The 29th annual staging of A Christmas Carol, featuring an adaptation by Barbara Field, begins previews at the Minneapolis theatre Nov. 18 with an official opening scheduled for Nov. 21. Directed by Gary Gisselman, the play about the true meaning of Christmas will run through Dec. 28.
Peter Michael Goetz, who launched his career at the Guthrie in the 1960's, will portray Ebenezer Scrooge. This marks the third consecutive year that the actor has played the miserly old man, who is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
The remainder of the cast — comprised of 41 adult and child actors — includes Raye Birk (Jacob Marley), Michael Booth (Bob Crachit), Leah Curney (Belle/Ella), Summer Hagen (Marigold Fezziwig/Caroline), Jon Andrew Hegge (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Dick Wilkins), Kathleen Humphrey (Mrs. Dilber/Jane), Richard S. Iglewski (Mr. Fezziwig/Snarkers), Charity Jones (Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs. Fred), Michael Kissin (Fiddler/Krookings), Gavin Lawrence (Albert Hall/Edwards/Grasper/John), Wendy Lehr (Mrs. Grigsby/Mrs. Fezziwig/Dorothea), Tracey Maloney (Petunia Fezziwig), Isabell Monk O’Connor (Ghost of Christmas Present), Lee Mark Nelson (Fred), Richard Ooms (Blackings Foreman/Mr. Grub/Mr. Queeze/Topper), Doug Scholz-Carlson (Young Scrooge/Cecil/Squeeze), Vern Sutton (Forrest/Elliott), Noel Velez (Young Jacob Marley), Suzanne Warmanen (Blakely/Sophia), Sally Wingert (Mrs. Crachit) and Stephen Yoakam (Joe).
The creative team for A Christmas Carol features Neil Patel (set designer), Jess Goldstein (costume designer), Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer), Scott W. Edwards (sound designer), Victor Zupanc (composer) and Anita Ruth (musical director).
Peter Michael Goetz starred in the Guthrie's acclaimed version of All My Sons; he then repeated his role for a production of the Arthur Miller play at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. On Broadway the actor has been seen in Ned & Jack, Beyond Therapy, The Queen and the Rebels, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Government Inspector, Sex and Longing, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Macbeth. Goetz's many screen credits include "Father of the Bride," "The World According to Garp," "Another You," "Prince of the City," "Glory," "The West Wing," "The Practice" and "Touched By An Angel." The Guthrie Theater is located at 725 Vineland Place in Minneapolis, MN. Tickets — ranging from $18-$55 — are available by calling (877) 44 STAGE or by going on-line to www.guthrietheater.org.
