Hale Centre Theatre: HCT CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF DICKENS’ “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

HCT CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF DICKENS’ “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
Utah Family Tradition Has Evolved to Portray the True Meaning of the Season with Time-perfected Script, Original Score and Seasoned Actors

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (Nov. 20, 2009) – Hale Centre Theatre (HCT), Utah’s premiere family theatre, will present its 25th annual performance of its Charles Dickens’ classic adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 28-Dec. 23.

“A Christmas Carol” was part of HCT’s first season 25 years ago during its humble Utah beginnings in South Salt Lake City. HCT’s founders Ruth and Nathan Hale chose to continue the tradition set by Hale’s theater in Glendale, Calif., which has been performing the story since 1965. The Glendale version was rewritten for its Salt Lake debut and has continued to evolve over the years into a more accurate recounting of the classic tale.

“So often when you see other productions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ you lose the weight and message of the story,” said Dietlein. “Our version stays very true to the text and reverent to the characters and does not make them into caricatures.”

HCT’s production weaves actual text from the 1843 story into the script and narration. Details such as these were aided by Richard Wilkins, a Dickens scholar who has portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge for the past 25 years. Wilkins, a former Brigham Young University professor, began playing Scrooge when he was 32 and now flies in from his home in Qatar each year to continue performing as the antagonist turned protagonist. His scripting, along with original scoring and carol arrangements by noted Utah composer Barlow Bradford added six years ago, works with the elegant costumes and sets to create a magical holiday experience.

“We have patrons who have seen the show every year since it began. We have actors who have performed in the cast since our first show, whose children have grown up playing first children and then moving into adult roles,” said Dietlein, whose own son, Adam, was carried on as a one-year-old in the first show and this season will play Young Scrooge as a 25-year-old man.

The production also has evolved and been perfected under different direction over the years. For the past six years, director John Sweeney has challenged himself to add depth and detail to the production without losing the true message. This year, he reworked a street scene with the music of “Silent Night” to poignantly depict a poor hungry family being embraced by neighbors. Scrooge and the audience witness the generosity and kindness of neighbors, even when they don’t have a lot of capacity to give.

“It’s a very salient message with the current economy,” said Sweeney. “Scrooge doesn’t have a lack of capacity, he just refuses to give. He learns generosity from others who are less fortunate. It’s something we can all think about at this time of year.”

HCT’s “A Christmas Carol” is directed by Sweeney and features Wilkins and David Weekes as Scrooge, Tom Stam (also in his 25th year with the HCT production) and David Stensrud as Ghost of Christmas Present; Brad Charon and Gary Ceran as Bob Cratchit; T.J. Ryan and Andrew Lake as Ghost of Christmas Past; and Josh Richardson and Eric Armstrong as Jacob Marley. The production’s musical director is Anne Puzey with choreography by Marilyn May Montgomery, set design by Kacey Udy, lighting design by Spencer Brown, sound by Dan Morgan and production assistance from Seth Larson.

“A Christmas Carol” typically sells out and early reservations are recommended. Performances are at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Nov. 28 through Dec. 23, with an additional evening performance each night at 5 p.m. beginning Dec. 4. Matinées will run each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Admission prices range from $24-$30 for adults and $17-$20 for children ages 5-11. Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org, via telephone at (801) 984-9000, or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office, 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.

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25th Anniversary of "A Christmas Carol"