For the first Musical Monday, I am covering A Christmas Carol loosely based on the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. With music by Alan Manken, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Book by Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent. The first production of this show premiered at Madison Square Garden from December 1, 1994 to December 2003. This production was directed by Mike Ockrent with choreography by Susan Stroman, sets by Tony Walton, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound by Tony Meola, projections by Wendall K. Harrington, and musical direction by Paul Gemignani. Notable roles from this production, Walter Charles as Ebenezer Scrooge, Nick Corley as Bob Cratchit, Ken Jennings as Lamplighter/Ghost of Christmas Past, Michael Mandell as Ghost of Christmas Present/Sandwichboard Man, and Theara J. Ward as Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-be.
The next production of this show was the made for tv special, produced by Hallmark in 2004. This film was directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman. This production features Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge, Jason Alexander as Jacob Marley, Jesse L. Martin as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Scrooge’s former fiancée, Emily.
The next productions spanned over the years from 2016 to 2020, on London’s West End. Played at the Lyceum on Monday December 19, 2016. Which starred Robert Lindsay as Scrooge, Alex Gaumond as Bob Crachit, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Emily, Giovanna Fletcher as Mrs. Crachit, Madalena Alberto as Ghost of Christmas Past, and Hugh Maynard as Ghost of Christmas Present. In 2018, there was a cast change for Scrooge where Griff Rhys Jones took over the role. 2020: starring Brian Conley as Scrooge, Matt Willis as Bob Cratchit, Jacqueline Jossa as Emily/Ghost of Christmas Future, Lucie Jones as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sandra Marvin as Mrs Fezziwigg, Martyn Ellis as Mr Fezziwigg, Cedric Neal as Ghost of Christmas Present, Jeremy Secomb as Jacob Marley, Rebecca Lock as Mrs Cratchit and Sam Oladeinde as Fred Anderson/Young Scrooge.
My personal favorite songs in this show are A Place Called Home, Finale Ultimo, and Abundance and Charity. My rating of this show is a 9.5/10!
here’s some links to check out surrounding the production.
meet at the mezzanine 