In 1843 – when Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol as a “ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an idea” – Victorian London was a profoundly unjust society, built on the backs of workers toiling in appalling conditions of poverty and abuse.

Children – both boys and girls – began work in shipyards, nail factories, and iron and coal mines at age five and generally died before they were twenty-five. Many factory workers worked twelve-hour days, six days a week...often including Christmas day.

Dickens was horrified at these conditions.

In October of 1843 he gave a speech to promote the “understanding that the relations between the employer and his employee involves a mutual duty and responsibility.” But he was determined to do more to affect change in individuals and society at large. He set out to write a pamphlet about caring for the needy, but instead was inspired to write a story that he hoped would hit his readers over the head, “like a sledgehammer.”

Our production – set in a Victorian factory – hopes to honor Dickens’ passion and concerns in telling this miraculous story of community, social responsibility, and spiritual redemption. It seeks to connect the world of 19^th century England to our own lives today through a shared understanding that , as the poet John Donne wrote, “No Man Is an Island.”

We hope to provoke, delight and move you as you join us in taking Ebenezer Scrooge on a magical (and at times scary!) journey from a cold, lonely place of darkness and selfishness to a warm world of light and hope. We aspire to honor Dickens’ vision of Christmas as a time of kindness and generosity by inviting you to join us in remembering those in need at this holy time of the year. And we hope that this beloved story of love, community and family will fill you and your loved ones with comfort and joy.

As Tiny Tim would say: “God bless us, everyone!”

I’ll see you in the lobby.

Kevin

DALLAS THEATER CENTER

Kevin Moriarty, Executive Director
Jonathan Norton, Interim Artistic Director

PRESENTS

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Charles Dickens | Adapted and Originally Directed by Kevin Moriarty

Musical Direction By
Cody Dry

Original Choreography By
Joel Ferrell

Rehearsal Choreography By
Christina Austin Lopez

Directed By
Alex Organ⁺

IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

UNDERSTUDIES

A Christmas Carol will be performed without an intermission.
Setting: London, December 24 and 25, 1843

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
+ Member of Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company.
^ Student, SMU Meadows School of the Arts

This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Dallas Theater Center is a member of the League of Resident Theaters; a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the nonprofit professional theater; and Visit Dallas.

The Director is a member of the STAGE DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union

The scenic, costume, lighting, sound and projection designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

Dallas Theater Center’s Production staff is responsible for the sets, costumes, lighting, props, furniture, scenic painting, sound, special effects and wigs in this production.