A Christmas Carol Sensory Advisories Thank you for bringing your family to Fifth Third Bank’s A Christmas Carol. In this document, you’ll find advisory notes for moments in the production that may impact audience members with sensory sensitivity needs. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, so if we missed a moment that affected your companion, please let us know! For each scene, there will be a brief list of notes for pronounced sensory moments that occur. The notes are distinguished by color and category as visual and as sound notes. Occasionally there are “cue” lines in the notes, which means a character will say those lines before a visual or auditory shift in the scene will occur. We have also provided a list of “General Advisories” , these notes are frequent visual and auditory characteristics of the experience of attending Actors Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.

GENERAL ADVISORIES 1. Lights in the entire theatre will go fully dark and fully light at different parts of the show. We’ll highlight significant light changes in the scene advisories. 2. Ebenezer Scrooge yells at a loud volume for most the performance. 3. Bells will toll frequently during the performance. 4. Sound will come from all sides of the auditorium. 5. Snow, fog, and haze are all used in the production, but will not come into the audience areas. 6. There will be live music in this performance. Feel free to sing along if the performers ask you to. 7. Set pieces will come up through the floor and drop down from the ceiling. 8. Act 1 is approximately 50 minutes; Act 2 is approximately 45 minutes. There will be one 15-minute intermission. 9. After the performance, cast members will be in the lobby in costume as well as a person dressed as Santa Claus to take photos with audience members.

Act 1, Scene 1: The Town Visual Note: A narrator will address the audience and introduce Scrooge. Sound Note: There will be live music played by a violin player and many characters entering and exiting. Scrooge will yell at a loud volume at the carol singers and the violin player. Visual Note: Snow will fall from the ceiling onto actors.

Act 1, Scene 2: Scrooge’s Counting House Sound Note: A bell will toll after the Narrator says: “ONCE UPON A TIME—OF ALL GOOD DAYS IN THE YEAR, ON CHIRSTMAS EVE, OLD SCROOGE WAS BUSY IN HIS COUNTING HOUSE.” Visual Note: Desks and other props will raise up from the floor. Sound Note: A child caroler will appear and begin to sing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. Scrooge will growl at the child and slam the door loudly. A bell will toll seven times after the child leaves. Visual Note: After the Narrator’s line: “AND THEN LET ANY MAN EXPLAIN, IF HE CAN, HOW IT HAPPENED THAT SCROOGE SAW IN THE KNOCKER NOT A KNOCKER BUT—“ a face will extend through the door frame and towards Scrooge who will shout and fall down.

Act 1, Scene 3: Scrooge’s Home and Bedroom Visual & Sound Note: Scrooge sits in his chair and eats a bowl of gruel. The offstage voice of Marley can be heard saying “SCROOGE…” Scrooge throws his bowl and yells. Visual & Sound Note: A loud clanking of chains can be heard and the Ghost of Marley will rise from the floor in green light and wearing chains. Visual & Sound Note: Fog and the green light will be present as long as Marely is onstage. Marley will also crash his chains on the floor during his lines. Sound Note: A gong will sound during the scene. Visual & Sound Note: After Marley says “LOOK TO SEE ME NO MORE”, Scrooge will yell as Marley disappears into the floor.

Act 1, Scene 4: Ghost of Christmas Past Sound Note: After the Narrator’s line: “THE HOUR BELL SOUNDED A DEEP, DULL, HOLLOW, MELANCHOLY ONE” the bell will sound once. Visual Note: A hoop and a silk will drop from the ceiling. As the Ghost of Christmas Past descends from the ceiling there will be projections on the back wall of moving lights. Visual Note: The Ghost of Christmas Past will continue to climb and swing from silks and hoop during the entire time they are onstage. Visual Note: Scrooge and Christmas Past travel to a school yard with many young actors. Visual Note: As Scrooge talks about his favorite childhood books, an actor dressed like Ali Baba will appear and swing a sword. An actor dressed as Robinson Crusoe will appear. An actor dressed as Puss in Boots will appear in a large cat costume with a hat. Sound Note: The Narrator will pretend to be the School Master and will slam down a suitcase and yell.

Act 1, Scene 5: Fezziwig Party Visual Note: Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past travel to a party scene at the Fezziwig house. Sound Note: There will be music playing, loud singing, loud talking and dancing during the party. Sound Note: At the end of singing a song, all the party guests will clap and there will be enthusiastic screams from party guests. Visual Note: As Older Scrooge watches Younger Scrooge dance and fall in love with Belle, the silks fall to the floor and Ghost of Christmas Past will surround Older Scrooge with the silks. As the Ghost of Christmas Past ascends to the ceiling on the hoop, the moving lights will be projected on the back wall again. Visual Note: After Scrooge’s lines: “HAUNT ME NO LONGER! I CANNOT BEAR IT, I CANNOT BEAR IT!” the lights in the theatre will go completely dark.

Intermission The intermission will be 15 minutes long. Visual Note: At the end of intermission, the lights in the theatre will go completely dark.

Act 2, Scene 1: Scrooge’s Bedroom and The Ghost of Christmas Present Sound Note: The bell will toll one time. Visual & Sound Note: As the Narrator speaks, a light will shine on Scrooge’s bed and proceeds to become brighter and brighter as singing from an offstage choir can be heard. Visual & Sound Note: As the Choir song ends, The Ghost of Christmas Present appears with a loud noise and a blast of confetti from the floor. Sound Note: The Ghost of Christmas Present speaks in a loud booming voice. Visual & Sound Note: A city scene appears and there is singing by many villagers as well as music played by a violin player. Visual Note: A small fight breaks out between two salesmen and Christmas Past sprinkles dust on them as a light shines from the ceiling on to the two salesmen.

Act 2, Scene 2: Cratchit Family Home Visual Note: As the Cratchit children are playing on the floor together, the oldest Cratchit daughter surprises everyone by popping up from under the table. Visual Note: Members of the Cratchit family will enter and exit at many points during this scene as they prepare dinner. Visual & Sound Note: Tiny Tim will sing a song. After Tiny Tim finishes his song, Mrs. Cratchit returns with a flaming bowl of pudding. Visual Note: After Christmas Past’s line: “IF HE BE LIKE TO DIE, HE HAD BETTER DO IT AND DECREASE THE SURPLUS POPULATION” the lights will dim on the Crachit family and there will be a spotlight on Scrooge and Christmas Past. Visual Note: As the Narrator speaks, there will be projections on the back wall of the stage as the set transitions to another location.

Act 2, Scene 3: Fred’s House and Party Visual Note: Scrooge and Christmas Present travel to a party scene at Scrooge nephew’s house. Sound Note: There is singing, loud talking and occasionally an enthusiastic shout. Visual Note: After the members of the party toast to Scrooge, the lights onstage dim and there is a dark spotlight on Scrooge, the Narrator and the Ghost of Christmas Present who looks smaller and thinner. Visual Note: In the dim light, two small children crawl from under the robes of Christmas Present. Visual & Sound Note: After Christmas Present’s line: “ARE THERE NO PRISONS? ARE THERE NO WORKHOUSES?”, the bell tolls twelve times and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come appears.

Act 2, Scene 4: The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Visual Note: The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is a large silk puppet that spans almost the entire stage. There is fog that continually rolls across the stage throughout the scene. Visual Note: A bright, green/yellow spotlight will appear on three townspeople who are selling Scrooge’s things. Visual & Sound Note: There will be loud cheering and yelling as Scrooge’s tattered bed reappears onstage. Visual Note: The lights will dim on the townspeople, as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come bends down and points toward a small coffin and the sad Cratchit family. Sound Note: Mr. Cratchit raises his voice and yells during Tiny Tim’s memorial. Sound Note: After Scrooge’s line: “DEATH IS THE SUBJECT OF YOUR LESSON AND DEATH I MUST STUDY…” there is a loud noise and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come makes a loud bellowing noise. Visual Note: Gravestones will rise from the floor and more fog and spotlights will be used as Scrooge explores the gravestones.

Act 2, Scene 4: The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Visual Note: After Scrooge’s line: “WHY SHOW ME THIS IF I AM PAST ALL HOPE?” the lights onstage will get very dim as a projection begins on the back wall of faces of many characters throughout the play. Visual & Sound Note: Scrooge yells at a loud volume as the projections occur and the lights get dimmer.

Act 2, Scene 5: Christmas Morning Visual Note: Scrooge’s bed reappears and there is bright light onstage as Scrooge wakes up in his bed on Christmas morning. Scrooge jumps on his bed in excitement. Visual Note: Scrooge twirls Ms. Grigsby around and she flips over the bed. Visual Note: Scrooge and Ms. Grigsby will exit up the stairs as the stage shifts into a large city scene similar to the first scene of the play. Visual & Sound Note: There will be singing, loud talking, music, and dancing as Scrooge interacts with villagers. Visual & Sound Note: The stage will transition to Fred’s house as props rise from the floor. Fred’s wife will yell loudly for Fred after she meets Scrooge at the door. Visual Note: The stage will shift back to Scrooge’s counting house. Visual & Sound Note: Scrooge will startle and then throw money at Bob Cratchit. Visual & Sound Note: The townspeople will arrive and cheer loudly. Visual & Sound Note: The entire cast will sing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” with full lights onstage. The violin player will play as well.