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'A Christmas Carol' like you've never heard before

Sudbury Theatre Centre is bringing Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" to the stage, but in a way you've never seen or heard before. "A Christmas Carol," the timeless story of redemption and the magic of the holidays, begins Nov. 26 at STC.
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Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Kristian Truelsen, rehearses one of the iconic scenes in A Christmas Carol, where he's spooked by his doorknob, which takes on the ghostly face of his former partner, Jacob Marley. Photo by Arron Pickard.
Sudbury Theatre Centre is bringing Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" to the stage, but in a way you've never seen or heard before.

"A Christmas Carol," the timeless story of redemption and the magic of the holidays, begins Nov. 26 at STC. But, in this version, music will fill the room in the musical production.

“It's going to be heard in a way people have not listened to it before,” said STC artistic executive director Caleb Marshall. “It's the classic story, but it's never been experiences in a musical version live on stage.”

Marshall said there will even be some surprise moments, even for those who are well-versed in the story.

“And the energy never drops for a moment,” he said. “'A Christmas Carol' is a very important tradition for a lot of people at Christmas, but I think people will really enjoy this adaptation. We're really proud of it.”

The classic story transports audiences to mid-1800s London on Christmas Eve. Penny-pinching miser Ebenezer Scrooge scoffs at the holiday spirit of those around him, declaring it "humbug."

That night, Scrooge is visited by a trio of Christmas spirits presenting the miser with a chilling choice: Change his wicked ways or face a frosty future.

What follows is a heartwarming musical epic turn of fate as Scrooge finds salvation in the young Tiny Tim, discarding his villainy and embracing the charity and community of Christmas — it's perfect for the whole family, said a news release from STC.

Longtime collaborators Michael Doherty and Marshall created the new musical out of their mutual love of holiday storytelling. Doherty composed the music while Marshall wrote the book and lyrics.

“We both have a great passion for the theatre, but perhaps most of all for theatre at Christmas,” said Marshall. “It's when the magic of storytelling mixes with the magic in the air, and when our responsibility to our fellow man is most resonant and keenly felt as we come together as a community and look beyond ourselves.”

The music for the production comes from a live orchestra, he said.

The cast includes Kristian Truelsen, as Scrooge, Sudbury's own Eric Belanger as Tiny Tim, and Grace Reich, as well as many others.

'A Christmas Carol' runs until Dec. 16, Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. And Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. A pay-what-you-can matinee is offered Nov. 29.

As added holiday cheer, Santa Claus will visit the theatre Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, and a Christmas sing-along will follow the 2 p.m. Performance on Dec. 13.

Tickets are $35.50 for adults, $31 for seniors, $21.25 for those under 30 and $12 for students. Call 705-674-8381 for more information or visit sudburytheatre.ca.

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