Playbill On-Line will report on holiday shows and special events throughout the 1999 holiday season. Our Holiday Wrap-Up will be updated frequently and new items will appear at the top of the story while the items that have already run will appear in the lower section in alphabetical order.

Recorded Voice of Gielgud Narrates Christmas Carol at Guthrie Nov. 19-26

The Guthrie Theatre production of A Christmas Carol, Nov. 19-26, will feature the recorded voice of Sir John Gielgud, now 95, as the story's narrator. Previews begin Nov. 19 and the show opens Nov. 26.

"We are honored that Sir John Gielgud has graced our theatre's production," said Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling in a prepared statement. "His voice brings a dramatic resonance and vibrant quality very much in tune with the play."

Also featured in the cast will be Bob Beverage, Jennifer Blagen, Michael Booth, Laura Esping, Nathaniel Fuller, Philip Goodwin, Emil Herrera, Richard S. Iglewski, Michael Kissin, Natalie Moore, Togba Norris, Jada D. Odom, Jesse Pennington, Marcus Quiniones, T. Mychael Rambo, Mark Rosenwinkel, Marquetta Senters, Joe Nathan Thomas, Austene Van Williams-Clark, Sally Wingert and Meghan Wolf. The Minnesota Boychoir, under the direction of Mark L. Johnson, will perform a pre-play concert of holiday selections as part of the festivities Nov. 24 and on opening night, Nov. 26. Sari Ketter directs the Barbara Field adaptation of Dickens' play, which is scheduled to have 47 performances. Guthrie's artistic team for A Christmas Carol also includes composer Victor Zupanc, associate director and choreographer Marcela Kingman Lorca, set designer Neil Patel, costume designer Jess Goldstein, lighting designer Marcus Dilliard, sound designer Scott Edwards and vocal coach Mira Kehoe.

At each show, Minnesotans are being asked to bring a non-perishable donation of food for the Twin Cities Emergency Foodshelf Network. This local tradition began 18 years ago after an audience member was so moved by the portrayal of Scrooge that he sent in a $200 donation asking that it be used in the Twin Cities area to help those less fortunate. Last year, the theatre said, nearly 22,000 young people attended the production and the Guthrie collected more than a ton of food for charity.

Audio described performances are available Dec. 7, 11 and 19 and American Sign Language performances are running Dec. 7 and 11. For information and tickets call the Guthrie Theatre Ticket Office at (612) 377-2224.

Holiday shows that were previously posted:

Atlanta's Theatre in the Square Presents The 1940s Radio Hour Nov. 23 -Jan. 2

Atlanta's Theatre in the Square will present its annual holiday staple, The 1940s Radio Hour beginning Nov. 23 and running through Jan. 2.

Something of an Atlanta-area tradition, this nostalgic musical-comedy is a zany, behind-the-scenes take on the making of a live radio broadcast during Christmas 1942. The show contains numerous classic ’40s swing and holiday music, made-for-radio comedy skits, live sound effects created on stage and an ultra-condensed version of A Christmas Carol, performed in the style of the cliffhanger mystery serials and complete with an array of sound effects devices.

Radio Hour runs Nov. 23-Jan. 2 on Theatre in the Square's main stage. Performance times vary and there is no performance on Christmas Day. Tickets are $20-$30. Group rates are available for parties of 12 or more. For reservations call (770) 422-8369 or order on-line at www.theatreinthesquare.com. Theatre in the Square is located at 11 Whitlock Avenue, one-half block off the historic Marietta Square in Atlanta.

-- By Murdoch McBride