Michael Bouchard will return next month to his role as a desperate man who takes a job as a department-store elf in David Sedaris’ ‘The SantaLand Diaries.’ Photo by Emily Lozow for the DCPA NewsCenter.

The DCPA Theatre Company has begun rehearsals for its 24th seasonal staging of A Christmas Carol with at least two meaningful beginnings: Melissa Rain Anderson is the first new director to helm the production for the DCPA since 2005, and longtime company favorite Sam Gregory is assuming the role of Ebenezer Scrooge from veteran Philip Pleasants.

On the other hand, casting for Off-Center’s seasonal co-production of The SantaLand Diaries, staged in partnership with the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, will be unchanged for 2016, with Michael Bouchard donning the caustic candy-striped socks for a second time  in David Sedaris’ comic monologue recounting his real-life experience working as a Macy’s Department store elf.

Bouchard is a Denver Post Ovation Award-winning actor best-known to Colorado audiences from his time at the Arvada Center, the Creede Repertory Theatre and the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company. Luke Sorge will again serve as Bouchard’s understudy.

Listen to John Moore’s 2015 podcast with Michael Bouchard

This will be Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company‘s eighth annual holiday staging of The SantaLand Diaries, and the fourth since it moved to the DCPA’s Jones Theatre. The director is again Steven Weitz, who directed the DCPA Theatre Company’s Tribes.

The cast for A Christmas Carol includes several returning cast members and some fresh faces. Leslie O’Carroll returns for her 18th turn as the DCPA’s Mrs. Fezziwig, again alongside Michael Fitzpatrick as Mr Fezziwig (pictured above right; photo by Adams VisCom.) Newcomers include Broadway veteran Jim Poulos, who starred in the Arvada Center’s 2013 production of Curtains. Poulos will play Fred and Young Ebenezer. Also: Daniel Berryman, who played Anthony in the Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd earlier this year, will return to Denver to play Topper.

“At Christmastime, there is no better show to be working on,” said Anderson (pictured above and right).

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

A Christmas Carol: Cast list (alphabetically):
Daniel Berryman (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd) as Topper/Ensemble.

Latoya Cameron (DCPA debut) as Mrs. Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past.
Kevin Curtis (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd) as Dick Wilkins/Peter Cratchit/Ensemble.
Allen Dorsey (DCPA’s Lord of the Flies, A Christmas Carol) as Swing.
Napoleon Douglas (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Ensemble.
Jack Eller (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ebenezer the Child/Ensemble.
Michael Fitzpatrick (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Mr. Fezziwig/Ensemble.
Sam Gregory (DCPA’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Hamlet, All The Way, A Christmas Carol) as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Kyra Lindsay (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Martha Cratchit/Ensemble.
Brody Lineweaver (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble.
Lars Lundberg (DCPA’s As You Like It) as Ensemble.
Chloe McCleod (DCPA debut) as Swing.
Timothy McCracken (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) will understudy Ebenezer Scrooge.
M. Scott McLean (DCPA’s Animal Crackers, As You Like It, A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble.
Chris Mixon (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Old Joe/Ensemble.
Grace Morgan (The Phantom of the Opera, DCPA debut) as Belle/Fred’s Wife/Ensemble.
Leslie O’Carroll (DCPA’s Benediction, A Christmas Carol) as Mrs. Fezziwig/Ensemble.
Jim Poulos (Broadway’s Rent, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, DCPA debut) as Fred/Young Ebenezer/Ensemble.
Wayne Pretlow (DCPA debut) as Ghost of Christmas Present/Ensemble.
Max Raabe (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble.
Augie Reichert (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Tiny Tim/Ensemble.
Helen Reichert (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Belinda Cratchit/Ensemble.
Jeffrey Roark (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd, All The Way, A Christmas Carol) as Jacob Marley/Ensemble.
Christine Rowan (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd, Animal Crackers, A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble.
Shannan Steele (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd, A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble.
Olivia Sullivent (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Fan/Ensemble.
Jackie Vanderbeck (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Charwoman/Ensemble.
Brian Vaughan (DCPA debut) as Bob Cratchit/Ensemble.
Owen Zitek (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Edward Cratchit/Ensemble.

A Christmas Carol: Ticket information
At a glance: 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.

Presented by the DCPA Theatre Company
By Charles Dickens
Adapted for the stage by Richard Hellesen
Music by David de Berry
Directed by Melissa Rain Anderson
Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Stage Theatre
Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE

The SantaLand Diaries: Ticket information
At a glance: 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.

Presented by Off-Center and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
By David Sedaris
Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
Directed by Stephen Weitz
Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Jones Theatre
Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE