Queens Theatre in the Park, Friedson Enterprises and Left Field Productions present what's billed as the largest musical production in the history of Queens Theatre in the Park, the multi-venue organization located in Flushing, NY.
Thee sequel to Charles Dickens' famed "A Christmas Carol" is penned by composer Neil Berg (Off-Broadway's The Prince and the Pauper and the new musical Grumpy Old Men) and lyricist-librettist Nick Meglin (longtime co-editor of Mad magazine). Nick Corley (Mary Poppins) directs, Jennifer Paulson Lee choreographs.
Performances play Queens Theatre's mainstage, the Claire Shulman Theatre, Dec. 1-10.
According to Queens Theatre in the Park, the musical is "set over a decade after the events of 'A Christmas Carol' conclude. Tim (no longer Tiny) Cratchit approaches his 21st birthday. While away at university he has fallen in love with a beautiful orphan girl named Allison, but upon returning home also discovers he will soon assume management of the Scrooge and Marley Counting House. Tim, however, is more interested in being a teacher than a money manager, and signs away control of the business to two sleazy speculators, beginning a series of events that threatens to tear him away from his family and Allison, unless the spirit of the long-deceased Scrooge can help him set things right again."
The cast of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional vets includes Bobby Steggert (Master Harold...and the boys) as Tim, Jessica Grove (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Allison, with David Furr (the recent revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf), James Judy (Into the Woods, The Scarlet Pimpernel), Daniel Marcus (Urinetown, 1776), Don Mayo (Man of LaMancha, On the Town), William McCauley (who followed Jerry Orbach into the role of Billy Flynn in the original Chicago) as Scrooge, Adam Pelty (Steel Pier, Titanic), Dorothy Stanley (the most recent Broadway Show Boat and Sweeney Todd), Becky Watson (By Jeeves), Tally Sessions and Alexis Grausz (Sarah, Plain & Tall). In 1997, Meglin and Berg started collaborating on Tim and Scrooge. Its first non-Equity presentation was in 1998 at Elmwood Playhouse, Nyack, NY, followed by a New York City reading. In 2001, it was optioned by producer Adam Friedson, and its development continued to 2003. In 2004, it was presented as a developmental showcase (directed by Corley) in the inaugural year of the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF), and was voted one of top five shows. Readings and further development followed. A production is scheduled for 2008 in Austin, TX.
Performances of Tim and Scrooge play Dec. 1 at 8 PM, Dec. 2 at 2 PM & 8 PM, Dec. 3 at 3 PM, Dec. 6 at 2:30 PM,, Dec. 7 at 2:30 PM, Dec. 9 at 2 PM & 8 PM, Dec. 10 at 3 PM.
Tickets ($18-$34) are available at the Queens Theatre in the Park box office at 718-760-0064, or online at www.queenstheatre.org.
Queens Theatre in the Park is a tax exempt, not-for-profit Performing Arts Center located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
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Concurrently, the Studio Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park offers Shangri La (to Dec. 10), another world premiere musical, "a smart, sassy romp through the best girl-group songs of 1960s."
Shangri La was penned by Queens Theatre Director of New Play Development, Rob Urbinati.
The three teen-age girls of the show are played by Jessica Scholl (Broadway's Les Miserables), Heather Lind (River Deep, A Tribute to Tina Turner) and Jennifer Weingarten.
Michael Goldfried directs. Molly Kramer is the associate director. Gabrielle Lansner choreographs. Musical director is Brandon Lowry.
"Queens Theatre is committed to the presentation of excellent new works of musical theatre," stated executive director Jeffrey Rosenstock. "Musical theatre is really a uniquely American art form and we are dedicated not only to its preservation but to finding new and exciting voices. Fewer established theatre companies are prepared to sponsor new works these days — so we are particularly proud that we have taken the bold step of treating our audiences to two exciting new shows this season. We hope to continue to sponsor new authors but also take a leadership role in developing audiences for new musical theatre as well."
