The National Arts Centre English Theatre Company presents A Christmas Carol

National Arts Centre English Theatre

Peter Hinton, Artistic Director

Based on the Novel by Charles Dickens
Starring Stephen Ouimette as Ebenezer Scrooge
with the 40^th Anniversary English Theatre Acting Company:
nisha ahuja, Michael Blake, Richard Donat, Randi Helmers,
Tanja Jacobs, Geordie Johnson, Kris Joseph, Ron Kennell, John Koensgen, Jani Lauzon, Julie Tamiko Manning, Alex McCooeye, Niall Patrick McNeil, Matt Miwa,

Jeremiah Sparks, Waneta Storms, Matthew Tapscott
and also featuring: Joshua Bajpai, Ananya Rajkumar, and Nina Rose Taylor

Directed by Peter Hinton

December 8 - 26, 2009 NAC Theatre

’ÄúKeep Christmas in your own way and let me keep it in mine.’Äù Ebenezer Scrooge

Ottawa, Ontario ’Äì A Christmas Carol is as well known as any work can be. All that has to be said is ’ÄúScrooge’Äù, ’ÄúGod bless us everyone’Äù or even ’Äúhumbug’Äù and everyone gets the reference. In fact, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge has become as much a tradition of Christmas as the holidays themselves. For the first time, a faithful telling of Charles Dickens’Äô cherished holiday story of a miser’Äôs last chance for redemption is presented by the National Arts Centre English Theatre, presented on the full Shakespearean thrust stage and starring Stephen Ouimette as Scrooge with the 40^th Anniversary NAC English Theatre Acting Company.

A Christmas Carol is a powerful moral allegory about the importance of goodwill and generosity in a time of economic hardship and poverty. It stresses the unparalleled importance of caring for those who suffer due to ignorance or want. At the same time, it is also a spine-tingling ghost story, which tells of a covetous old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve. Over the course of the night, Scrooge witnesses the power of charity, and is warned of the dangers of a society where money is valued above family, friendship, community and the true spirit of giving.

Since late October, English Theatre’Äôs Peter Hinton and Paula Danckert (Artistic Director and Company Dramaturg & Artistic Associate respectively) have been rehearsing with the 40^th Anniversary NAC English Theatre Acting Company, which includes18 of the best artists from across the country (nisha ahuja, Michael Blake, Richard Donat, Randi Helmers, Tanja Jacobs, Geordie Johnson, Kris Joseph, Ron Kennell, John Koensgen, Jani Lauzon, Julie Tamiko Manning, Alex McCooeye, Niall Patrick McNeil, Matt Miwa, Stephen Ouimette, Jeremiah Sparks, Waneta Storms, and Matthew Tapscott).

Joining this amazing group of artists are two local youngsters, who will share the role of Tiny Tim. Joshua Bajpai and Ananya Rajkumar won the roles in an audition this past September wherein over 70 children from the Ottawa area tried out for the role. Also joining the cast is teen Nina Rose Taylor from Toronto.

Alongside these artists are the 40^th Anniversary English Theatre Company, featuring Musical Direction and Arrangement by Allen Cole, Set & Costume Design by Eo Sharp, Lighting Design by Jock Munro, Sound Design by Troy Slocum, Choreography by Dayna Tekatch, and Company Historian David Dean. The Stage Manager is Jane Vanstone Osborn and the Assistant Stage Manager is Stˆ©fanie Sˆ©guin.

The NAC English Theatre is proud to offer this production as a gift to our audiences and as an ideal way for families to help celebrate the holiday. Nothing could speak more to the value of peace and goodwill toward one’Äôs fellow man than to experience the suspense, joy and transformation of Scrooge.

The NAC 40^th Anniversary English Theatre Company will follow up A Christmas Carol with Bertolt Brecht’Äôs Mother Courage and Her Children in January in the NAC Theatre and in February at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg.

Ottawa Citizen is proud sponsor of Theatre5 Series.

Supported by Trinity Development Group ’Äì Share the Spirit.

Niall Patrick McNeil is the recipient of the 2010 David Leighton Arts Fellowship.

A Christmas Carol plays December 8 - 26, 2009 in the Theatre at the National Arts Centre.

Pay What You Can: Tuesday, December 8
Previews: Wednesday, December 9 and Thursday, December 10
Opening: Friday, December 11

Hinterview: Saturday, December 12 at 1 p.m. in the NAC Panorama Room.
Artistic Director Peter Hinton will be interviewing NAC English Theatre Company Historian David Dean.

Student Club: Friday, December 11

Talkbacks: Wednesday, December 16 & 23, Thursday, December 17 and Sunday, December 20

In the NAC Theatre: Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m.
Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m.
No performances on Mondays or on December 24 and 25

Adults: $20 - $61 Previews: $30
Students: $11.25 - $31.75 Previews: $16.25
Groups of 10+ receive great discounts! For more information contact grp@nac-cna.ca or
visit our webpage.

Tickets are available for purchase:
In person at the NAC Box Office
At all Ticketmaster outlets
By telephone from Ticketmaster, (613) 755-1111
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’Äôs website (www.nac-cna.ca)
A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster

Find out more about NAC English Theatre on Facebook and YouTube. To discover more about A Christmas Carol and the 40^th Anniversary English Theatre Acting Company, click www.nac-cna.ca/en/theatre/christmascarol.

This performance is eligible for the Live Rush program.
Students with a valid Live Rush’Ñ¢ membership card may buy up to 2 tickets per eligible performance at the discount price of only $11 per ticket. New this season! All unsold tickets for Live Rush eligible performances will be made available to Live Rush members on the day before the performance, starting at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on the day of the performance. This includes all available seats, including the best seats in the house.
Check out liverush.ca for information on the Live Rush program.

For any information, visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca

The National Arts Centre English Theatre Company presents
A Christmas Carol

Based on the Novel by Charles Dickens
Starring Stephen Ouimette as Scrooge
with the 40^th Anniversary English Theatre Acting Company

Show Run Dates

December 8 - 26, (Pay-what-you-can December 8, previews December 9 & 10, opening night December 11)