an extra chance to shop during intermission and post-show, Dec. 6, 12 and 13.

For show times and tickets, contact the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151 or visit http://www.hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol.

For information on group rates, contact the Hartford Stage Group Sales Office at 860-520-7114.

Follow Hartford Stage at: www.facebook.com/hartfordstage, www.twitter.com/hartfordstage, www.instagram.com/hartfordstage