A Christmas Carol (musical)

For other uses, see A Christmas Carol (disambiguation).

For the 2004 film adaptation, see A Christmas Carol (2004 film).

A Christmas Carol
Production logo from Ahrens and Flaherty's website
Music	Alan Menken
Lyrics	Lynn Ahrens
Book	Mike Ockrent 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]}

Productions

Madison Square Garden, New York (1994–2003)

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]

2004 television film

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.

London concerts (2016–2020)

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]

Yearly MSG Casts

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

Synopsis

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.

Scenes and musical numbers

1994 version

Time: London, 1880 "Overture" — Orchestra Scene 1: A Graveyard Near St. Paul's Cathedral, Christmas Eve "The Years Are Passing By" — Grave Digger Scene 2: The Royal Exchange "Jolly, Rich and Fat" — Three Charity Men, Smythe Family, Businessmen, Wives and Children "Nothing To Do With Me" — Scrooge and Cratchit Scene 3: The Street "Street Song (Nothing To Do With Me)" — People of London, Scrooge, Fred, Jonathon, Sandwich Board Man, Lamplighter, Blind Hag and Jack Smythe Scene 4: Scrooge's House "Link By Link" — Marley's Ghost, Scrooge and Ghosts Scene 5: Scrooge's Bed Chamber "The Lights of Long Ago" – Ghost of Christmas Past Scene 6: The Law Courts "God Bless Us, Everyone" – Scrooge's Mother, Fan at 6 and Scrooge at 8 Scene 7: The Factory "A Place Called Home" – Scrooge at 12, Fan at 10 and Scrooge

Scene 8: Fezziwig's Banking House "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball" — Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig and Guests "A Place Called Home (Reprise)" — Emily, Scrooge at 18 and Scrooge Scene 9: Montage "The Lights of Long Ago (Part II)" — Scrooge at 18, Young Marley, Emily and People from Scrooge's Past Scene 10: A Starry Night "Abundance and Charity" – Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge and The Christmas Gifts Scene 11: All Over London "Christmas Together" – Tiny Tim, The Cratchit's Fred, Sally, Scrooge and People of London Scene 12: The Graveyard "Dancing On Your Grave" – Grave Diggers, Ghost of Christmas Future, Monks, Businessmen, Mrs. Mops, Undertakers, Old Joe, Mr. Smythe and Cratchit "Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today" – Scrooge, Angels and Children of London Scene 13: Scrooge's Bed Chamber "The Years Are Passing By (Reprise)" – Jonathon Scene 14: The Street, Christmas Day "Nothing To Do With Me (Reprise)" – Scrooge "Christmas Together (Reprise)" – The People of London "God Bless Us, Everyone (Finale)" – The Company

Final version

Time: London, 1880 "Overture" — Orchestra Scene 1: The Royal Exchange "A Jolly Good Time" — Charity Men, Smythe Family, Businessmen, Wives and Children "Nothing To Do With Me" — Scrooge and Cratchit Scene 2: The Street "You Mean More to Me" – Cratchit and Tiny Tim "Street Song (Nothing To Do With Me)" — People of London, Scrooge, Fred, Jonathon, Sandwichboard Man, Lamplighter, Blind Hag and Grace Smythe Scene 3: Scrooge's House "Link By Link" — Marley's Ghost, Scrooge and Ghosts Scene 4: Scrooge's Bed Chamber "The Lights of Long Ago" – Ghost of Christmas Past Scene 5: The Law Courts "God Bless Us, Everyone" – Scrooge's Mother Scene 6: The Factory "A Place Called Home" – Scrooge at 12, Fan and Scrooge Scene 7: Fezziwig's Banking House "Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball" — Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig and Guests "A Place Called Home (Reprise)" — Emily, Scrooge at 18 and Scrooge

Scene 8: Scrooge and Marley's "The Lights of Long Ago (Part II)" — Scrooge at 18, Young Marley, Emily, People from Scrooge's Past and Ghost of Christmas Past Scene 9: A Starry Night "Abundance and Charity" – Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge and The Christmas Gifts Scene 10: All Over London "Christmas Together" – Tiny Tim, The Cratchit's, Ghost of Christmas Present, Fred, Sally, Scrooge and People of London Scene 11: The Graveyard "Dancing On Your Grave" – Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Be, Scrooge, Monks, Businessmen, Mrs. Mops, Undertakers, Old Joe and Cratchit "Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today" – Scrooge and Angels Scene 12: Scrooge's Bed Chamber "London Town Carol" – Jonathon Scene 13: The Street, Christmas Day "Nothing To Do With Me (Reprise)" – Scrooge "Christmas Together (Reprise)" – The People of London "God Bless Us, Everyone (Finale)" – The Company

Instrumentation

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.

Reception

David Richards reviewed the 1994 production for The New York Times writing:

"Christmas Together," the joyful production number that comes two thirds of the way through, offers nothing less than a panoramic view of the city in full celebration. Stage left, you have Tiny Tim and the Cratchits; stage right, Scrooge's nephew Fred and his family. Meanwhile, the sorts of windows you find in Advent calendars are being thrown open everywhere. Behind some, actors are singing; behind others, cardboard cutouts are dancing. At "The Phantom of the Opera" or "Miss Saigon," you tend to look up a lot. At "A Christmas Carol," you look around.

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." ^[2]

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:

Spectacle is the operative word here. It is done fluidly and — an Ockrent/Stroman trademark — with considerable humor, especially in the first big dance number, "Link by Link," in which a very animated Ghost of Jacob Marley (Jeff Keller) and a platoon of ectoplasmic accomplices outline for Scrooge (Walter Charles) the many ways in which his life has gone wrong. With all its clanging clamor, the scene giddily recalls darker moments from both "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "Grand Hotel."

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]

See also

• Adaptations of A Christmas Carol
• A Christmas Carol

References

1. "A Christmas Carol Additional Facts". A Christmas Carol (Broadway)at Music Theatre International (MTI). Retrieved October 15, 2012.
2. Richards, David (December 2, 1994). "A Famous Miser, Tiny Tim And a Tap-Dancing Chorus". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
3. Hernandez, Ernio (November 28, 2003). "Ghosts Lead Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for Final MSG Staging, Nov. 28-Dec. 27". Playbill. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
4. Van Gelder, Lawrence (December 11, 2002). "Scrooge's Benign Tendencies Slip Out". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
5. "A Christmas Carol Synopsis and Production". A Christmas Carol (Broadway)at Music Theatre International (MTI). Retrieved January 24, 2010.
6. Hewis, Ben (October 3, 2017). "Robert Lindsay returns as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
7. Limited, London Theatre Direct (November 26, 2020). "Full casting has been announced for A Christmas Carol". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
8. Limited, London Theatre Direct (October 16, 2020). "Brian Conley to headline A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre this holiday season!". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
9. Gerard, Jeremy (December 1, 1994). "Review: 'A Christmas Carol'". variety.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.

External links

• Musical Numbers and Scenes at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
• A Christmas Carol at the Music Theatre International website