Casting is complete for the North Shore Music Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol.
David Coffee, who has starred in the North Shore's productions of The Wizard of Oz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Fiddler on the Roof, will play Scrooge for the 11th straight year at the Massachusetts theatre. He will be joined by another North Shore regular, George Dvorsky, who returns for his 11th stint as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Others who will star in the musical, which is based on the Dickens classic, include Maureen Brennan (Mrs. Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past), Nili Bassman (Belle), Paul Castree (Fred), Jay Douglas (Narrator), Julie Forester (Caroler), Todd Gross (Bob Cratchit), Casey Hushion (Caroler), Michael Kayne (Young Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Future) Cheryl McMahon (Dilbur/ Mrs. Fezziwig), Kathy Meyer (Pearlie), Matt Nall (Joe), Tabb Nance (Pearlie), Jonathan Sexsmith (Caroler), Adam Souza (Caroler), Tom Staggs (Jacob Marley) and Haviland Stillwell (Meg) and E. Waits (Fezziwig).
Local children will also be featured in this year's production, including Beverly residents Emma Barbin Joshua Glidden, Medley Long, Matt Marquart and Molly Welene; Burlington resident Samantha Goober; Danvers residents Laurie Berich and Molly Hagerty; Lynn resident Breanna Bradlee; Manchester resident Landon Komishane; Wakefield resident Jeffrey Mitchell; and Salem, NH resident John Breen.
A Christmas Carol begins performances at the North Shore on Dec. 6 and runs through Dec. 22. Greg Ganakas, who helmed the production of Annie now playing New Jersey's Paper Mill, will direct. Ganakas has been the director/choreographer of A Christmas Carol at the North Shore since 1993. The remainder of the creative team comprises Janet Glazener Roma (music director), Kendall Smith (lighting designer), John A. Stone (sound designer) and Howard C. Jones (scenic designer). Tickets for the production, priced between $24 and $62, are now available by calling the theatre's box office at (978) 232-7200 or by going on-line to www.nsmt.org. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM as well as 7 PM performances on Dec. 11 and 18. The North Shore Music Theatre is located in Beverly, MA at 62 Dunham Road. —By Andrew Gans
