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Pictured in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol adapted by Tom Creamer directed by William Brown are William J. Norris (Mr. Ortle), LaShawn Banks (Mr. Crumb) and Jonathan Weir (Ebenezer Scrooge). Photo: Michael Brosilow FORMER SCROOGE WILLIAM BROWN DIRECTS GOODMAN THEATRE'S PERENNIAL HOLIDAY FAVORITE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL ***29TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION FEATURES JONATHAN WEIR AS SCROOGE, RYAN COWHEY AS TINY TIM AND A NEW CRATCHIT FAMILY, GHOSTS AND MUSIC*** November 17 - December 30, 2006 reviewed by Ed Vincent for Suburban Journals of Chicago I have watched the Christmas Carol at the Goodman for years now, and each year there is something here and there that is new or refined. This year through a new director's work and the talents of Jonathan Weir, the annual tribute to the human heart has reached another level of tribute. I met Mr. Weir years ago when he lived in Oak Park and was the stand in for Disney's warthog "Puhba". Weir has brought this years drama to the pinnacle of performance. He has made Scrooge the nastiest, loudest, most abhorrent character yet, of any portrayal I have yet to see. Jonathan Weir has made a new reference for curmudgeon, a target to shoot for, for those needing a patron of complaints. The transformation later in the drama is therefore grand and astounding, right up there with Alistair Simm's film version. The powerful Christmas Carol is also mixed with some powerful new backdrops, and inventive musical notations. In one scene a man asks a woman to marry him with the playing of some well chosen notes from his piano, which are returned by a violin and a hug. If you appreciate human irony, fine acting, wonderful costumes, and flying ghosts, come and see the Goodman's "Christmas Carol". It can get no better than this..... Pictured in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol adapted by Tom Creamer directed by William Brown are William J. Norris (Mr. Ortle), LaShawn Banks (Mr. Crumb) and Jonathan Weir (Ebenezer Scrooge). Photo: Michael Brosilow FORMER SCROOGE WILLIAM BROWN DIRECTS GOODMAN THEATRE'S PERENNIAL HOLIDAY FAVORITE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL ***29TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION FEATURES JONATHAN WEIR AS SCROOGE, RYAN COWHEY AS TINY TIM AND A NEW CRATCHIT FAMILY, GHOSTS AND MUSIC*** November 17 - December 30, 2006 (Chicago, IL) Goodman Theatre's acclaimed production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a Chicago holiday tradition for 29 years, returns to the Albert Theatre November 17 - December 30, 2006. For the first time, Chicago actor/director William Brown-who brings 15 years of experience with this production, including the past four seasons as Ebenezer Scrooge-directs Goodman dramaturg Tom Creamer's adaptation of the timeless tale. The major corporate sponsor of A Christmas Carol is Harris Private Bank. Since its inception in 1978, A Christmas Carol has been the holiday tradition for millions of Chicago families. For the 2006 production, Brown and Creamer have revisited Dickens' beloved 1843 novella to enhance what Brown deems the "contrast of light and dark" in the story. Several newcomers join the 27-member cast, including Jonathan Weir as the irascible Scrooge and Ryan Cowhey as Tiny Tim. Other new faces include Brian J. Gill and Karen Janes Woditsch as Bob and Mrs. Cratchit, respectively; the five Cratchit children are portrayed by Lucy Godinez, Blair Robertson, Mitchell Rose, Laney Kraus-Taddeo and Cowhey. Two new ghosts make their Goodman Theatre debut: Steve Haggard as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Martin Yurek as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Brown's staging will also include new music by Chicago-based composer Andrew Hansen.  Bradley Mott (Ghost of Christmas Present). Photo: Michael Brosilow This production unites a creative team of several longtime Goodman Theatre staff members. Creamer has been the theater's dramaturg since 1986, and his adaptation of A Christmas Carol has played at the Goodman and other theaters in the Midwest since 1989; Resident Lighting Designer/Lighting Supervisor Robert Christen has designed lights for every production since the 1978 premiere; and Heidi Sue McMath, Costume Shop Manager since 1990, has designed the costumes for A Christmas Carol since 2001. A Christmas Carol is the tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who is oblivious to holiday cheer and the sufferings of the poor in Victorian London, and whose attitude toward Christmas is the dour, "Bah, Humbug!" On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who offer him the opportunity to sympathize with his fellow man. Dickens' famous characters include Scrooge's kind-hearted clerk, Bob Cratchit, and his family, including Tiny Tim; the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future; the merry-making Fezziwig couple; and the Ghost of Jacob Marley. (standing, l to r) Brian J. Gill (Bob Cratchit), Jonathan Weir (Ebenezer Scrooge), Karen Janes Woditsch (Mrs. Cratchit) and Bradley Mott (Ghost of Christmas Present) and (seated, l to r) Ryan Cowhey (Tiny Tim), Laney Kraus-Taddeo (Emily Cratchit), Mitchell Rose (Peter Cratchit), Lucy Godinez (Belinda Cratchit) and Blair Robertson (Martha Cratchit). Photo: Michael Brosilow Director William Brown first appeared in A Christmas Carol in the late 1980s when he portrayed Scrooge's infectiously optimistic nephew Fred; from 2002-2005, he donned the whiskers and glowering countenance of Scrooge. Brown's directing credits include work with Northlight Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Time Line Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre and Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare. He is Associate Artistic Director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. The Cast Jonathan Weir (Scrooge) previously appeared in A Christmas Carol as Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Old Joe and Topper. Also at the Goodman, he played the Priest in The Visit with Chita Rivera. This past summer he performed in The Boys Are Coming Home at Northwestern University's American Music Theatre Project. Weir's other Chicago credits include Writers' Theatre, Steppenwolf, Marriot Theatre Lincolnshire, Apple Tree Theatre and Northlight Theatre. He appeared in the national tours of The Lion King and Scrooge the Musical. Brian J. Gill (Bob Cratchit) most recently appeared as France in Robert Falls' 20th Anniversary production of King Lear and appears in A Christmas Carol for the first time. His other Chicago credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Victory Gardens Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Remy Bumppo Theatre, Provision Theatre Company, Apple Tree Theatre and Irish Repertory Theatre. Karen Janes Woditsch (Mrs. Cratchit) recently appeared at the Goodman as Gerte in Crumbs From the Table of Joy and prior to that as Philomena in A Christmas Carol in 2000. Her other Chicago credits include Northlight Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Shakespeare on the Green. Lucy Godinez (Belinda Cratchit), daughter of Goodman Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez, makes her professional stage debut. She is joined by Blair Robertson (Martha Cratchit), Mitchell Rose (Peter Cratchit) and Laney Kraus-Taddeo (Emily Cratchit). Ryan Cowhey, who previously appeared at the Goodman in Falls' world premiere production of Rebecca Gilman's Dollhouse, plays Tiny Tim. Cowhey was born in Uralsk, Kazakhstan and lives with his adopted family in Elmhurst, Illinois. Matthew Heffernan (Turkey Boy) returns for a second season. Jonathan Weir (Ebenezer Scrooge) and Ryan Cowhey (Tiny Tim). Photo: Michael Brosilow A Christmas Carol veterans Bradley Mott (Mr. Fezziwig and Ghost of Christmas Present) and Sharon Sachs (Mrs. Fezziwig) return as the gay Fezziwig couple. Mott's other Goodman credits include Red Noses, Sunday in the Park with George, Galileo, The Government Inspector, Cyrano de Bergerac and Curse of the Starving Class, as well as Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Love's Labour's Lost and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Sachs' Chicago credits include Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre and Drury Lane Oakbrook. Steven Hinger (Fred) returns to the Goodman in his ninth production of A Christmas Carol. Previously, he has been seen as Undertaker, Dick Wilkins, Topper and Ghost of Christmas Future. Hinger's other Chicago credits include Writers' Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and the Theatre Building. Martin Yurek (Ghost of Jacob Marley) makes his Goodman Theatre debut. His extensive body of work in Chicago includes Shaw Chicago, Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Ravinia, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, The Theatre Building Chicago and Illinois Theatre Center. Steve Haggard (Ghost of Christmas Past) was last seen in Chicago as Louis XIV in Power at Remy Bumppo. Dennis Grimes returns to A Christmas Carol as both the Ghost of Christmas Future and as Scrooge as a young man. His Chicago credits include TimeLine Theatre Company, Theatre-Hikes, Walkabout Theatre, the Journeyman, Provision Theatre Company and Uma Productions. The ensemble features Justin Amolsch, LaShawn Banks, Phillip James Brannon, Gregory Hirte, Katie Jeep, Bethany Jorgensen, John Lister, Malcolm Ruhl, Kevin Theis, Penelope Walker and William J. Norris, who has been part of Goodman's A Christmas Carol since the first production in 1978 when he played Scrooge. The veteran design team includes Todd Rosenthal (Set), Heidi Sue McMath (Costumes), Robert Christen (Lighting), Lindsay Jones (Sound) and Andrew Hansen (Composer). Tickets are $20 to $68 and may be purchased online at GoodmanTheatre.org, at the Goodman Theatre Box Office, 170 North Dearborn Street, or charged by phoning 312.443.3800. See calendar below for specific dates, times and prices. MezzTix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 6pm for evening shows and 12 noon for matinees at the box office, and at 10am online at GoodmanTheatre.org on the day of performance, subject to availability. Groups of 15 or more, call 312.443.3820. American Airlines is the exclusive Airline of the Goodman Theatre. Kraft Foods is the Principal Sponsor of the free Student Subscription Series |
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