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Goodman Theatre’s holiday gift to Chicago

Goodman Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol is a holiday tradition for many with nearly two million people having experienced what has been most definitely “one of Chicago’s treasured Christmas traditions” for the past 42 years.

This year, due to the C word–all indoor theatre productions have been suspended– which means that the Goodman production of A Christmas Carol will not be staged.

Those who return to see the production year after year along with those hoping to attend for the first time are especially disappointed.

But, lucky for us, Goodman has managed to turn the bad news into some good news for Chicago and the rest of the world.

“The notion of a holiday season without our production of A Christmas Carol—a favorite annual Chicago tradition for more than four decades—did not seem like an option, in spite of the many challenges we face in producing live theater at this moment,” said Goodman Executive Director Roche Schulfer, who initiated the production at the Goodman in 1978. “At a time when this story is needed perhaps more than ever, we are pleased to offer this audio production free of charge as a gift to our city.”

For the entire month of December (December 1-31), a brand new audio production with Larry Yando as Ebenezer Scrooge will be available for streaming for FREE (details TBA).

The Goodman Theatre audio production of A Christmas Carol will be directed by Jessica Thebus.

In addition to Yando, the 43rd annual production of Charles Dickens’ classic features an all-Chicago cast listed here:

Full Company of A Christmas Carol–An Audio Play
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Tom Creamer
Adapted for Audio by Neena Arndt, Jessica Thebus and Richard Woodbury
Directed by Jessica Thebus

Asher Alcantara…………………Boy Scrooge/Child in Doorway/Peter Cratchit/Turkey Child/Percy

Kareem Bandealy………………Jacob Marley/Young Marley/Hat Seller
Dee Dee Batteast……………….Frida
Ariana Burks…………………….Fan/Martha Cratchit/Catherine
Thomas J. Cox………………….Bob Cratchit/Tree Seller
Allen Gilmore……………………Abe/Ortle/Schoolmaster/Poulterer
Cindy Gold………………………Mrs. Fezziwig/Passerby/Chestnut Seller
Gregory Hirte……………………Dick Wilkins/Musician/Fiddler/Wreath Seller
Susaan Jamshidi……………….Mrs. Cratchit
Vikram Konkimalla……………..Tiny Tim/Child#1
Jennifer Latimore……………….Belle/Frida’s Guest/Young Woman
Aurora Real de Asua……………Ghost of Christmas Past
Malcolm Ruhl……………………Musician/Mr. Spinet
Christopher Sheard…………….Young Scrooge/Young Man
Paris Strickland………………….Emily Cratchit/Child#3/NewspaperGirl
Bethany Thomas………………..Ghost of Christmas Present
Penelope Walker………………..Mrs. Fezziwig/Mrs. Crumb
Andrew White……………………Narrator
Larry Yando………………………Ebenezer Scrooge

Creative Team

Eva Breneman…………………..Dialect Coach
Andrew Hansen…………………Original Music
Malcolm Ruhl……………………Music Director
Richard Woodbury………………Sound Designer
Alden Vasquez…………………..Project Coordinator

About A Christmas Carol

Beloved voices and the Goodman’s signature soundscape bring to vivid life Charles Dickens’ heartwarming, uplifting classic. Miserly businessman Ebenezer Scrooge’s sizable bank account is only matched by his disdain for the holidays. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who take him on a spectacular adventure through his past, present and future, helping him on his discovery of kindness, compassion and redemption.

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Filed under:
Holiday Events in Chicago, Theater in Chicago