Sam Gregory, left, and Philip Pleasants in previous stagings of The DCPA Theatre Company’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’

The DCPA’s upcoming holiday offerings will mark meaningful endings and beginnings for the Theatre Company’s productions of A Christmas Carol and Off-Center’s The SantaLand Diaries.

The 2015 production of The SantaLand Diaries, again a co-production between Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company and Off-Center, will star Michael Bouchard in the role of David, the caustic unemployed New Yorker who is forced by economic desperation to take a job as a Macy’s SantaLand elf named Crumpet. He joins a longstanding BETC/DCPA seasonal tradition preceded by DCPA veterans Geoffrey Kent and Matt Zambrano (both of whom can presently be seen in Theatre Company’s As You Like It) in the role based on a popular David Sedaris short story.

“I am definitely happy to be playing Crumpet,” said Bouchard, an award-winning young veteran of many local stages including the Creede Repertory Theatre and Arvada Center. “But that might just be because I am coming back from being sedated at the dentist.”

And the Theatre Company’s 2015 production of A Christmas Carol will mark Philip Pleasants’ final appearance as Scrooge. For the 2016 production, which will mark the Theatre Company’s 23rd staging of the Dickens classic, the role of Scrooge will be played by Sam Gregory, who has appeared in more than 40 Theatre Company productions, most recently in last year’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Pleasants, 78, began playing Scrooge for the DCPA in 2005, but he has been playing Scrooge in productions across the country for 45 years. Even though he has appeared in many signature DCPA productions, such as the titular role in King Lear, the world premiere of Eventide and three roles in the current As You Like It, Scrooge has become his signature role.

In a previous interview during the height of the global economic collapse, Pleasants said the pre-transformation Scrooge represents the foundation of our capitalist society — “and to ruinous results, because of mismanagement and greed.” 

Pleasants is not retiring from acting. In fact, he will appear later in the season in another DCPA Theatre Company show (casting yet to be announced).

Before A Christmas Carol, Gregory will star in a zany British comedy called The Explorer’s Club from Oct. 15-24 at the Lone Tree Arts Center. He will serve as Pleasants’ understudy for the 2015 run of A Christmas Carol.

Michael Bouchard was featured in an award-winning production of ‘Avenue Q’ at the Vintage Theatre, above right.

Bouchard last appeared at the DCPA in A Christmas Carol. Signature roles have included Billy in The Cripple of Inishmaan for Creede Rep and Rod in Vintage Theatre’s four-star puppet comedy, Avenue Q. He is also an accomplished improv comedian and children’s theatre actor. He most recently appeared in Saturday Night Fever, which closed Sunday at the Arvada Center. He won The Denver Post’s 2009 Ovation Award for Best Season by an Actor. His understudy as David will be Luke Sorge, who recently starred in Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s four-star production of Stupid F##king Bird,
 a contemporary Checkhov variation.

CHECK THE NEWSCENTER SOON FOR OUR COMPLETE NTERVIEWS WITH PHILIP PLEASANTS, SAM GREGORY AND MICHAEL BOUCHARD

Allen Dorsey in the 2014 production of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Photo by Merritt Design Photo.

A Christmas Carol  Cast list
Colin Alexander (Ghost of Christmas Present)
Leslie Alexander (Mrs. Cratchit)
Benjamin Bonenfant (Undertaker’s Man)
Courtney Capek (Belle)
Stephanie Cozart (Ghost of Christmas Past)
Allen Dorsey (Ghost of Christmas Future)
Napoleon M. Douglas (Ensemble)
Mehry Eslaminia (Ensemble)
Michael Fitzpatrick (Mr. Fezziwig)
Ella Galaty (Fan)
Sam Gregory (Scrooge Understudy)
Edwin Harris (Ensemble)
Ben W. Heil (Peter Cratchit)
Charlie Korman (Boy Scrooge)
Robert Andrew Koutras (Ensemble)
Daniel Langhoff (Ensemble)
Avi Levin (Ensemble)
Kyra Lindsay (Martha Cratchit)
Brody Lineaweaver (Ensemble)
Rodney Lizcano (Old Joe)
Emma C. Martin (Ensemble)
M. Scott McLean (Young Scrooge)
Leslie O’Carroll (Mrs. Fezziwig)
Philip Pleasants (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Max Raabe (Edward Cratchit)
Augie Reichert (Tiny Tim)
Helen Reichert (Belinda Cratchit)
James Michael Reilly (Bob Cratchit)
Jeffrey Roark (Jacob Marley)
Christine Rowan (Ensemble)
Nate Patrick Siebert (Ensemble)
Shannan Steele (Ensemble)
Olivia Sullivent (Want)
Jake Williamson (Ensemble)
Erin Willis (Ensemble)
Owen Zitek (Ensemble) 

A Christmas Carol: Ticket information
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Richard Hellesen
Music by David de Berry
Nov 27-Dec 27 (Opens Dec 4) | Stage Theatre
Call 303-893-4100 or
BUY ONLINE
TTY: 303-893-9582
Show description: Based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, this joyous and opulent musical adaptation traces money-hoarding skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge’s triumphant overnight journey to redemption. A Christmas Carol illuminates the meaning of the holiday season in a way that has resonated for generations.

The SantaLand Diaries: Ticket information
Presented by Off-Center and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Written by David Sedaris
Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
Nov 27-Dec 27 | Jones Theatre
Call 303-893-4100 or
BUY ONLINE
TTY: 303-893-9582
Show description: Crumpet the Elf returns for more hilarious holiday hi-jinks in this acclaimed one-man show. Looking for a little more snark in your stocking this year? David Sedaris’ offbeat tales from his stint as a Macy’s elf in New York City are the sure cure for the common Christmas show.