The Alley Theatre and Rob Melrose, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Alley Theatre, announce the cast and creative team of Alley’s holiday tradition, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Created digitally last season, this adaptation by Doris Baizley is now coming to life on stage under the direction of Alley Associate Producer & Casting Director Brandon Weinbrenner and through support from presenting sponsor HCA Houston Healthcare. The highly inventive re-telling of this classic holiday story is pared down to its essential elements, following Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghostly apparitions who visit him on Christmas Eve. David Rainey returns in the role of Stage Manager/Ebenezer Scrooge after starring in last season’s digital version of this adaptation.
Performances of A Christmas Carol are scheduled to begin Friday, November 19 and will run through Wednesday, December 29. Tickets are available now by calling 713.220.5700 or online at alleytheatre.org. Perfect for family audiences (children ages 6 and older), A Christmas Carol highlights a magical world of holiday make-believe that also instills a powerful message of forgiveness and the true spirit of the holiday season.
“Doris Baizley’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic allows the Alley to commune our devoted audience with our Resident Acting Company in a prescient, joyfully relevant way, “said Director Brandon Weinbrenner. “This is A Christmas Carol for NOW. Despite the setbacks of the past two years, the Alley has not lost its passion for storytelling. Utilizing music, dance, and last-minute pivots, the characters in this year’s A Christmas Carol are focused on sharing the message of generosity and redemption that is at the core of Dickens’ work. Houston, we are still your theatre.”
The cast of A Christmas Carol includes Alley’s Resident Acting Company members Elizabeth Bunchas Leading Lady/Christmas Past/Mrs. Cratchit, Dylan Godwin as Clown 1/Christmas Present 1/Scavenger, Shawn Hamilton as Old Clown/School Master/Mr. Fezziwig/Jake the Fence, Chris Hutchison as Leading Man/Bob Cratchit, Melissa Molano as Ingenue/Belle/Mrs. Fred, Melissa Pritchett as Character Woman/Charitable Woman/Mrs. Fezziwig/Mother-in-Law/Scavenger, David Rainey as Stage Manager/Ebenezer Scrooge, Christopher Salazar as Young Leading Man/Fred, and Todd Waite as Director/Marley/Christmas Future.
Rounding out the cast are Juan Sebastián Cruz (72 miles to go…, The Winter’s Tale) as Prop Boy/Tiny Tim, Christine Friale (The Aves) as Clown 3/Little Caroller/Christmas Present 3/Scavenger, and Luis Quintero (Sweat) as Clown 2/Christmas Present 2/Scavenger.
The creative team of A Christmas Carol includes Scenic Designer Michael Locher, Lighting Designer Kevin Rigdon, Costume Designer Erica Griese, Music and Sound Designer Pierre Dupree, Projection Designer Victoria Beauray Sagady, Stage Manager Rachel Dooley-Harris, and Assistant Stage Manager Emily Bohanan.
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION: From December 15, 2021 through January 12, 2022, a paid digital version of A Christmas Carol filmed live at the Alley, will be available for viewing. Guests who have purchased an in-person ticket and do not feel comfortable attending in-person may transfer their ticket before the start of their ticketed performance to a digital ticket. Digital tickets are $25 and can be purchased at alleytheatre.org. Limited digital tickets will be available for purchase.
SPONSORS: A Christmas Carol is generously sponsored by HCA Houston Healthcare (Presenting Sponsor), ConocoPhillips (Honorary Producers), and Vinson & Elkin LLP (Associate Producers). The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2021-22 Season sponsor United Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.
TICKETS: Tickets to A Christmas Carol are now on sale and start at $26. Discounted tickets are available for military and senior, and any student, regardless of age, with a valid student ID for $16 for designated performances in designated sections. Tickets can be ordered online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone (713.220.5700).
Performances of A Christmas Carol are Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A Christmas Carol is recommended for general audiences, ages 6 and up. Select weekday matinees available.
SPECIAL EVENT: DECK THE TREES November 19, 2021- January 3, 2022: This annual tradition will be brought back with full holiday cheer this year at the Theatre as well as featured at George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB). The Deck the Trees Celebration will transform the Alley Theatre lobby and the GRB’s central window into a winter wonderland of trees, festively decorated by Houston’s leading designers and sponsored by generous businesses and individuals. For more information, please visit alleytheatre.org. For Deck the Trees sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kristine Rizzo at kristiner@alleytheatre.org.
COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS: We are committed to the health and safety of all of our artists, employees, and guests. In order to maintain the safest environment possible, all Alley Theatre staff, artists, creative teams, crews, and ushers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
To ensure the safety of all Alley Theatre lovers, we’ve implemented the following policies for performances held within our Theatres:
- All guests will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the performance. Both PCR tests and antigen tests are acceptable. The results must have been performed by a third party, such as a lab. At-home tests will not be accepted. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of negative results).
- Guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least 14 days after final dose) may bring proof of vaccination as a substitute for a negative COVID-19 test result. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of card).
- Alley Theatre requires all guests to wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times while in the Theatre building, except while actively eating and drinking in the lobby spaces. Alley Theatre will provide complimentary masks to guests who forget to bring one. If guests choose not to wear a mask, there will be no admittance to the Theatre building and a refund will be processed.
- As always, food and drinks will not be allowed in the Theatres.
We suggest guests arrive 45 minutes or more before the start of the performance in order to be screened and enter.
In order to streamline entry, we encourage you to use the Bindle App, a secure, easy to use digital pass for entrance to the Alley Theatre. Click here to learn more about our partner, Bindle, which securely stores your self-attested negative test status or vaccination record and creates a QR code for fast-pass access to the Theatre.
If guests feel ill, or test positive for COVID-19, we ask that they do not come to the Theatre, and contact boxoffice@alleytheatre.org to reschedule, move funds to on account for future use, or request a refund.
Alley Theatre’s COVID-19 Guest Policy is subject to change as we continue to work with health and government officials. We will update all ticket holders in advance of their ticketed performance if changes occur. Guests who purchase or reserve tickets to performances and events acknowledge and consent to the adherence of these policies.
Should COVID be detected in staff, cast, crew, creative teams, or usher corps, Alley Theatre may be forced to close a production early, cancel performances, and re-open when it’s safe to do so. We ask that in order for live theatre to return and thrive, everyone entering the Alley follow the above guidelines.
