Monday, November 24, 2008

Press Release: Scrooge in Rouge, an English Music Hall Christmas Carol


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park Announces
The East Coast Premiere of
Scrooge in Rouge
An English Music Hall Christmas Carol
3 actors play 23 roles in the fast paced, quick change musical
A Holiday Family Comedy
December 4th-28th

Asbury Park, New Jersey – ReVision Theatre kicks off  their 2008–2009 inaugural season with the holiday family musical comedy, Scrooge in Rouge, an English Music Hall Christmas Carol, is a fast paced, quick change musical version of the Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, set in a Victorian music hall where three actors perform 23 characters.  Running December 4th – 28th, ReVision Theatre will present the East Coast Premiere of the show which was created last holiday season in New Orleans.  Directed by Michael Barakiva the cast features Linda Marie Larson (Broadway’s Jackie, Deuce, Morning’s at Seven), Katherine Pecevich (National Tour of Annie), and Doug Shapiro.  The show is choreographed by Mimi Quillin and music directed by Justin Stoney, who will also be at piano.  The creative team includes scenic design by Kip Marsh, costume design by Abby Walton, lighting design by Nick Francone, and sound design by Benjamin Furiga.

The show was created by a company of actors at the cabaret Le Chat Noir, with book and lyrics by Ricky Graham, additional material by Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman), other interesting bits by Yvette Hargis, and original music composed by Jefferson Turner.

A mixture of Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Noises Off, Scrooge in Rouge is a Victorian-era music hall version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, in which 17 members of the Royal Music Hall 20-Member Variety Players have taken ill from the cast party the night before, leaving only Charlie Schmaltz (Shapiro), an animated character actor; Lottie Obligato (Larson), a bubbly, over-the-hill ingĂ©nue; and Vesta Virile (Pecevich), a male impersonating diva, to play and sing all the male and female parts in the show. The Gambit Weekly wrote, “Though we tend to associate this type of gender bending with our confused, postmodern world, it actually has a history on the stage that reaches back to music hall entertainment and beyond.”



Scrooge in Rouge, an English Music Hall Christmas Carol will preview on Thursday, December 4th and open on Friday, December 5th and run through Sunday, December 28.  Performance times are: Thursday at 8:00 pm, Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 7:00 pm.  Scrooge in Rouge will be performed at the VFW Hall, 701 Lake Avenue, in Asbury Park.  ReVision Theatre will be transforming this 100 year old building into a 350 seat theatre.  Single adult tickets, priced $35 and $25, and half price tickets for children under 12 are now on sale.  Call the ReVision Theatre box office at 732-455-3059 or go on line at www.ReVisionTheatre.org for tickets and information.
                                                                                                                     
ReVision Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions.  ReVision Theatre’s 2008-2009 Season includes the new hip hop musical, Kingdom (April 16-May 3), a one night only benefit performance of Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl (July 11), and the blockbuster musical, The Full Monty (August 12-September 6).
Visit www.RevisionTheatre.org or call 732-455-3059 for show calendars and more information.
Fast Facts:
Who:                ReVision Theatre
David E. Leidholdt, Thomas Morrissey, and Stephen Bishop Seely
Producing Artistic Directors
                        PO BOX 973, Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712
What:               Scrooge in Rouge, an English Music Hall Christmas Carol
                        East Coast Premiere
                        December 4th – 28th, 2008
                        Book & Lyrics by Ricky Graham
Additional Material by Jeffery Roberson
Other Interesting Bits by Yvette Hargis
Music by Jefferson Turner
Directed by Michael Barakiva
Choreographed by Mimi Quillin
Music Directed by Justin Stoney
Scenic Design by Kip Marsh
Lighting Design by Nick Francone
Sound Design by Benjamin Furiga
Costume Design by Abby Walton
Cast includes Lisa Marie Larson (Lottie), Katherine Pecevich (Vesta), &
Doug Shapiro (Charlie)
When:              December 4th – 28th
                        Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 8:00 pm
Sundays at 7:00 pm
(No show on Christmas Day)
Friday, December 26th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 27th at 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 28th at 3:00 pm
Where:             VFW Hall
701 Lake Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712
Entrance on Bond Street between Lake and Cookman Avenues
How:                Buy tickets online at www.ReVisionTheatre.org
                        Or call 732-455-3059. 
Adults $35.00 & $25.00
Children under 12 $17.50 & $12.50
Limited seating is available.

1 comment:

Aarti said...

Let's face it - this time of year is always going to be a time when bands and artists will jump on the merry-sleighbell-jingling-hohoho-ing-bandwagon that is Christmas. And why shouldn't they? Here's a link to a bunch of good christmas jazz songs