Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC), producers of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, presents the return of A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens. This holiday season ISC recreates (with a little artistic license) the experience of a reading of A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens, given by Charles Dickens himself. Expect a performance full of the acting pyrotechnics Dickens was famous for, holiday music, wry humor, and redemption.
A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens will perform at the ISC Studio from Saturday, December 10 – Friday, December 23 at the ISC Studio in the Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, 3191 Casitas Ave., Suite 130 in Atwater Village.
From 1857 until the end of his life, Charles Dickens performed his most popular story to acclaim throughout Britain and America. This December, the ISC Studio transforms to a cozy Victorian drawing room as we welcome Mr. Dickens to the stage for A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens. David Melville (last summer’s George in The Knight of the Burning Pestle and director of Macbeth at ISC’s Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival), gives a virtuoso performance as nearly all the characters in the story. He is joined by Katy Tang who provides dramatic interjections, sound effects and live music. It truly is a Christmas Carol like no other. Front Row Reviewers says, “Despite the numerous characters required to perform, Melville flows with as many as five character switches within one scene. The differentiation is precise, as if Melville met all of his characters. Ebenezer Scrooge is right there, his seething fully realized and lets us feel the transformation into hope at the end of the play with ease. At no point does Melville let up, every scene brims with urgency.”
This is ISC’s 18th anniversary of presenting A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens. Says ISC Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma, “Dickens (who as a boy of eight was sent to work in a factory) wrote A Christmas Carol to urge his fellow citizens to towards a more compassionate society. Our unplugged version of the story sets aside the commercial bells and whistles that so frequently go along with a production of this classic tale, and allows all of us to reflect on the possibility of transformation that Dickens offers. It is a humane story full of generosity, shrewd observations, and wry humor.”
CALENDAR LISTING:
A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens
Directed by Melissa Chalsma
PERFORMANCES:
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 11 at 2pm
Friday, December 16 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 17 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 18 at 2:00pm
Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30pm
Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30pm
Thursday, December 22 at 7:30pm
Friday, December 23 at 7:30pm
ISC Studio
3191 Casitas Ave. Ste 130
(between Fletcher Drive and Glendale Blvd.)
At Atwater Crossing
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Free, ample lot and street parking.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Tickets are $25 – $45.
For tickets, please call (818) 710-6306 or purchase online at www.iscla.org
