CHRISTMAS CAROL

A Christmas Carol & Dickens Festival

DECEMBER 4th – 13th, 2020

The Merry Olde Streets of London Come to Life!

Celebrate the holidays with the 5th annual “A Christmas Carol & Dickens Festival” - live and socially distanced. Share in the joy of the season with the stunning cast and music of this timeless classic!

SEASON 2020-21

Christmas Carol - Dec 4th – 13th

Something Rotten! - Feb 19th – 28th

West Side Story - April 23rd – May 2nd

Park Place Mall Suite 214

5870 E Broadway Blvd #214, Tucson, AZ 85711

Photos from Christmas Carol 2016-18

Directors & Cast

Susan Stokes, Director   •   Khris Dodge, Music Director • Simone Jolivet-Manuel, Choreographer

Mary Davis, Stage Manager

Starring:  Jeremy Vega (Scrooge), Jodi Darling (Ghost Past/Lamplighter), Dennis Tamblyn (Ghost Present/Sandwich Board Man), Tara Petersen (Ghost Future/Blind Hag), Karl Haas (Marley), Anthony Allen Taylor (Bob Cratchit), Nate Marenfeld (Tiny Tim), Matt Holter (Mr. Fezziwig), Amy Williams (Mrs. Fezziwig)

Caroline Murphy (Scrooge's Mom/US Mrs Fezziwig), Pat Timm (Mrs. Mops), Andrea Ashe (Sally), Riley Falkoff (Jonathan), Madison Doser (Emily), Tiff Jensen (Mrs. Smythe, US Ghost Present/Sandwich Board Man), Susan Thibodeaux (Ensemble, US Ghost Past), Allison Jennings (Angel, US Emily), Emily C Call (Mrs. Cratchit), Jordan Fouts (Angel, US Sally), Kira Lynn Tselentis (Ensemble)

David Asher (Young Scrooge, Charity Man, US Scrooge), Preston Hatch (Fred Anderson), Benjamin Haynie (Young Marley), Tristan Acevedo (Ensemble, Featured Dancer), Pete Marenfeld (Beadle), Wesley Geary (Scrooge at 12)

Jadyn Gillette (Grace Smythe), Olivia Murphy (Fan 10), Ava Marenfeld (Martha Cratchit), Charlotte Murphy (Scrooge at 6, Nicolas)

SYNOPSIS: Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others. With an infuriated "Bah! Humbug!" Scrooge summates his feelings of Christmas tidings and charitable giving, but he's forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his Past, Present and Future. Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas morning with a cheerful "Happy Christmas" before spending the day reconnecting and sharing love with those that mean the most to him.

Meet the Directors

SUSAN STOKES • DIRECTOR

Versatile and multi-talented, Susan brings enthusiasm and expertise to her performing, teaching and directing careers.

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Susan has appeared in over 40 opera, operetta, musical theater and orchestral works across the US including Violeta in La Traviata, Mimi in La Boheme, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Susan directed the successful Opera on the Streetcar and has written, produced, and directed several children’s shows. She has appeared as Mrs. Fezziwig in Arts Express’ annual production of A Christmas Carol and is slated to direct the 2020 production.

KHRIS DODGE • MUSIC DIRECTOR

Khris Dodge is a versatile musician, educator, and Tucson arts advocate for more than 30 years. He was recently appointed Executive Director of the Tucson Jazz Festival

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and continues to serve as director of Jovert, Tucson High Magnet School’s steel band. In addition, he also runs Khris Dodge Entertainment (KDE), a full-scale concert production company. Educated at the University of Arizona, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Percussion Performance, Khris used the skills learned under Gary Cook – as well as jazz piano instruction from Jeff Haskell – to craft a versatile music career. Khris has played everything from orchestral percussion with Tucson Symphony and Arizona Opera (the latter of which he played with for 20 years) to keyboard for Broadway National Tours (Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys). Additionally, he has played featured performances at the Sedona Film Festival, Musical Instrument Museum, Austin Cabaret Theatre, and New York’s Metropolitan Room, to name a few. Khris also arranged and conducted Hot Stuff: A Symphonic Tribute to Donna Summer, which debuted in 2019. In his spare time, Khris works with the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona, and the Rotary Club of Tucson.

SIMONE JOLIVET-MANUEL • CHOREOGRAPHER

Simone Jolivet-Manuel, a member of that rare breed of Tucsonans actually born in Tucson. She received her BA from Northern Arizona University and her M.Ed in Elementary Education.

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Simone began dancing at the age of 7, she continued training over the years with workshops and conventions across the country with high-end choreographers - Savion Glover, Mandy Moore, Paula Abdul, JT Hornstein, Denise Leitner and many others. Currently Simone is in her 13th year at Salpointe Catholic High School and 2nd year choreographing for Arts Express. Simone’s professional achievements include work with Salpointe Pomline, Dance Force-1 Productions, Gaslight Theater and Danswest Productions and the 2001, 2005 and 2009 Link Cotillions. She thanks her husband Scot, children Lincoln and Maxine and her mother, for their support and love.