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Live theater is happening again in Northeast Ohio and Stage Left in Lisbon, Ohio, is welcoming audiences back with a modern twist on a Christmas classic. Local playwright and Stage Left Players Managing Artistic Director Kandace Cleland loves Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," but felt like the Victorian-era story could benefit from a modern twist.
"With our production of “It’s Christmas, Carol!,” we offer our audience the chance to experience Charles Dickens' powerful story played out in today’s culture. In the words of our protagonist, Carol, “Let’s face it, there’s a little bit of Scrooge in all of us,” Cleland said.
Dickens' tale is a familiar, and comforting, Christmas tradition that has entertained readers and audiences since 1843. It follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he's visited by three Christmas spirits, shedding light on his past, present and future to change the man from a curmudgeonly miser into a humble and cheerful member of his community.
Cleland's take on the tale substitutes Ebenezer for the great-great-great niece of Charles Dickens, Carol, who cynically profits of her uncle's legacy with her best-selling book "Scrooge It!." But Carol reaps more than she bargained for as she's visited by the spirit of Dickens himself.
"I love the story of Scrooge’s transformation. I wanted to tell it in an unexpected way- to breathe modern life into it with hopes that our audience would see themselves in the story and ask, “Do I need a wake-up call in the middle of night by the Ghosts of Christmas, Past, Present and Future?" said Cleland.
"It's Christmas, Carol!' is a family-friendly show that offers something for everyone: music, comedy, drama and, of course, loads of Christmas cheer.
On Dec. 4, a special "dinner and a show" event featuring a catered menu from Babcia's Lunchbox, kicks off at the Lisbon VFW at 5:15 p.m. The special event will feature classic, homemade Polish foods in a 12 mini-course Wigilia holiday dinner. A cash bar is also available. Tickets for the dinner and a show event are $50. Dinner only is $40.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the door, or at stageleftplayers.org.
Stage Left Community Arts Center is a registered non-profit with support from the Ohio Arts Council.
Stage Left Community Arts Center is dedicated to keeping patrons, staff and our performers healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue is sanitized before each show. Masks are required and will be offered at the door.
Show dates and times
December 3, 10 & 11 at 7 p.m.
December 4 at 7:30 p.m. (after dinner)
December 5 & 12 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors
Stage Left Community Arts Center
234 E. Lincoln Way
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
The cast includes:
Kandace Cleland, Christine Martin, Paul Dahman, Autumn Johnston, Aaron Hinchliffe, Kari Lankford, Paxton Gabbert, David Humphrey, Ruth Newman, Kari Beil, John Diddle, Ron Altomare, Marshall Hall & Lydon Freeman, Kaleigh Ceci, Brady Duncan, Olivia Rice, Kevin Schreffler, Izzie Cornwell, Dylan Mauch, Abby Beil, Kevin Schreffler, Nick Freeman, Lydon Freeman, Marshall Hall, Izzie Cornwell, Dylan Mauch, Scarlett Courtney, Olivia Rice, Brady Duncan, Abby Beil, Kaleigh Ceci, Jacob Ward
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