[NEohioPAL] Actors' Summit opens A Christmas Carol

[Neil Thackaberry]

*For Immediate Release*

*For additional information contact: *
*Neil Thackaberry (330) 374-7568*
*Akron**, Ohio*

* *

*Actors’ Summit at Greystone Hall*

* *

*Presents*

*A CHRISTMAS CAROL***

* *



Actors’ Summit, Akron’s professional theater, is bringing back to Northeast
Ohio the adaptation of A Christmas Carol that held the stage at the
Cleveland Play House for eight years.  Based on the classic story by Charles
Dickens, the show was adapted by Doris Baizley.  The play with music will
have a preview performance on Wednesday, November 24, followed by a day off
for Thanksgiving, and then the official opening on Friday, November 26.  The
play will run Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sunday
afternoons at 2:00 PM through December 29 at the theater on the 6th floor of
Greystone Hall in downtown Akron.  There will be no performances on
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but there are two added performances on
Tuesday, December 28 and Wednesday December 29.



*About the Play*

*A Christmas Carol* made the transition from the page to the stage almost
instantly.  Doris Baizley adapted the 1843 novella in 1977 for the Mark
Taper Forum.  Throughout most of the ‘80’s this adaptation was performed
annually at the Cleveland Play House with Wayne Turney portraying Ebenezer
Scrooge.

The plot of Scrooge’s redemption, through visits from the spirits of
Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, is told by a troupe
of travelling players.  The challenges facing the group of actors are
daunting.  The stage manager fired the actor playing Tiny Tim,  the actor
playing Scrooge has just quit and no one can find the prop chain that
Marley’s ghost enters wearing.  Imagination, improvisation, a little bit of
mime and some unexpected casting allows the company, and the story, to
thrive.

In addition to carols of the season, the company of actors also performs on
hand bells on and off stage.

*Dinner and a Show*

With it’s move to Greystone Hall in Akron, it is now possible for theater
patrons to enjoy dinner as part of their evening’s entertainment.  Dinners
are served in the Garden Room on the third floor before evening performances
and after matinee performances.  The dining option is available only with
the first eight performances of each production.

*The Performers*

* *

*  Melissa Brobeck* is new to Actors’ Summit with a wide range of regional
credits including *My Fair Lady* at the Cleveland Play House.  She holds a
B.M. in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music and an M.M. in
vocal performance from UNCG School of Music.



*  John Q. Bruce i*s making his first appearance with Actors’ Summit. A
retired teacher from University School in Shaker Heights, John has been
active in theater for many years.


  *Joe Dunn *is also new to Actors’ Summit. He is a senior theater major at
Kent State University.


*Shawn Galligan *has* *appeared at Actors’ Summit in *A Murder, A Mystery &
a Marriage*, *Don’t Hug Me*, *Are We There Yet?*, *Guys on Ice* (Ernie), and
*I Love a Piano.*


  *Lissy Gulick *returns to the Actors’ Summit stage.  Her extensive credits
include Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Carousel, and Cleveland Opera.


  *Bob Keefe *is an Actors’ Summit veteran having appeared in *Tremont*, *Spoon
River Anthology*, *Picnic*, *Cottonpatch Gospel*, and several other
productions at the old Hudson location.

  *Cassie Newmann *is new to Actors’ Summit.  She has performed with Theater
Ninjas, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, and Cleveland Public Theater.


  *Emma Picht *is a sixth grader at Miller South School for the Visual and
Performing Arts in Akron, and is making her Actors’ Summit debut.


*  Mark Seven* is also making his debut with Actors' Summit.  Credits
include performances at The Beck Center, and CSU’s Summer Stages.


*Keith E. Stevens** is an Equity actor and a lifetime member of the Actors’
Studio in New York. A graduate of Cleveland State University, Keith holds an
MFA from New School/Actors Studio Drama School. Recently, at Actors’ Summit,
Keith has appeared in I Love a Piano, Last Train to Nibroc, For
Better, and Don’t
Hug Me.*


*  A. Neil Thackaberry *is the Founder/Artistic Co-director of Actors’
Summit.  In addition to his roles at Actors’ Summit, his credits include
Ensemble Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Oberlin Summer Theater
Festival and the Cleveland Play House.

* *

*Performance times:*

Performances are given Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays
at 2:00 PM at the theater, located at Greystone Hall, 103 South High Street,
6th Floor, Akron, Ohio.



*Ticket Prices*

Preview tickets (October 14) are $17.  Regular performance tickets are $30
on Fridays & Saturdays, $27 on Thursdays & Sundays, with seniors receiving a
$3 discount at regular Thursday and Sunday performances.  All full time
students with ID are $7 at all performances.  Additional discounts are
available to groups of ten or more.



Tickets can be purchased by phone at (330) 374-7568 or from the website at *
www.actorssummit.org*.



Dinner reservations (required) can also be made through the ticket office.  The
all-inclusive prices are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12.  Dinner
prices are in addition to theater ticket fees.  Dinners are served before
evening performances (arrive 6 – 6:45 PM) and after matinee performances.  The
dining option is available from November 24 – December 5.



*Web site**
*Actors’ Summit Theater can be found on the web at www.actorssummit.org.
Actors’ Summit is a professional, not for profit, 501-c-3 professional arts
organization.


-- 
Neil Thackaberry
Co-artistic Director
Actors' Summit, a professional theater
103 South High Street
6th Floor
Akron OH 44308
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