OLNEY THEATRE C ENTER

A Christmas Carol A Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens adapted and performed by Paul Morella

This production is made possible in part by contributions from Production Sponsors

James A. Pape and Nancy Newman-Pape

A NOTE FROM JASON AND DEBBIE Dear Friend of Olney Theatre Center, The most wonderful thing about the holiday season is its focus on traditions: no matter our differences, traditions unite us, and allow us to celebrate the best of ourselves and our community. That’s why we work hard at Olney Theatre Center to embrace tradition all over campus at this time of year. Whether you’re in the Mainstage experiencing the magical “under the sea” The Little Mermaid; enjoying The Nutcracker ballet in the Historic Stage, or here in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab for A Christmas Carol, you’re celebrating the season with extraordinary performances of our culture’s most meaningful stories. And A Christmas Carol is the season’s uber-classic, isn’t it? Dickens’ dynamic tale of greed transformed to generosity pointedly reminds us what the season is about: not the Black Friday sales, not the rushing from party to party, but a simple act of grace, and the possibility within all of us that we can change for the better. We know there are many theatre options for you to choose, especially during this time of year, but we think you’ve made a vivid and engaging choice by coming to Olney to see A Christmas Carol… because our production ignites your imagination in the most remarkable way. Paul Morella, one of our theater’s (and the region’s) best-loved performers, takes on every role, from the Ghost of Christmas Past right down to Tiny Tim, and weaves his tale with an effortless magic. It’s a thrill to behold. Imagine Charles Dickens himself is reading his novella to you by the quiet, haunting crackle of a fire in his Victorian parlor, while a light snow falls on the gas-lit streets of London. We hope you love Paul’s virtuoso performance, and that you’re celebrating this classic with those closest to you. What better way to enjoy the holidays? Let us know what you think at [email protected] or [email protected]; Keep the family together and come back to check out The Little Mermaid on the other side of our campus, or Olney Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker in the Historic… we want Olney Theatre Center to be your home for the holidays. Thanks for being a big part of our tradition! With great good wishes for a wonderful season,





Jason Loewith Artistic Director

Contributing Editor: JJ Kaczynski Ad Sales: 301.924.4485 x105 Copyright by Olney Theatre Center.

Debbie Ellinghaus Managing Director

All editorial and advertising material is fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. Olney Theatre Center is a non-profit arts organization with a mission to create professional theater productions and other programs that nurture artists, students, technicians, administrators, and audience members; to develop each individual’s creative potential using the skill and imaginative possibilities of theater and the performing arts.

301.924.3400

OLNEYTHEATRE.ORG

2

Opening Night: December 6, 2014

Jason Loewith,

Debbie Ellinghaus,

Artistic Director

Managing Director

presents

A Christmas Carol A Ghost Story of Christmas Adapted by Paul Morella from the novella by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas was first produced in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg at the Arts Barn Theatre on December 3, 2009

featuring

Paul Morella* Lighting Designer

Sonya Dowhaluk Production Consultant

Jeffery Westlake

Sound Designer

Production Stage Manager

Director of Production

Associate Artistic Director/ Director of Education

Edward Moser

Dennis A. Blackledge

Trevor A. Riley*

Jason King Jones

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association

This production is made possible in part by contributions from

Production Sponsors James A. Pape and Nancy Newman-Pape and Artist Sponsor Jane Larsen 301.924.3400

OLNEYTHEATRE.ORG

3

WHO’S WHO Paul Morella (Adapter/Performer) is a multiple Helen Hayes Award nominee, and has previously appeared at Olney Theatre in Awake and Sing!, The Tempest, A Christmas Carol, Rancho Mirage, Over the Tavern, Witness for the Prosecution, Opus, Dinner With Friends, A Passion For Justice, The Millionairess, Rabbit Hole, Brooklyn Boy, Sight Unseen, The Mousetrap, Private Lives, ‘Art’, Coffee with Richelieu, The Laramie Project, The Rivals, Becket, Broken Glass, M. Butterfly, Monster, Night Must Fall and The Time of Your Life. Other regional appearances include leading roles at Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Studio Theatre, Round House Theatre, Potomac Theatre Project, Theater J, Everyman Theatre, Rep Stage, The Delaware Theatre Company, Two River Theatre and The Kennedy Center. He has also starred opposite Julie Harris and James Farentino in All My Sons, and Marsha Mason and Fred Thompson in The Best Man, both for LA Theatre Works. Mr. Morella is generously sponsored by Jane Larsen. Sonya Dowhaluk (Lighting Design) is delighted to be returning to Olney Theatre and this production, having first worked at Olney as an electrics apprentice in 1999. Past lighting designs at Olney Theatre include National Players Tour 63, The Tempest, and Grease (co-design). Sonya has also worked as an assistant lighting designer at The Shakespeare Theatre, Centerstage, and The Santa Fe Opera. Sonya holds a BA from The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an MFA from The University of Maryland. Upcoming designs include Godspell on the Mainstage in February 2015. Edward Moser (Sound Designer) Recent designs include The Dead for the Quotidian Theatre; the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage reading of Amelia, the American Century Theater’s Country Girl, Little Murders and Visit to a Small Planet, and at Olney Theater Center Paul Morella’s A Christmas Carol. His favorite musical credits include Señor Discretion Himself at Arena Stage, Urinetown at the University of Maryland, David in Shadow and Light at Theatre J, Hairspray at the Madeira School and Godspell at Olney Theatre Center. Trevor A. Riley (Production Stage Manager) is excited to return to Olney Theatre Center. Previous Olney credits include A Christmas Carol, Farragut North, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor®Dreamcoat, and Annie. DC AREA: Arena Stage: Our War; Woolly Mammoth Theatre: Just The Two of Each of Us, Appropriate, Detroit, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety; Studio Theatre: Pas De Deux; Taffety Punk: RuleBreaker Rep, Twelfth Night. Trevor holds a BFA in Stage Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. Jeffery Westlake (Production Consultant) was the Artistic Director of the Arts Barn Theatre Series when he commissioned this production of A Christmas Carol in 2009. Past producing credits include: Producing Artistic Director of NOVA SummerStage and as the Associate Producer of High Tor Summer Theater - at the time, one of the last of the classic summer stock theaters in New England. Jason Loewith (Artistic Director) directed the NNPN Rolling World Premiere of Steven Dietz’s Rancho Mirage for Olney Theatre Center last season as well as this season’s productions of Avenue Q and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Mr. Loewith won Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, and Jeff Awards for Best New Musical for Adding Machine: A Musical, which he co-wrote with composer Joshua Schmidt (off-Broadway, 2008). His latest musical is Big Nate: The Musical which premiered in 2013 at Adventure Theatre-MTC, co-written with Olney’s Associate Artistic Director Christopher Youstra. Recent regional work as a director includes the world premiere of Broke (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta), Time Stands Still (Everyman, Baltimore), Crime and Punishment, and Working It Out (Center Stage, Baltimore), Adding Machine: A Musical (Studio Theatre, DC), and a dozen plays for Chicago’s Next Theatre Company, where he served as Artistic Director from 2002-08. Those credits include the Chicago area premieres of Dying City, Defiance, The Long Christmas Ride Home, and Fabulation. He conceived and directed the world premiere of The American Dream Songbook, wrote and directed the world premiere of War With the Newts, and produced Chicago premieres by Caryl Churchill, Suzan-Lori Parks, Carson Kreitzer, Sam Shepard, Dael Orlandersmith, and many more. He is a three-time grantee from the NEA for Artistic Excellence, a recipient of support from the Rockefeller MAP Fund and MacArthur’s International Connections Fund, and a TCG New Generations Future Leaders grant. Jason joined Olney as Artistic Director in 2013 after serving four years as Executive Director of the National New Play Network. Debbie Ellinghaus (Managing Director) joined Olney Theatre Center in August 2014. Prior to her appointment at OTC, she was Director of Development for the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she closed significant gifts that helped to advance student scholarship and academic programming. From 2005-11, Ms. Ellinghaus was the Senior Associate Director of Development at Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, CT. At Yale, she was part of a university-wide campaign that raised more than $3.8 billion and included transformational gifts for Yale

301.924.3400

OLNEYTHEATRE.ORG

4

WHO’S WHO Rep from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Robina Foundation, which established the Binger Center for New Theatre. Additionally, she raised funds for scholarship, theatrical productions, and facilities. In her role at Yale, Ms. Ellinghaus provided mentorship to MFA candidates, many of who are now leading major theaters across the country. Previously, Ms. Ellinghaus was Director of Development at Off-Broadway’s Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a graduate of New Actors Workshop, a professional theater training conservatory founded and led by Mike Nichols, George Morrison and Paul Sills. Ms. Ellinghaus currently chairs the Downtown Arts and Culture Commission in Columbia, MD, an organization that works closely with Merriweather Post Pavilion. She is a member of the Howard County Board of Health. Her favorite job is mommy to Maddie and Griffin.

$10 OFF per table! With this ad. Cannot be combined with other offers.

• Only Belgian Restaurant in Olney!!!

• Certificate of excellence in TripAdvisor and Yelp.

• Over ten times winner of top Washingtonian restaurant award.

• Offering over 16 different mussel pots, Steak frites, various sea food items, escargot and more!!!

• Zagat rated each year since its beginning in 1999.

• Three course meal of your choice from our extensive menu from Sunday thru Thursday for $34.14!!!

18064 Georgia Avenue, Olney, MD 20832 • 301-570-4800 • www.mannequinpis.com

Hearing is one of the joys of life. Don’t neglect it! From left: Kathryn A. Balestino-Estes, AuD., Cynthia Chrosniak, M.D., Jane Cooke, AuD., Nicholas Mehta, M.D., Heather Schwartzbauer, M.D.

v Comprehensive and personalized evaluations v The latest digital hearing instruments from leading manufacturers v Solutions to fit your hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget v Many insurance plans now have hearing aid benefits. v Financing plans available!

We are conveniently located in the Professional Building in the Leisure World Shopping Center above Sandy Spring Bank.

$300 OFF

Professional Office Building 18111 Prince Phillip Drive Olney, MD 20832, Suite 224

$400 OFF

Leisure World Plaza 3801 International Drive Silver Spring, MD 20906, Suite 206

a pair of digital hearing aids

a pair of digital hearing aids when you upgrade your existing aids

Call today to schedule an appointment! 301-774-0074 www.montgomerycountyent.com 301.924.3400

OLNEYTHEATRE.ORG

5

OLNEY THEATRE CENTER STAFF ARTISTIC

ADMINISTRATION

Artistic Director Associate Artistic Director/ Director of Music Theater Associate Artistic Director/ Director of Education Artistic Apprentice

Jason Loewith Christopher Youstra Jason King Jones Clare Shaffer

PRODUCTION Director of Production Company Manager/ Associate Production Manager Technical Director Assistant Technical Director Resident Scenic Artist Costume Shop Supervisor Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor Master Electrician Properties Master Resident Sound Engineer/ Projections Supervisor Production Management Apprentice Company Management Apprentice Production Apprentices

Dennis A. Blackledge Fred T. Paul Stephen M. Greene David Ash Fred Via Jeanne Bland Seth Gilbert Samantha Campbell Rachael Erichsen Robert Garner Liz Tuxbury Corinne Jacob Jessica Bittorf, Daniel Espy, Rachel Hamilton, Chris Tebo Hardin, Jordan Michaud, Joseph Musgrove, Alex Stone, Ashley Wagoner, Kelsey Willis

Debbie Ellinghaus Valerie Campbell Elvin J. Crespo Michael Plater

FINANCE Director of Accounting and Financial Services Senior Accountant Business Manager

Nene Keita Chyeslan Buso Kynda Reid

COMMUNICATIONS Sales Director Marketing and Public Relations Manager Brand Director/ Graphic Designer Patron Services Manager Box Office Manager Box Office Supervisors House Managers Box Office Associates

Weldon C. Brown Heather Andrews JJ Kaczynski R. Wesley Meekins Henriette Mendo Shanna Chuenyane, Kara Fannon Lucirae Cooley, Kelly Craig, Lina Al Dajani, Ricardo Jose Melendez, Barbara Scanlan, Khris-Ann Small, Desiree Ward Judy Abrams, Arash Bahari, Vince Constantino, Rachel Spory-Harper, Nicole Jennings, Leah Keilsohn, Andrew Majors, Chisomo Maluwa Emily Townsend

DEVELOPMENT

SHOW STAFF Production Manager Assistant Stage Manager Additional Lighting Additional Carpenters

Managing Director General Manager IT Manager Facilities Manager

Liz Tuxbury Ruth Anne Watkins Laurie Bautista, Patrick Gillespie Joseph Caverly, Brendan Gregg, James Hesse

Olney Theatre Center for the Arts is a professional theater employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Development Assistant Development Associate Marketing and Development Apprentice

Maureen Estrin Lacey Burbage Kristina Erwin

EDUCATION National Players General Manager Dramaturgy Apprentice Education Apprentice

Kevin Hasser Susanna Pretzer Andy Germuga

Actors’ Equity Association, founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the U.S. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society.

OLNEY THEATRE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Members

President..................................Jennifer L. Kneeland Board Chair...............................Susan Finkelstein Vice President...........................Megan Davey Limarzi Treasurer..................................Patricia Woodbury Secretary..................................Robert Mitchell President Emeritus.....................Gene Counihan

Phyllis Bottegal Debbie Ellinghaus W. E. Gregory Robert E. Hebda Arthur Holmes

Clifford Johnson Stephen Kaufman Stephen Klein Jason Loewith Helen Marshall

Anthony Morella Nancy Nelson Ortiz Sandeep Saggar Rossana Salvadori Alan Wade

William H. Graham, Sr. (in memoriam)

NOW PLAYING on the Mainstage

The Enchanting “Under the Sea” Musical Extravaganza!

Music by Alan Menken • Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater • Book by Doug Wright Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements Originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions Choreographed Choreographed by by

Tara Jeanne Vallee OLN EY T H EATRE CE N T ER

Directed Directed by by

Mark Waldrop

For Tickets & Performance Times:

301.924.3400 • olneytheatre.org This production is sponsored by Senator Jennie Forehand, Senator Karen S. Montgomery, and Kathleen Quinn

OLN EY T H E AT RE C E NTE R

2015 SEASON AT A GLANCE

The Olney Theatre Center 2015 Season has something for everyone Classic comedies and dramas, cutting-edge Contemporary offerings, and shows that are fun for the whole family!

February 4 - March 1 Mainstage Classic/Family

February 25 - March 22 Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab Contemporary

April 15 - May 10 Mainstage Classic

May 13 - June 21 Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab Classic

June 24 - July 26 Mainstage Contemporary

Nöel Coward’s

September 2 - 27 Mainstage Classic

September 30 - October 25 Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab Contemporary

November 11 - December 27 Mainstage Classic/Family