| A Christmas Carol | |
| Music: | Alan Menken |
| Lyrics: | Lynn Ahrens |
| Basis: | Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol |
| Productions: | 1994-2003 Madison Square Garden 2004 Film 2016 London concert |
A Christmas Carol is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens. The musical is based on Charles Dickens' 1843 novella of the same name. The show was presented annually at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden from December 1, 1994, to December 27, 2003.[1] [2]
A Christmas Carol premiered on December 1, 1994. It was performed annually in December at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in Madison Square Garden from December 1994 until December 2003.[1] [2] [3]
The original 1994 production was directed by Mike Ockrent with choreography by Susan Stroman, sets by Tony Walton, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound by Tony Meola, projections by Wendall K. Harrington, and musical direction by Paul Gemignani. Walter Charles played Ebenezer Scrooge.[2]
Terrence Mann, Tony Randall, Hal Linden, Roddy McDowall (in his final role), F. Murray Abraham,[4] Frank Langella, Tim Curry, Tony Roberts, Roger Daltrey and Jim Dale have all played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in subsequent productions of A Christmas Carol.[5]
In 2004, the production was adapted for television and produced by Hallmark Entertainment for NBC. It was directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and features Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge, Jason Alexander as Jacob Marley, Jane Krakowski as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Jesse L. Martin as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Geraldine Chaplin as the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Emily (named Belle in the book), Scrooge's former fiancée.
The musical made its London premiere on Monday December 19, 2016 at the Lyceum Theatre as a concert production played by London Musical Theatre Orchestra and produced by James Yeoburn and Stuart Matthew Price for United Theatrical. It starred Robert Lindsay as Ebenezer Scrooge, Alex Gaumond as Bob Cratchit, Carrie Hope Fletcher and her sister-in-law Giovanna Fletcher as Emily and Mrs Cratchit, Madalena Alberto as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Hugh Maynard as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Norman Bowman as Jacob Marley, Peter Polycarpou as Mr Fezziwig, and John Addison as Fred Anderson.
The concert production was again at the Lyceum on December 11 and 18, 2017, with Lindsay returning to the role of Scrooge.[6]
On 17 December 2018, the production returned to the Lyceum Theatre again with Griff Rhys Jones as Scrooge.
From 7 December 2020 a new production of the staged concert with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra opened at the Dominion Theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic where the theatre was socially distanced, starring Brian Conley as Scrooge, Matt Willis as Bob Cratchit, Jacqueline Jossa as Emily/Ghost of Christmas Future, Lucie Jones as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sandra Marvin as Mrs Fezziwigg, Martyn Ellis as Mr Fezziwigg, Cedric Neal as Ghost of Christmas Present, Jeremy Secomb as Jacob Marley, Rebecca Lock as Mrs Cratchit and Sam Oladeinde as Fred Anderson/Young Scrooge.[7] The run was due to close on 2 January 2021, however due to the Government's tier 3 restrictions in London, the run finished early on 15 December 2020.[8]
| Character | 1994 Original Cast | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 Final Cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Walter Charles | Terrence Mann | Tony Randall | Hal Linden Roddy McDowall | Roger Daltrey | Tony Roberts | Frank Langella | Tim Curry | F. Murray Abraham | Jim Dale |
| Bob Cratchit | Nick Corley | Todd Gross | Nick Corley | |||||||
| Ghost of Christmas Past/ Lamplighter | Ken Jennings | Joel Blum | Ken Jennings | Didi Conn | Ken Jennings | Martin Moran | Justin Brill | |||
| Ghost of Christmas Present/ Sandwichboard Man | Michael Mandell | Ben Vereen | Ken Page | Roz Ryan | Reginald VelJohnson | D'Ambrose Boyd | Reginald VelJohnson | Gerry McIntyre | ||
| Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Be | Theara J. Ward | Valentina Kozlova | Christine Dunham | Catherine Batcheller | ||||||
| Ghost of Jacob Marley | Jeff Keller | Paul Kandel | ||||||||
| Tiny Tim | Matthew Mezzacapa | Chris Marquette Zach London | Matthew Ballinger Pierce Cravens | Christopher Cordell Patrick J.P. Duffey | Anthony Blair Hall Christian Valiando | Dennis Michael Hall Patrick Stogner | Jimmy Walsh Patrick Stogner | Jimmy Walsh Shadoe Brandt | Anthony Colangelo Sky Jarrett | Anthony Colangelo Graham Phillips |
| Fred Anderson | Robert Westenberg | Steve Blanchard | Greg Zerkle | Paul Jackel | John Sloman | James Judy | Robert Westenberg | John Sloman | James Judy | |
| Blind Hag/ Scrooge's Mother | Andrea Frierson Toney | Nicole Arrington (Hag) Barbara Marineau (Mother) | Joan Barber | Debra Cardona | Joan Barber | |||||
| Mrs. Mops | Darcy Pulliam | Karen Murphy | Corinne Melancon | Marilyn Pasekoff | Karen Murphy | |||||
| Scrooge at 18 | Michael Christopher Moore | Tom Stuart | Michael Moore | Tom Stuart | Joe Cassidy | Denton Tarver | Daniel Cochran | |||
| Emily | Emily Skinner | Kate Dawson | Kristin Huxhold | Kate Dawson | Kristin Huxhold | |||||
| Mr. Fezziwig | Gerry Vichi | Michael Cone | Ray Friedeck | Daniel Marcus | Michael J. Farina | Roland Rusinek | ||||
| Mrs. Fezziwig | Mary Stout | Joy Hermalyn | Debra Cardona | Kelly Ellenwood | ||||||
| Young Marley/ Undertaker/ Punch and Judy Man | Christopher Sieber | Ken Barnett | Ashton Byrum | |||||||
| Mr. Smythe | Joseph Kolinski | James Judy | Chris Vasquez | Erick Pinnick | Joseph Kolinski | Chris Vasquez | ||||
| Grace Smythe | Lindsay Jobe | Cara Horner Joanna Howard | Cara Horner Jennifer Blain | Olivia Oguma Tavia Rivee Jefferson | Netousha Harris Tavia Rivee Jefferson | Brittany Alexander Campbell Marissa Gould | Amelia Harris Catherine Marie Downey | Allison Fischer Catherine Marie Downey | Carly Seyler Vachelle Gil | |
| Mrs. Cratchit | Joy Hermalyn | Robin Baxter | Rachel Black | Whitney Webster | ||||||
| Old Joe/ Mr. Hawkins | Kenneth McMullen | Don Mayo | Kenneth McMullen | |||||||
| Sally Anderson | Natalie Toro | Stephanie Bast | Whitney Webster | La Tanya Hall | ||||||
| Jonathon | Jason Fuchs | Evan J. Newman Jason Fuchs | Adam Barruch Christopher Marquette | Adam Barruch Kennedy Kanagawa | Marshall Pailet Matt Bowles | Gerard Canonico Scott Owen Cumberbatch | Gerard Canonico Paul Tiesler | Jimmy Walsh Justin Thomas Riordan | Andrew Zutty Jimmy Walsh | |
| Scrooge at 8/ Ignorance | David Gallagher (plays Cratchit Child instead of Ignorance) | Matthew Ballinger Zachary Petkanas | Evan Silverberg Zachary Petkanas | Anthony Blair Hall Joseph Louis Santos III | Dennis Michael Hall Stephen Scarpulla | Jimmy Walsh Johnny Cennicola | Justin Riordan Nicholas Jonas | Anthony Colangelo Evan Daves | Jonathan Demar Kevin Carillo | Kevin Carillo Zachary Goldstein |
| Scrooge at 12 | Ramzi Khalaf | Christopher Mark Petrizzo Paul Franklin Dano | Christopher Mark Petrizzo Matthew Hoffman | Evan Silverberg Paul Franklin Dano | Gabriel Millman Jesse McCartney | Andrew Keenan-Bolger Kennedy Kanagawa | Johnny Cenicola Patrick Dunn | Johnny Cenicola Michael A. Mags | Jared Goldstein Michael A. Mags | |
| Fan (originally Fan at 10) | Jacy De Filippo Olivia Oguma | Eliza Atkins Clark Nathalie Paulding | Eliza Atkins Clark Elizabeth Lundberg | Elizabeth Lundberg Jenell Slack | Dana Chechile Carissa Farina Chloe Zeitounian | Lexine Bondoc Tristin Mays | Lily Havala Wen Lindsey Pickering | Jewel Restaneo Lily Havala Wen | Jewel Restaneo Madeleine Martin | Alexandra Sullivan Kristin Klabunde |
| Judge/Poulterer/ Charity Man | Michael H. Ingram (Judge) Walter Willison (Poulterer/Charity Man) | Michael H. Ingram | Roland Rusinek | Wayne W. Pretlow | Duane Martin Foster | |||||
| Scrooge's Father/ Undertaker/ Charity Man | Michael X. Martin (Father/Undertaker) Martin Van Treuren (Charity Man) | Michael X. Martin (Father/Undertaker) Wayne Pretlow (Charity Man) | Michael X. Martin (Father/Undertaker) Seth Malkin (Charity Man) | Wayne Schroder (Father/Undertaker) Wayne Pretlow (Charity Man) | Wayne Schroder | |||||
| Charity Man | Robert Ousley | Keith Byron Kirk | Erik Stein | David Aron Damane | Don Mayo | Erik Stein | David Lowenstein | Erik Stein | ||
| Fan at 6/ Cratchit Child | Mary Elizabeth Albano | Olivia Oguma Diana Mary Rice | Gemini Quintos Diana Mary Rice | Gemini Quintos Zoe Petkanas | combined with Fan at 10 | |||||
| Cratchit Child | Betsy Chang (Martha Cratchit) & Sean Thomas Morrissey | Anthony Roth Costanzo Bobby Steggert | Girl does not appear, Boy added to Scrooge at 12 track | |||||||
| Jack Smythe/ Ignorance | Andy Jobe | Jack Smythe does not appear, Ignorance added to Scrooge at 8 track | ||||||||
| Match Girl | Arlene Pierret | does not appear | ||||||||
| Punch and Judy Woman | Donna Lee Marshall | does not appear | ||||||||
| Gravedigger | Bill Nolte | does not appear | ||||||||
| Street Urchin/ Child/Swing | Christopher Mark Petrizzo Justin Bartholemew Kamen Matthew F. Byrne P.J. Smith | does not appear |
Long Runs: Gail Pennington appeared all 10 years in the Ensemble
Paul Kandel appeared as the Ghost of Jacob Marley for 9 consecutive years, the longest any cast member appeared in one speaking role
The opening numbers are "The Years Are Passing By" and "Jolly, Rich, and Fat". In later productions the two numbers are combined as "Jolly Good Time." Scrooge first encounters the three ghosts of Christmas in their real-world guises as a lamplighter (Past), a charity show barker (Present), and a blind beggar woman (Future) ("Nothing to Do With Me"). Scrooge's long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit, and Bob's son Tiny Tim, purchase a Christmas chicken ("You Mean More to Me").
The visit of the ghost of Jacob Marley ("Link By Link"), features a half-dozen singing, dancing spirits presented with various levels of makeup and special effects. One of these ghosts in this version is known to be an old colleague of Scrooge and Marley's, Mr. Haynes, who was said to be "mean to the bone", resulting in his charred skeleton. Other puns include a spirit with a safe embedded in his chest, who "never had a heart".
The Ghost of Christmas Past reinforces the character's signature theme of illuminating Scrooge's worldview ("The Lights of Long Ago"). One notable departure from Dickens' novella in this portion of the film is its depiction of Ebenezer Scrooge's father, identified as John William Scrooge, being sentenced to debtors' prison while his horrified family looks on; this scene was inspired by an actual occurrence from Dickens' own childhood.
The Ghost of Christmas Present ("Abundance and Charity" and "Christmas Together"), makes his point that Christmas is a time for celebration, generosity, and fellowship. The former takes place at a fantastical version of the charity show he was seen promoting on Christmas Eve, and the latter whisks Scrooge on a tour of London that includes the homes of his nephew Fred, his clerk Bob Cratchit, and Mr. Smythe, a recently widowed client of Scrooge's lending house.
The entire Christmas Future ("Dancing On Your Grave", "You Mean More to Me (Reprise)", and "Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today"), culminates in Scrooge's awakening in his bedroom on Christmas morning.
"What a Day, What a Sky" bookends "Nothing to Do With Me", dramatizing Scrooge's new outlook as he races through the streets of London making amends. The show concludes with a reprise of "Christmas Together" featuring the entire cast.
Time: London, 1880
Scene 1: A Graveyard Near St. Paul's Cathedral, Christmas Eve
Scene 2: The Royal Exchange
Scene 3: The Street
Scene 4: Scrooge's House
Scene 5: Scrooge's Bed Chamber
Scene 6: The Law Courts
Scene 7: The Factory
Scene 8: Fezziwig's Banking House
Scene 9: Montage
Scene 10: A Starry Night
Scene 11: All Over London
Scene 12: The Graveyard
Scene 13: Scrooge's Bed Chamber
Scene 14: The Street, Christmas Day
Time: London, 1880
Scene 1: The Royal Exchange
Scene 2: The Street
Scene 3: Scrooge's House
Scene 4: Scrooge's Bed Chamber
Scene 5: The Law Courts
Scene 6: The Factory
Scene 7: Fezziwig's Banking House
Scene 8: Scrooge and Marley's
Scene 9: A Starry Night
Scene 10: All Over London
Scene 11: The Graveyard
Scene 12: Scrooge's Bed Chamber
Scene 13: The Street, Christmas Day
The orchestration for A Christmas Carol consists of five woodwinds, one French horn, three trumpets in B-Flat (one doubling on flugelhorn), two trombones (the second doubling tuba), a drum kit, a percussion section, two synthesizers, one harp (doubling synthesizer) and strings. The first woodwind player doubles on flute, piccolo, clarinet in B-flat and soprano saxophone, the second on oboe, English horn, clarinet in B-flat and tenor saxophone, the third on clarinets in E-flat and B-flat, flute, piccolo, tin whistle and alto saxophone, the fourth bass clarinet in B-flat, flute and clarinet in B-flat, and the fifth on bassoon, clarinet in B-flat, flute and bass saxophone.
David Richards reviewed the 1994 production for The New York Times writing:
Of the score, Richards wrote: "After the spectacle, the score by Mr. Menken (with lyrics by Ms. Ahrens) is the production's major drawing card." Richards continued, "The eye is courted at every turn, the special effects come on a regular basis and the street scenes don't lack for warmly dressed bodies and the odd beggar. At the end, snow falls in the hall as well as onstage, which so thrilled an incredulous 8-year-old boy seated near me that he got up and danced in the aisle."
Lawrence Van Gelder reviewed the 2002 production for The New York Times writing, "Music, dance, colorful costumes and atmospheric scenery – all intended to make holiday theatergoing a pleasant family experience – are marshaled here to satisfying effect." Of F. Murray Abraham's performance, Gelder wrote: "Far from the terrifying figure who made blind men's dogs tug their owners into doorways and up courts, Mr. Abraham can scarcely contain the good cheer waiting to burst out in little bits of business before his ghostly encounters."[4]
Jeremy Gerard reviewed the 1994 production for "Variety" writing, "The show begins with a thunderous percussive explosion — rumbling organ, crashing cymbals, blaring brass — on Tony Walton's wraparound London cityscape set that's so big you could park Norma Desmond's mansion in there and never notice it." Gerard continues:
Noting the costume design, Gerard said: "For a later dance number, a Christmas ball stunningly set in Fezziwig's Banking House, costume designer William Ivey Long (another "Crazy" alum) has outdone himself, which is saying something, as gown after wildly colorful gown makes its entrance and has its spin.[9]