A Christmas Carol
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1385
Printed Date: 4/20/25 at 9:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: A Christmas Carol
Posted By: Colin
Subject: A Christmas Carol
Date Posted: 5/06/05 at 4:46pm
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Maybe someone here can help me. Our theater does a yearly
production of the Dickens classic and has done so for 30 years. I am looking at other versions of the play/musical and have thus far been impressed by the Alan Menken/Lynn Ahrens version. The Michel Legrand/Sheldon Harnick version has it merits, as well. I also have been working with a new playwright/composer in this area to develop his version as another possibility. And I have a musical version that another local composer has written and this theater has used in the past; it has several incarnations to look at, and that's a project in itself. I would like to know if anyone has other versions of this show that have been successful, either from an audience perspective, as a director or as an actor. I would love to know, for instance, where to get a hold of the Chicago Goodman Theater's version, for example. Anyway, I'm open to suggestions right now. ------------- Colin Douglas |
Replies:
Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 5:10pm
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Hi Colin, We have just signed up into our catalogue a brand new musical version of 'The Christmas Carol' which will be available for production in about 2-3 months time. This adaptation has been performed twice by community theatres here in the UK and was very well received both times. If you would e-mail us, or use the contact form on our website, I will send you some information on the production when it becomes available. best regards David Senior Partner http://www.playsandmusicals.co.uk - www.playsandmusicals.co.uk PS : We also have an adaptation designed for school-age children from about 9-12 - not sure that that is any use for you though! |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 5/12/05 at 7:05pm
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David,
I can't find a link on your website. Does your company have a catalog? |
Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 5/19/05 at 5:29pm
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Tristanrobin, We have a catalogue for our plays which we can send, but our musicals are at present only described on our website. Please e-mail us and ask for a copy either by mail or as a pdf attachment. Alternatively, wait a couple of weeks and it will be available,as a download from our website.
regards David |
Posted By: closetdiva
Date Posted: 5/24/05 at 2:34pm
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If you're still looking for a fun musical based on "A Christmas Carol"
- Pat Lotito and Ken Prescott wrote "A Dickens of a Christmas" several
years ago. I don't know how you can get the rights, but the theater
contact info is at: http://www.saltcitycenter.com/Contacts/contact.htm (Snail mail may be the best way to reach them - although the e-mail for Group Sales actually goes to someone on the board). There are some good songs in there, as well as some fun dancing - especially for the "Wassailers" (3 to 4 couples that serve as a kind of 'Greek chorus'). I've been in it a few times. It's a good show for parents to do with their kids, too - if that's something you run into at your theater. All the best, closetdiva  ------------- Duct tape can fix anything - except a dropped line! ;-) |
Posted By: mtgirl118
Date Posted: 6/27/06 at 10:50am
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"Bah, Humbug" is a good musical for kids with a few adults. I was in it. It is available from Pioneer Drama. http://www.pioneerdrama.com - www.pioneerdrama.com If you need any information about it, I can help. mtgirl118 ------------- Once upon a time I was a shy young thing ~ Could barely walk and talk so much as dance and sing ~ But let me hit that stage I want to take my bow ~ Cause Momma I'm a big girl now - "Hairspray" |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 8/03/06 at 3:51pm
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Have you done the musical "Scrooge" yet... It is by far THE best.. I will be directing for the third year in a row this Christmas.. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 8/04/06 at 3:28pm
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If you want a really "other" version, take a look at the Farndale Avenue version. All the Farndale plays are hilarious. ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: castMe
Date Posted: 8/04/06 at 5:08pm
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I second what POB says about the Farndale Avenue scripts. We did
the Christmas Carol a few years ago and now another theater in town
wants me to direct it for them.
------------- Investigate. Imagine. Choose. |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 8/04/06 at 10:05pm
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I agree with both of you. The Farces by that intrepid band of ladies & usually with the one token bloke, of the ?Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen?s Guild Dramatic Society?. Are sincerely produced as an ?ever so? serious theatrical endeavour. Which are presented with much aplomb & don?t quite get to the point of being "comedy with it?s pants down". YET They are totally farcical, hilarious & a definite side splitter all the same. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/11/06 at 12:20am
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If you are looking for a fun yet irreverant version of Christmas Carol, you may wish to look at "Dicken's Christmas Carol a Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts". This is a show about a show e.g. Noises Off. Its a fun show with a smaller cast playing numerous roles each, sometimes in the same scene. I had to play Cratchit and the Ghost of Christmas Present in the same scene with numerous costume changes in a short time each change got quicker and less of the costume made it on stage each time. You get the basic show with a ton of laughs. Each night you bring down the house, literally. The set is to be designed to collapse at the end of the show. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: mattyjaco
Date Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:04pm
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This looks interesting we already have "a christmas story" for this year but i guess could start looking for next years show, who has the royalties for this, any info appreciated! |
Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 9/19/06 at 1:13am
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"Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge" by Christopher Durang is an funny show with a big cast. It's not really a version of Christmas Carol though. ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:13am
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I agree w/ MartyW. "Scrooge!" is, in my opinion, the BEST version out there. The theatre I worked with in high school (WAY back in the 80's) did the show and it ran for 16 years straight! (Yes, I was in every production of it ... from the begger woman to Fran to Mrs. Cratchit and directing music!) The book, music, and lyrics are by Leslie Bricusse (who also wrote the music for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). The script is available from Samuel French, Inc. (www.samuelfrench.com) ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 9/19/06 at 9:54am
French has the rights..... Great show... As a matter of fact, I have done it twice... Once with PDavis69... Hey Patrick.. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 9/20/06 at 11:58am
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Look at INSPECTING CAROL - I saw it several years ago and it was delightful. People involved with the theater were besides themselves laughing, the others were just holding their sides from laughing. The script calls for an empty stage but the version I saw had a full set with a collapsing stage on the left and theater seats on the right. We will do it here some day. It is really very good. Doug |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 3/07/08 at 4:32pm
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Yes, I second Dougb's suggestion of the holiday comedy Inspecting Carol. It's a cast of 12 actors. Written by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan and the Seattle Rep. Theatre. We produced it Dec., 2007. Great parts for actors, a good ensemble show. ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 3/12/08 at 7:04pm
| You might look into "A Christmas Carol on the Air". I'm not sure who has the rights. It's a radio show version with the "show about the show" mentality. I've not seen it, mind, but heard the Utah Shakespearean Festival was doing it for their holiday show. |
Posted By: Nigel Holloway
Date Posted: 3/29/08 at 11:42am
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If you'd prefer a traditional version of A Christmas Carol, using the music from Gilbert and Sullivan, have a look at:
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/Musicals/Savoy_Christmas_Carol.htm - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/Musicals/Savoy_Christmas_Carol.htm
(If we'd have sold kleenex tissues for all the criers, we'd have cleaned up!) ------------- Best wishes, Nigel www.off-the-wall-plays.co.uk |