ARROW ROCK, MO, November 21, 2016 – Plan on celebrating the joys of Christmas in Arrow Rock in December! The Lyceum stage will once again be aglow with good spirits and Christmas tradition as Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, A Christmas Carol, comes musically to life starring Lyceum favorite Ron Wisniski as Ebenezer Scrooge. There will only be 12 performances running from December 14 through December 23.

The Lyceum is pleased, for the third year, to bring to life the familiar story of a seemingly heartless miser given one last chance at redemption by four visiting ghosts. On Christmas Eve Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes an incredible transformation as he views with new eyes his past, present and the possibilities of the future. A Christmas Carol is now a cherished annual tradition in Arrow Rock and is made possible through the generous support of LammTech of Sedalia.

Lyceum Producing Artistic Director, Quin Gresham, directs his adaptation of the Dickens classic. “The combination of A Christmas Carol’s timeless and heartwarming message, more than a dozen holiday songs, and a brilliant cast is certain to fill audiences with Christmas spirit,” said Gresham. “Thanks to the tireless work of Resident Scenic Designer Ryan J. Zirngibl and a new cast of familiar favorites, there will be many exciting improvements to the production that will make Scrooge’s transformation even more powerful in 2016!”

The Lyceum is pleased to announce that the role of Ebenezer Scrooge will be played, once again, by Lyceum favorite, Ron Wisniski. Mr. Wisniski originated the role in the inaugural production of A Christmas Carol in 2014, a role he has also played at Syracuse Stage. Other Lyceum appearances include the devilish Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees, the flamboyant Roger Debris in The Producers, Diary of Anne Frank, You Can’t Take It With You and Hello Dolly. Ron appeared in the National Tours of Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Annie (FDR), and Tintypes (Teddy Roosevelt) and has appeared in more than 200 productions at theatres nationwide.

Harry Bouvy returns to the Lyceum playing Scrooge’s long suffering clerk, Bob Cratchit. Harry appeared at the Lyceum this past summer as John Adams in 1776. Recent credits include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at Montana Shakespeare and Cal in Mothers & Sons at Saint Louis Rep, directed by another Lyceum vet, Michael Evan Haney. Bouvy has also been seen Off-Broadway as Hannibal Lecter in Silence! The Musical, in Las Vegas as Sir Robin in Spamalot, and as Carmen Ghia in the National Tour of The Producers (Helen Hayes nomination).

Returning to the Lyceum for his fourth season, Elliot Dash plays the jovial Ghost of Christmas Present and Scrooge’s first employer, Mr. Fezziwig. Dash’s Lyceum credits include Tee Tot in Hank Williams: Lost Highway, the Voice of the Plant in Little Shop of Horrors, and, most recently, Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy.  Credits include Gretna Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Totem Pole Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre, Wayside Theatre, The Folger, The Acting Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and The South Carolina Shakespeare Company.

Playing the dual roles of Mrs. Fezziwig and Mrs. Dilber will be Lyceum regular April Woodall. April returns to Arrow Rock where she has appeared in Into the Woods, Little Women, Tom Sawyer, The Sound of Music, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Music Man, and Fiddler on the Roof. Regional credits include: Maine State Music Theatre, Fulton Theatre, American Theatre Group, Mill Mountain Theater, Little Theatre on the Square, Gateway Playhouse, Bristol Riverside Theatre; Hedgerow Theatre, Flashpoint Theatre, Center City Theatre Works, The Seaport History Museum Theatre, The Eagle Theatre, and The Devon. Barrymore and SALT nominations for the title role in Souvenir – a fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins (Montgomery Theatre; Cortland Repertory Theatre); and a Carbonell nomination for her performance of Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (Maltz Jupiter Theatre.)

Robert Elliott returns to the Lyceum after playing the domineering Capt. Queeg in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial to play the dual roles of Old Joe and Jacob Marley. Mr. Elliot began his career as a company member at the Missouri Repertory Theatre and at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival. Extensive work over the years at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Indiana Rep, Syracuse Stage, Asolo Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, PCPA Theatrefest, Cleveland Playhouse, and Roundabout Theatre.

Making her Lyceum debut, Manon Halliburton plays Mrs. Cratchit. Credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Rep, Indiana Rep, Unicorn Theater, Chester Theater Co. and Cincinnati Playhouse to name a few. She also has guest starred on Law and Order and had a recurring role of the fourth season of HBO’s The Sopranos.

New to the production are Bailey Jordan Reeves playing the dual roles of Scrooge’s first love, Belle, and Fred’s Wife, Anne, and Bernell Lassai III, Cher Desiree Alvarez, and KK Elfrink in a variety of roles.

Returning for this year’s production are Laura Sexauer as the violin-playing Ghost of Christmas past, Michael Amoroso as Scrooge’s nephew Fred as well as Scrooge’s younger self, Michael Dewar as one of Scrooge’s debtors, and Adam McCall, Michael Brennan, Paula Danner, Jonathan Brown, Julie Butner, and Paula Bear in a variety of roles.

The cast of 29 actors also features a number of young performers from neighboring communities including Lilian Buie, Simeon Buie, Cailyn Chaney, Jacob Christy, Sophia Christy, Wyatt Logan, Cooper Rainwater, Abigail Rainwater, Spencer Rainwater and Daniel Ryan.

The creative team for A Christmas Carol includes Quin Gresham (Director/Adaptor), James Woodland (Resident Musical Director), Kristen Nordstrom (Choreographer), Ryan J. Zirngibl (Resident Scenic Designer), Randy B. Winder (Resident Lighting Designer), Kerri S. Packard (Costume Designer), Ryan Matthew Hall (Resident Sound Designer), Ivan Cano (Production Stage Manager), and Laura Berrios (Assistant Stage Manager).

Single Tickets for A Christmas Carol are priced at $36.00 for adults. Senior, student and children discounts are available as are special group rates. Performances are December 14 – December 23, 2016, Evening performances are at 8pm and matinees are at 2pm. For tickets: www.lyceumtheatre.org, (660) 837-3311 x1, or in person at the Lyceum’s box office at 114 High Street, Arrow Rock, MO 65320.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3), professional theatre located in the unique village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, a 19th century National Historic Landmark. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences in the heart of Missouri for 55 years producing a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies. Each year, this 408 seat theatre attracts professional talent from across the country to produce an eight show season (June-December). Performers, designers, directors, and technicians take residence in Arrow Rock for five months to bring its patrons Broadway caliber productions throughout the summer.

The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

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