By SHARON EBERSON
Amid a sea of 2024 A Christmas Carol adaptations on Pittsburgh area stages, for the comfort and joy of my own traditions, I chose a couple that began on Friday the 13th:
First, Pittsburgh CLO’s A Musical Christmas Carol, now in its 32nd year, with the thrills repeat attendees have come to expect, plus Charles Shaughnessy debuting as a vigorous Ebenezer Scrooge, and two days later, Kinetic Theatre’s A Sherlock Carol, a comedic melding of classic characters and David Whalen in his sixth turn as Holmes (more on this to come).
On Saturday of my weekend of wholesome holiday entertainment, I sandwiched those Carols with something new but with an aura of nostalgia: Christmas Live! With Joe Serafini and Friends at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Bethel Park’s Serafini, best known to Disney+ streaming audiences for his role on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but also, here at home, a four-time Tiny Tim for PCLO, among a dozen memorable performances.
A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL
Ever excitable, even gleefully mean as a miser, Charles Shaughnessy is adrenalized throughout Scrooge’s transformation (you can’t spoil Dickens’ 1840s classic, can you?) from cruel to kind. The actor best-known for Days of Our Lives and The Nanny – who got his musical theater start with Pittsburgh CLO – brings a spark to the venerable production.
He isn’t the only energized first-timer among a parade of veteran performers; Theo Allyn (PCLO’s Young Frankenstein, City Theatre’s POTUS) brings her considerable comedic skills to the roles of Mrs. Dilber and Mrs. Fezziwig.
As the latter, the diminutive actress stands tall alongside the towering fan favorite, Tim Hartman, as Mr. Fezziwig. Hartman first appeared in A Musical Christmas Carol in 1992, as Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, but has since earned ownership of the roles of “Solid Gold” Fezziwig, the jovial Ghost of Christmas Present and other roles since 1995.
Likewise, Daniel Krell, as Marley’s ghost and other roles, started with the Carol company in 1997, but has donned Marley’s chains and ghostly makeup since 2002. Krell still gives me chills as a spirit or living vessel of greed, after many viewings. (And how is it that I am first noticing a resemblance of Marley’s ghost to Beetlejuice?)
Combining compassion with the occasional admonishment, Saige Smith, who previously played Young Scrooge’s fiancee, Belle, in 2024 takes on the role of The Ghost of Christmas Past. Her gliding entry heralds inherent goodness, and kicks off Scrooge’s three visitations, ending with a nightmarish look into his future, should he not shape up.
A Musical Christmas Carol. (Image: Matt Polk)
The large cast includes many fine performances, including Aaron Galligan-Stierle and Lisa Ann Goldsmith as Bob and Mrs. Cratchit, Aubree Liscotti as Tiny TIm, Justin Fortunato as Scrooge’s lively nephew Fred and more.
David Bell’s carol-filled adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, directed and choreographed by Scott Evans, features an impressive dreamscape of a scenic design by D. Martin Bookwalter, with costumes by Mariann Verheyen and Travis D. Klingler.
The holiday fare concentrated into a few Downtown blocks of the Pittsburgh Cultural District – including The Nutcracker (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at the Benedum Center), A Christmas Story (Pittsburgh Public Theater at the O’Reilly Theater), Who’s Holiday! (PCLO at the Greer Cabaret), PNC Holiday Pops (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall) – represents a fraction of the live holiday performances in the region. Across the West End Bridge, Pittsburgh Musical Theater continues another three-decade tradition, with Ken and Jane Gargaro’s A Lyrical Christmas Carol.
I can’t see them all, but I find it comforting to know they are all there, feeding the need for Pittsburgher’s holiday traditions.
TICKETS: Pittsburgh CLO’s A Musical Christmas Carol runs through December 22, 2024, at the Byham Theater, Downtown. There will be a sensory friendly production on Saturday, December 21 at 10 a.m. Visit https://pittsburghclo.culturaldistrict.org/production/95546 or call 412-456-6666.
Right, the entry was bare in 2024, due to prohibitive costs.
(Images: Sharon Eberson)
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT ‘TIL IT’S GONE
Something I have come to take for granted was missing from the Musical Christmas Carol experience this year.
Starting in 2021, patrons entering the Byham for A Musical Christmas Carol were treated to a path through a Christmas tree forest, with the trees representing productions from each year of Pittsburgh CLO’s storied history,
The 18-foot tree that dominates the main lobby is back, but the path to it is bare this year. The trees remain in storage in 2024, with the labor costs to erect the display prohibitive for PCLO.
It is worth noting, the PCLO production employs a cast of almost 30 during the holiday season, including swings, understudies and more than a dozen Equity actors, plus six musicians and a union crew.
at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. (Image: Sharon Eberson)
CHRISTMAS LIVE! With JOE SERAFINI and FRIENDS
Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse welcomed the Bethel Park native into the fold for a holiday concert that included home videos of the pranking, loving, singing Serafini family and his many appearances with Pittsburgh CLO.
“Friends” of Serafini, a charmer with an angelic voice, included his stage dad Jeff Howell, PCLO’s Bob Cratchit for 25 years; his sister, Kristin Serafini, another of the Cratchit kids; and Christine Laitta, who co-starred with Joe in Into the Woods last year, plus the caroling Bethel Park Top 21 choir – Serafini was a member back in the day – and Joe’s other half, Frankie Rodriguez. They were joined by a three-piece band and music director and keyboardist Melissa Yanchak, one of Serafini’s hometown mentors.
Reminiscences with Howell about behind-the-scenes A Musical Christmas Carol antics were a highlight of the holiday concert that included a silly Christmas song and ear worm, punctuated with a kazoo duet, called Santa Lost a Ho (as in, “Uh-oh, where’d the other Ho go?”). I’m still chuckling about that one.
The one-night-only show was an in-person version of Serafini’s Christmas Live! YouTube and social media offerings by the actor, singer and musician, who spent some lovely moments at the piano for solos and duets.
Something to add to your musical traditions: Serafini’s original song, Evergreen Love, should be on your holiday listening list.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Celebrity News, Company, Our Posts, Reviews
Leave a Reply Cancel reply