November 14th through December 20, 2003
Hollywood Forever
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
(Enter at the Gower Avenue Gate - at Willoughby)
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND:
Sundays at 8:00 p.m., (December 7th & 14th)
Critic's Choice: Los Angeles Times Recommended: LA Weekly Critic's Pick: Backstage West (and Best of 2003) Critic's Choice: ShowMag.Com
This world premiere production of MARLEY'S GHOST tells the story before the story. How did Jacob Marley come to haunt Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' immortal classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL? MARLEY'S GHOST will create a dream world in which our audience members are literally bound together as "fellow passengers to the grave"--and beyond --as they take hold of a huge chain not unlike that which envelops Marley, and are pulled from location to location in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery by the spirits that inhabit this world. Although, staged readings have occurred at the famed cemetery, this is the first production that will be utilizing the entire space as the canvas for the telling of this tale. As much ingenious, low-tech theme park attraction as it is theatre, the design team is creating a cyber-Victorian aesthetic that draws upon familiar, period imagery but also subverts it in keeping with the satirical quality of the text. The acting ensemble will be responsible not only for the stage pictures, but also for creating and directing the lighting of the show - all open flame and practical battery operated elements - as well as the sound - fully acoustic "foley" work done in full view of the audience. All the cogs and gears of this boldly theatrical event will be exposed for the delight of the audience, with visible puppeteers operating eerie, giant puppets with live human heads. Mysterious. Exciting. Poignant. And hilarious. Jeff Goode has managed to capture the core values of A Christmas Carol while simultaneously poking fun at it. This Circle X production will magnify both effects, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained, but also deeply moved. Ultimately, the work will be a tribute to the many souls who made their livelihoods in entertainment whose home at the cemetery we will be sharing for a time. Each night of the show, the inhabitants of that space will be "not another race of creatures bound on other journeys" but one pocket of humanity traveling together toward a better understanding of ourselves.
Tara Flynn and Tim Wright, Co-Producing Artistic Directors
Presents the World Premiere of
MARLEY'S GHOST
by Jeff Goode
Directed by Matthew Bretz
Produced by Ken Metz & Stan Weightman, Jr.
Production Design by Gary Smoot
Lighting Design by Geoff Korf
Soundscape by Paul Hepker
Costume Design by Cynthia Herteg
Stage Managed by
Christi Vadovic
CAST Richard Augustine .......................................... Phantom Rebecca Avery ............... Housekeeper · Friend · Mrs. Cratchit Anthony Backman .............................. Tuttle · Right Hand Emma Barton .................. Gravedigger's Wife · Belle · Passerby Bob Clendenin .............................. Scrooge · Young Scrooge Ahmad Enani .......................... Gravedigger · Friend · Beggar Kevin Fabian ..................................... Diminutive Spirit Keythe Farley ................................ Marley · Young Marley Matt Ford ............................................. Bob Cratchit Jennifer Kays ............... Pawnbroker · Widow · Maggie · Passerby Ally LoPrete ................................. Jenny · Mrs. Fezziwig Ross Mackenzie ................................. Wilkins · Left Hand Johanna McKay ...................................... Gigantic Spirit Todd Sible ....................... Reverend · Businessman · Passerby David Paul Wichert ................... Laundress · Friend · Tiny TimUNDERSTUDIES
Anthony Backman · Beatrice Casini · Tom Elliott · Joe Tyler Gold · Chris LoPrete · Ross Mackenzie · Tara Platt · Jessica Toth
PRODUCTION TEAM Jeff Goode ............................................... Playwright Matthew Bretz .............................................. Director Betsy Chapman .................................... Assistant Director Ken Metz ................................................... Producer Stan Weightman, Jr. ........................................ Producer Gary Smoot ...................................... Production Designer Genevieve Anderson .......... Puppet manipulation & Design Consultant Geoff Korf ........................................ Lighting Designer Jonathan Klein ................................... Lighting Associate Paul Hepker .............................................. Soundscape Cynthia Herteg ..................................... Costume Designer Rosemary Boyce .................................... Costume Associate Heather Hisserich ................... Wardrobe Assistant/Running Crew I-Ching Lao .......................................... Puppet Builder Alexandra Hisserich ........................................... Props Christi Vadovic ....................................... Stage Manager Jen Haire ........................ Assistant Stage Manager/Light Crew Jessica Toth .......................... Production Assistant/Run Crew Mark Crowell ................................. Production Hairstylist Todd Silver ........................ Assistant Production Hairstylist Rachel Flannagan ................................... Graphic Designer Anthony Backman .......................................... Web Master Kevin Fabian ......................................... Program Design Jennifer Skinner ................................. Technical Director Melanie Hermann ....................................... House Manager Sarah Hartmann .......................................... Vocal Coach Tom Raymont ................................ Coach Builder/Light Crew Ilana Kira ............................................. Running Crew Kellie Waymire ....................................... Movement Coach Erin Fiedler ................. Movement Coach/Production Photographer
