First pictures have been released of Brian Conley and co-stars in rehearsals for the eagerly-anticipated new concert staging of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent’s A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre this festive season.
With performances due to begin on 7 December, the rehearsal shots feature Conley, Matt Jay-Willis, Jacqueline Jossa, Lucie Jones, Sandra Marvin and Cedric Neal.
As previously announced comedian turned musical theatre favourite Conley will star as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside Jay-Willis (Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors) as Bob Cratchit, former EastEnder and last year’s I’m A Celebrity winner Jossa making her West End debut as Emily and The Ghost of Christmas Future; Jones (Waitress, Rent) as The Ghost of Christmas Past; Marvin (Waitress, Chicago) as Mrs Fezziwig and Neal (Motown The Musical, Back To The Future The Musical) as The Ghost of Christmas Present.
The previously announced cast also includes: Martyn Ellis (My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls) as Mr Fezziwig; Jeremy Secomb (The Phantom of the Opera, Jerry Springer: The Opera) as Jacob Marley; Rebecca Lock (Heathers, Curtains) as Mrs Cratchit; and Sam Oladeinde (Hamilton, The Book of Mormon) as Fred Anderson/Young Scrooge.
They will be joined by Simbi Akande, Will Arundell, Nicole-Lily Baisden, Lizzie Bea, Joshua Gannon, James Gant, Shirley Jameson, Kurt Kansley, Alex Lodge, Matthew McDonald, Minal Patel, Jemma Revell, Rebecca Ridout and Lee Van Geleen.
The show will also feature three teams of children on rotation – the role of Tiny Tim will be shared by William Barker, Osian Salter and Brodie Edwards, while the remaining children’s roles will be shared by Victoria Alsina, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Asanda Abbie Masike, Charlie Mclellan, Nicholas Parris, Gabriel Payne, Angelica-Pearl Scott, Sasha Watson-Lobo and Katherine Wilson.
Featuring a cast of over 50 and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, the production will run from 7 December 2020 until 2 January 2021.
Produced by Freddie Tapner for the London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO) and Gary England, this year’s Conley-led version of the 1994 Broadway musical reworking of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, follows on from LMTO’s successful sold-out concert performances of the show in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The director of LMTO’s previous concert productions including A Christmas Carol and Mack and Mabel, Shaun Kerrison will return to direct the production which will feature musical direction by LMTO founder Tapner. Sound design will be by Nick Lidster for Autograph, with design by Dora Schweitzer, musical staging by Tim Jackson, lighting design by Mike Robertson, projection design by George Reeve and casting by Jim Arnold.
Covid safety measures and social distancing will be in place front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the Dominion. Following the successful daily Covid-19 test trail implemented for the late summer run of Sleepless, A Musical Romance at the Troubadour Theatre, the producers of A Christmas Carol are working in partnership with GeneMe UK to put FRANKD testing in place throughout the entire run. As with Sleepless, the cast, musicians and backstage crew members will be tested during rehearsals with the results available within 30 minutes through the ID app Yoti.
Ticketholders will also be offered the chance to exchange their tickets free of charge up to 24 hours before a performance if they are unable to attend, feel unwell or have to isolate.
Based on Dickens’ timeless tale of Scrooge and his ghostly visitors the show features music written by Tony, Olivier and eight-time Academy award winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime) and a book by Drama Desk Award winner Mike Ockrent (Me and My Girl) and Ahrens.
The hit musical The Prince of Egypt is due to resume its run at the Dominion Theatre in the spring of 2021 pending changes to Government Covid-safety advice.
Angela Thomas
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