Change is in the wind for Denver Center’s two long-running holiday traditions, both returning in late November

The Denver Center’s two holiday traditions return next month steeped in tradition but with change in the seasonal winds. While the DCPA Theatre Company will open rehearsals for its 26th seasonal staging of A Christmas Carol with Melissa Rain Anderson directing for the third straight year and Sam Gregory returning to his beloved role as Ebenezer Scrooge, the 2018 production will be the last before the production goes on hiatus for a full renovation of The Stage Theatre.

Michael Bouchard returns in ‘The SantaLand Diaries.’ Photo by AdamsVisCom.

And the 2018 presentation of The SantaLand Diaries will mark the final year of the annual collaboration between Off-Center and the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company. This will be BETC’s 10th annual holiday staging of David Sedaris’ popular caustic comic monologue and sixth since it moved to the DCPA’s Jones Theatre. The director is again Steven Weitz, who previously directed the DCPA Theatre Company’s Tribes. Michael Bouchard will again don the caustic candy-striped socks for a fourth consecutive holiday season recounting Sedaris’ real-life experiences working as a Macy’s Department store elf, with Luke Sorge returning as Other David. Bouchard is a Denver Post and True West 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.

The cast for A Christmas Carol includes several returning cast members and some fresh faces. Leslie O’Carroll returns for her 20th turn as the DCPA’s Mrs. Fezziwig, again alongside Michael Fitzpatrick as Mr Fezziwig. Latoya Cameron and Brian Vaughn return as the Cratchit parents. Last year’s Tiny Tim, Peyton Goossen, will be back as a slightly older Beggar Child. Now playing the endangered young Tiny Tim will be Lucas Turner.

“At Christmas time, there is no better show to be working on,” said Anderson.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

A Christmas Carol: Cast list (alphabetically):

• Samuel Bird (DCPA’s The Who’s Tommy) as Boy on the Street/Ensemble
• Latoya Cameron (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Mrs. Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past/Ensemble
• Kevin Curtis (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd, A Christmas Carol) as Dick Wilkins/Peter Cratchit/Ensemble
• Michael Doherty (DCPA debut) as Topper
• Michael Fitzpatrick (DCPA’s Animal Crackers, A Christmas Carol) as Mr. Fezziwig/Ensemble
• Peyton Goossen (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Beggar Child/Ensemble
• Sam Gregory (DCPA’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Hamlet, All The Way, A Christmas Carol) as Ebenezer Scrooge
• Darrell T. Joe (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come/Ensemble
• Chas Lederer (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Swing
• Kyra Lindsay (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Martha Cratchit/Ensemble
• Gustavo Márquez (DCPA’s Native Gardens) as Ensemble
• Chloe McLeod (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Swing
• Timothy McCracken (DCPA’s Smart People, A Christmas Carol) as Ebenezer Scrooge understudy
• Chris Mixon (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Old Joe/Ensemble
• Leslie O’Carroll (DCPA’s Benediction, A Christmas Carol) as Mrs. Fezziwig/Ensemble
• Erick Pinnick (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Ghost of Christmas Present/Ensemble
• Jim Poulos (Broadway’s Rent, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Fred/Young Ebenezer/Ensemble
• Tristan C. Regini (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Boy Ebenezer/Ensemble
• Augie Reichert (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Edward Cratchit/Ensemble
• Helen Reichert (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Fan/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
• Hanley Smith (DCPA debut) as Belle/Fred’s Wife/Ensemble
• Shannan Steele (DCPA’s Sweeney Todd, A Christmas Carol) as Ensemble
• Kelly Tanberg (DCPA debut) as Belinda Cratchit/Fezzwig Kid
• Lucas Turner (DCPA debut) as Tiny Tim
• Jackie Vanderbeck (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Charwoman/Ensemble
• Brian Vaughn (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol) as Bob Cratchit/Ensemble
• Owen Zitek (DCPA’s A Christmas Carol, The Who’s Tommy) as Ensemble

The creative team includes music direction and orchestrations by Gregg Coffin. The production will feature designs by Vicki Smith (Scenic Designer), Kevin Copenhaver (Costume Designer), Don Darnutzer (Lighting Designer), Craig Breitenbach (Sound Designer), Kathryn G. Maes, PhD. (Voice and Dialect), Grady Soapes, CSA and Grady Soapes, CSA (Casting), and stage management by Heidi Echtenkamp (Stage Manager) and Michael Morales and D. Lynn Reiland (Assistant Stage Managers).

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
• November 21-December 24 (opens November 28)
• Stage Theatre
• Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE

Video bonus: Behind the Scenes at the 2017 A Christmas Carol

The SantaLand Diaries: Cast list

• Michael Bouchard as David
• Luke Sorge as Other David

The SantaLand Diaries will feature designs by Nicholas Renaud (Scenic Designer), Lily Bradford (Lighting Designer), Andrew Metzroth (Sound Designer) and stage management by Malia Stoner (Stage Manager).

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
• November 23-December 24
• Jones Theatre
• Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE