West Michigan Symphony Presents the Nebraska Theatre Caravan's Holiday Favorite, "A Christmas Carol"

MUSKEGON, MI, November 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) The West Michigan Symphony is proud to present the Nebraska Theatre Caravan's production of perennial holiday favorite "A Christmas Carol" on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7 and 8.

Both performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the majestic Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts in downtown Muskegon.

The celebrated adaptation by Charles Jones of "A Christmas Carol" is packed with laughter, pageantry, music and gorgeous costumes. Every memorable detail of Dickens' 1843 novel springs to life - from spine-chilling ghosts to heart-warming moments with Tiny Tim and his family gathered around the hearth.

The evening features many heartfelt renditions of traditional British carols, including "The Holly and the Ivy," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Coventry Carol." Crotchety Scrooge, lovable Tiny Tim and all the fascinating and beloved characters make Dickens' enchanting story a treasured holiday event.

"I was working with the Omaha Playhouse when Charles wrote the adaptation and his team created the sets, choreography, chorus arrangements and costumes," said WMS President and CEO Carla Hill. "It was an immediate hit and has been a staple of the Playhouse season ever since. It's an amazing production filled with laughter, singing, dancing and, of course, the wonderful story of Scrooge and his eventual redemption.

"It is truly a performance that the entire family will enjoy, and we are delighted to bring it to audiences in West Michigan."

The Omaha-based Nebraska Theatre Caravan is a touring theatre troupe that performs across the country.
It was founded in 1975 by Jones as a collaboration between the Omaha Playhouse and the Nebraska Arts Council, and has produced 90 fully mounted productions.

The Caravan began staging a national tour of Jones' musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" annually in 1979. To date, the touring production has performed in more than 600 cities in 49 states and in four Canadian provinces.

Jones studied theatre in Britain, where he received a master's certification in business management for the arts from the London Polytechnic University, as well as certification in directing from the British Drama League. He served as executive director and theatrical visionary of the Omaha Community Playhouse for more than 25 years.

Single tickets for this concert are $15, $20, $35 and $45 and may be purchased online at http://www.westmichigansymphony.org; in person at the West Michigan Symphony Ticket Office, Suite 409 (4th floor) in the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon; or by calling 231.726.3231. Student tickets are $10 for this concert but are not available online. College students must present a valid ID when they purchase tickets.

About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region's cultural community for more than 70 years. Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony. For more information, visit http://www.westmichigansymphony.org.