The Votes Are In!
2023 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → 
Theater Heavyweights Unite in ‘A Christmas Carol’ to Benefit Boston Court Pasadena
Arcadia Weekly Nov 30, 2020
by
share with
Production photo of the Geffen Playhouse production. | Courtesy photo by Chris Whitaker
A special filmed version of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” starring one of the finest stage actors of our time, Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays, was released worldwide on Saturday. The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to thrilling new life as Mays plays over 50 roles in a virtuosic, master class of a performance that must be seen to be believed.
This streaming video event will benefit Boston Court Pasadena as well as other regional, community, and amateur theaters across the country which have been devastated by the pandemic.
Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Michael Arden, adapted by Mays, Susan Lyons, and Arden, and conceived by Arden and Tony Award nominee Dane Laffrey, the filmed version is based on the wildly acclaimed 2018 production which made its world premiere at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse.
Tickets for A Christmas Carol are available to purchase via bit.ly/BCcarol.
Mays said, “A Christmas Carol was my first experience of living theater. My mother and father would read it out loud every year. My father would tell the story with clarity and humanity, while my mother, eyes ablaze, would transform into the characters, from the tortured Jacob Marley, to little Fan and the entire Cratchit family. Both, in their ways, created magic. And now here we are, aspiring to bring this magic to people across the country during this challenging time.”
Arden said, “My theater career began when I was a 10-year-old Texan playing Tiny Tim in the Midland Community Theatre production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ In a time when theaters and arts workers across the country are in great need, bringing a story that celebrates the power of creativity, community, and our shared humanity is humbling.”
Producer Hunter Arnold said, “Due to COVID-19, the country’s theaters have lost over 80% of their income, a number that is devastating to our community. These theaters, the work they produce, and the artists and workers they support are a fundamental part of our society. We must fight for their survival.”
“A Christmas Carol” was filmed at New York’s United Palace, chosen to preserve the power of the theatrical storytelling Mays and Arden have created.
When it played the Geffen Playhouse in 2018, ‘A Christmas Carol’ was called “a stunning adaptation” by Jordan Riefe of The Hollywood Reporter, and “a tour-deforce performance” by Jefferson Mays. Every bit of theater magic you can think of. You’ll find yourself transported – hanging on to every word and relishing every last image” by Anthony Byrnes of KCRW.
Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times raved that “Jefferson Mays not only got me to see ‘A Christmas Carol,’ something I’ve vowed never to do again. But he got me to rave about it. For true theater lovers, there can be no better gift this season.”
The creative team for “A Christmas Carol” includes Dane Laffrey (scenic and costume design), Maceo Bishop (director of photography), Ben Stanton (lighting design), Joshua D. Reid (sound design), Lucy Mackinnon (projection design), Cookie Jordan (hair and makeup design), James Ortiz (puppet design), and Nikki M. James (assistant director).
“A Christmas Carol” is produced by Arnold with George Bamber, Kayla Greenspan, Carl Daikeler, Roberto Quiroz Mata, and Tom Kirdahy serving as executive producers for the film.
