A Christmas Carol
Adapted by Sean Murray
Original Music by Billy Thompson
Based on the story by Charles Dickens
Low-priced Previews Nov 28 - Dec 5, 2014
Cygnet Theatre invites you to start your own family tradition with one of ours. This season welcomes the return of the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, adapted by Sean Murray from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of hope and redemption. This re-imagined, fully staged production features original new music, creative stagecraft and puppetry, and live sound effects. Step into a Victorian Christmas card for a unique storytelling experience that is sure to delight the entire family!
Cast
Maggie CarneyMaggie Carney
Mrs. Cratchit, Solicitor, Mrs. Dilbur, Past, Grocer,Maggie Carney was last seen at Cygnet in last year’s A Christmas Carol and before that as Miss Prism and Nadya in The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties, respectively. Local credits include: Pygmalion (Old Globe); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter and the Starcatchers, Suzette Who Set to Sea, Salsalandia! (La Jolla Playhouse); The Divine Sister (Diversionary). Elsewhere: Bill Irwin’s Largely/NY, The Tempest (Seattle Rep); A Phoenix Too Frequent, Spite for Spite (Writers’ Theatre); Ghetto (Famous Door); Bad Dates (BoarsHead); Bedroom Farce, Into the Woods (Touchstone Theatre); Smash (Bailiwick). She has also appeared with Northlight Theatre, Roadworks Productions, Noble Fool Theatricals, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Poetry Foundation, The Second City, Peninsula Players, Creede Repertory Theatre and the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. Look for Maggie in the film musical “Lucky Stiff”, scheduled for release in 2015.
Charles Evans, Jr.Charles Evans, Jr.
Young Scrooge, Grocer, Peter Cratchit, Young Man, Business Man, CarolerCharles was most recently seen at Cygnet as Moritz in Spring Awakening Other San Diego credits include – Lambs Players Theatre: Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik); La Jolla Playhouse: The Car Plays (Chris); ion Theatre: Grey Gardens (Joe Kennedy Jr/Joe); New Village Arts: Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings (Sparky); San Diego Repertory Theatre: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Duke u/s). Charles also recently completed his fifth summer as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre where favorite credits include Little Women: The Musical (Laurie), The Secret Garden (Dickon), and Forever Plaid (Francis). Charles is a BFA theatre graduate of Stephens College for Women.
Melissa FernandesMelissa Fernandes
Child, Xmas Past, Boy Scrooge, Belle, Shopper, Egbert Cratchit, Martha Cratchit, Young Woman, UrchinMelissa Fernandes is thrilled to be back at Cygnet Theatre in this re-imagined A Christmas Carol! San Diego Theatre: Cygnet: Assassins, Company, Little Shop of Horrors (nominee, San Diego Critics Circle), Cabaret (nominee, SDCC), A Little Night Music, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Book of Liz, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol; New Village Arts: The Full Monty, Same Time, Next Year, The Seven Year Itch, Into the Woods (nominee, SDCC); Moxie Theatre: Mud Blue Sky, Drink Me, Dog Act; Diversionary (Associate Artist): Falsettos, The Rocky Horror Show, Break Up Notebook, Bunbury, Fifth of July, Never the Sinner; North Coast Rep: Dancing at Lughnasa, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Holiday Memories. Regional: Sierra Rep: Little Shop of Horrors; La Jolla Playhouse: Harmony. Education: MFA- Musical Theatre, SDSU.
Maggie Carney
Maggie Carney was last seen at Cygnet in last year’s A Christmas Carol and before that as Miss Prism and Nadya in The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties, respectively. Local credits include: Pygmalion (Old Globe); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter and the Starcatchers, Suzette Who Set to Sea, Salsalandia! (La Jolla Playhouse); The Divine Sister (Diversionary). Elsewhere: Bill Irwin’s Largely/NY, The Tempest (Seattle Rep); A Phoenix Too Frequent, Spite for Spite (Writers’ Theatre); Ghetto (Famous Door); Bad Dates (BoarsHead); Bedroom Farce, Into the Woods (Touchstone Theatre); Smash (Bailiwick). She has also appeared with Northlight Theatre, Roadworks Productions, Noble Fool Theatricals, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Poetry Foundation, The Second City, Peninsula Players, Creede Repertory Theatre and the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. Look for Maggie in the film musical “Lucky Stiff”, scheduled for release in 2015.
Charles Evans, Jr.
Charles was most recently seen at Cygnet as Moritz in Spring Awakening Other San Diego credits include – Lambs Players Theatre: Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik); La Jolla Playhouse: The Car Plays (Chris); ion Theatre: Grey Gardens (Joe Kennedy Jr/Joe); New Village Arts: Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings (Sparky); San Diego Repertory Theatre: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Duke u/s). Charles also recently completed his fifth summer as a resident actor with the Okoboji Summer Theatre where favorite credits include Little Women: The Musical (Laurie), The Secret Garden (Dickon), and Forever Plaid (Francis). Charles is a BFA theatre graduate of Stephens College for Women.
Melissa Fernandes
Melissa Fernandes is thrilled to be back at Cygnet Theatre in this re-imagined A Christmas Carol! San Diego Theatre: Cygnet: Assassins, Company, Little Shop of Horrors (nominee, San Diego Critics Circle), Cabaret (nominee, SDCC), A Little Night Music, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Book of Liz, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol; New Village Arts: The Full Monty, Same Time, Next Year, The Seven Year Itch, Into the Woods (nominee, SDCC); Moxie Theatre: Mud Blue Sky, Drink Me, Dog Act; Diversionary (Associate Artist): Falsettos, The Rocky Horror Show, Break Up Notebook, Bunbury, Fifth of July, Never the Sinner; North Coast Rep: Dancing at Lughnasa, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Holiday Memories. Regional: Sierra Rep: Little Shop of Horrors; La Jolla Playhouse: Harmony. Education: MFA- Musical Theatre, SDSU.
Melinda GilbMelinda Gilb
Solicitor, Past, Mrs. Fezziwig, Shopper, Belinda Cratchit, Laundress, Turkey BoyCygnet Resident Artist. Melinda has been a professional Actor for over 30 years. Previously at Cygnet: A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Dirty Blonde, The Receptionist. Some of her other credits include: Broadway – Singin’ in the Rain (Original cast); Off Broadway – Back to Bacharach and David (Original cast), Suds (Original cast and co-author); 1st National tour – Joseph Papp’s The Pirates of Penzance. San Diego Theatre: Old Globe: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original Mama Who), Suds (Marge); San Diego Repertory: Walter Cronkite is Dead, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Miss Witherspoon, Always Patsy Cline; Starlight Theatre: Hello Dolly (Dolly Levi), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovet, Craig Noel Award), Annie (Miss Hannigan); Diversionary: She-Rantulas from Outer Space; North Coast Rep: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Smell of the Kill; Welk Resort Theatre: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers). Melinda and Steve Show with Steve Gunderson: New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. Television: BBC-1: Featured on The Full Wax and Ruby Takes a Trip; CBS: Becker (Guest Star). Favorite role: Mama to her 9 year old son Knight.
David McBeanDavid McBean
Marley, Dick Wilkins, Present, Business Man, Undertaker, FellowDavid was last seen on the Cygnet stage as Ms. Deep South in Pageant. Other Cygnet credits include: A Christmas Carol, Fully Committed (SD Critic’s Circle Award), Dirty Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, It’s a Wonderful Life, Burn This, The Book of Liz. Other credits include: Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Musical at Intrepid, Feste in Twlefth Night for the Old Globe, and Max in The Sound of Music for SD Musical Theater.
Patrick McBridePatrick McBride
Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig, Father, Grocer, Business Man, Old JoePatrick has directed, acted and taught for over 25 years. He has a B.F.A in Directing from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Previously at Cygnet: A Christmas Carol, Travesties. Some favorite roles include Laurence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bullshot in Bullshot Crummond, Fagin in Oliver, Benidick in Much Ado About Nothing, Billy in Anything Goes, James Joyce in Travesties, and Daddy to Hope!
Melinda Gilb
Cygnet Resident Artist. Melinda has been a professional Actor for over 30 years. Previously at Cygnet: A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Dirty Blonde, The Receptionist. Some of her other credits include: Broadway – Singin’ in the Rain (Original cast); Off Broadway – Back to Bacharach and David (Original cast), Suds (Original cast and co-author); 1st National tour – Joseph Papp’s The Pirates of Penzance. San Diego Theatre: Old Globe: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original Mama Who), Suds (Marge); San Diego Repertory: Walter Cronkite is Dead, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Miss Witherspoon, Always Patsy Cline; Starlight Theatre: Hello Dolly (Dolly Levi), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovet, Craig Noel Award), Annie (Miss Hannigan); Diversionary: She-Rantulas from Outer Space; North Coast Rep: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Smell of the Kill; Welk Resort Theatre: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers). Melinda and Steve Show with Steve Gunderson: New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. Television: BBC-1: Featured on The Full Wax and Ruby Takes a Trip; CBS: Becker (Guest Star). Favorite role: Mama to her 9 year old son Knight.
David McBean
David was last seen on the Cygnet stage as Ms. Deep South in Pageant. Other Cygnet credits include: A Christmas Carol, Fully Committed (SD Critic’s Circle Award), Dirty Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, It’s a Wonderful Life, Burn This, The Book of Liz. Other credits include: Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Musical at Intrepid, Feste in Twlefth Night for the Old Globe, and Max in The Sound of Music for SD Musical Theater.
Patrick McBride
Patrick has directed, acted and taught for over 25 years. He has a B.F.A in Directing from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Previously at Cygnet: A Christmas Carol, Travesties. Some favorite roles include Laurence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Touchstone in As You Like It, Bullshot in Bullshot Crummond, Fagin in Oliver, Benidick in Much Ado About Nothing, Billy in Anything Goes, James Joyce in Travesties, and Daddy to Hope!
Tom StephensonTom Stephenson
Ebenezer ScroogeThis year, Tom celebrates over 40 years on stage. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, and The Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England. He was seen at the beginning of the year as James in New Village Arts’ production of Circle Mirror Transformation. He then appeared as Joe Keller in Intrepid Shakespeare Company’s critically acclaimed production of All My Sons. Also at Intrepid this summer he was seen as Gary Peter Lefkowitz in I Hate Hamlet and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous credits with Intrepid include; Claudius in Hamlet and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Musical. This is Tom’s tenth appearance with Cygnet Theatre Company. His credits include, Hector in The History Boys, Ben Hubbard in The Little Foxes, Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, Simon Stimson in Our Town, Mr. Rosser in Parade, and for the last two seasons, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Tom Stephenson
This year, Tom celebrates over 40 years on stage. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, and The Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England. He was seen at the beginning of the year as James in New Village Arts’ production of Circle Mirror Transformation. He then appeared as Joe Keller in Intrepid Shakespeare Company’s critically acclaimed production of All My Sons. Also at Intrepid this summer he was seen as Gary Peter Lefkowitz in I Hate Hamlet and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Previous credits with Intrepid include; Claudius in Hamlet and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Musical. This is Tom’s tenth appearance with Cygnet Theatre Company. His credits include, Hector in The History Boys, Ben Hubbard in The Little Foxes, Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, Simon Stimson in Our Town, Mr. Rosser in Parade, and for the last two seasons, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Creative Team
Peter Herman
Cygnet Resident Artist. Cygnet Theatre: Costumes and Wig/Makeup Design for Shakespeare’s R&J, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Wigs/Makeup Design for The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Gem of the Ocean, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, A Behanding in Spokane, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, The Piano Lesson, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa, The History Boys, The Receptionist, A Little Night Music, Fences, The Turn of the Screw, Communicating Doors, Arcadia, The Matchmaker. Elsewhere: Peter has designed hair and wigs for over 300 productions, including the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, San Diego Opera, Disneyland, and various film and television projects. Film: Costume design for Ready? OK! Peter currently teaches wigs and makeup at SDSU.
Andy Hull
Cygnet Theatre: Gem of the Ocean, The Glass Menagerie, Private Lives, Bed and Sofa, The History Boys. Elsewhere: Hello Dolly (Arrowrock Lyceum Theatre); Hay Fever (Black Hills Playhouse); Into the Woods, The Good Person of Szechwan, Desire Under the Elms (San Diego State University); Night of the Iguana, The Man Who Came to Dinner, A Piece of my Heart (Webster University). Mr. Hull is currently working as an Art Director on Mad Men. He has worked on such shows as Orange is the New Black, Parks and Recreation, and the MTV Video Music Awards.
Jennifer Kozumplik
At Cygnet: The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Gem of the Ocean, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Our Town, Private Lives, Noises Off. La Jolla Playhouse: Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, His Girl Friday. San Diego Repertory Theatre: A Hammer, a Bell, and a Song to Sing, In the Wake, Superior Donuts, Culture Clash in AmeriCCa, Blessing of a Broken Heart, The Who’s Tommy, The Road to Mecca, The Seafarer, Doubt, Water and Power. ion theatre: Frozen, La Gaviota, Punks. Jennifer received her Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University.
Matt Lescault-Wood
Cygnet Resident Artist. Dying City, It’s A Wonderful Life, The History Boys, Mauritius, Noises Off, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Glass Menagerie, A Behanding In Spokane, Dirty Blonde, Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Company (Cygnet); Wit, I Love You Because (North Coast Repertory Theatre); Picasso at the Lapin Agile (USD); Request Programme, Cripple of Inishmaan (ion); Butcher of Baraboo, Dog Act, Expecting Isabel, Eurydice (San Diego Critics Circle Nominee), Eleemosynary, The Crucible, Toughest Girl Alive, Ten Cent Night, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Coming Attractions, Hickorydickory, References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Skinless (Moxie); tick, tick…BOOM (Stone Soup); Sideman (BANG), Richard II, Hamlet (Intrepid), The Break-Up/Break-Down, Ragnarok, Deconstruction of a Drag Queen (Circle Circle dot dot); Seascape (New Village Arts). Matt holds a degree in Theatre Design and Technology from SDSU.
Patrick Marion
Cygnet Theatre: Spring Awakening, Company, Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret; Lamb’s Players Theatre (Associate Artist): Les Miserables, miXtape, The Music Man, An American Christmas (’09 through ’12), Pump Boys and Dinettes, Godspell, Boomers; North Coast Repertory Theatre: The Humbug Holiday Spectacular; San Diego Musical Theatre: Smokey Joe’s Cafe; Diversionary Theatre: Moscow (Award for Outstanding Musical Direction, StageSceneLA); Coronado Playhouse: Chicago the Musical, The Wild Party; Francis Parker School: Godspell, Annie, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Once on This Island, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Always Patsy Cline.
Michael McKeon
Michael is an avid photographer, videographer, painter, sculptor, graphic designer and “maker of things.” In San Diego theaters, he has worked as a Scenic Designer, Scenic Artist, Properties Designer, Multimedia/Video Designer and Technician and Stage Manager for numerous productions and special events. Previously for Cygnet, he designed the puppets and the Glamouresse products for Pageant. Some other favorites: Killer Joe (SDTCC Craig Noel Award – Compass); Sideman (Diversionary); miXtape, Trying (SDTCC Craig Noel Nomination), Joe vs. the Volcano (SDTCC Craig Noel Nomination), Pete ‘n’ Keely, The 39 Steps (Lambs Players); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Intrepid Shakespeare Company). Check out more crazy stuff at MichaelMcKeon.com.
Sean Murray
Director/Book/Lyrics
Shirley Pierson
Costume Designer
Marguerite Sugden
Assistant Stage Manager
Sean Murray
Mr. Murray co-founded Cygnet Theatre in 2002 along with partner Bill Schmidt. Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, CompanyAssassins, WCYG presents A Christmas Carol, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Tragedy of the Commons, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd, It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off, Bed and Sofa ’09, The History Boys, A Christmas Carol, A Little Night Music (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director), The Receptionist, The Invention of Love, Bed and Sofa ’04 (SD Critic’s Award, Best Director, Best Musical Revival), Las Meninas, Escanaba in da Moonlight (SD Critic’s Circle, Set Design), The Book of Liz, Pageant, Bug, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, St. Nicholas, The Matchmaker, Desire Under the Elms, Santaland Diaries, Firebugs, Fully Committed, Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, My Fair Lady. Elsewhere: North Coast Rep: The Elephant Man (Patté Award, Direction), Man of La Mancha, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties; Diversionary: Never the Sinner, Love! Valour! Compassion!. Education: University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA). In 2000, Sean was named one of San Diego Magazine’s "50 People to Watch" and in 2005 he was named Producer of the Year by the San Diego Critic’s Circle.
Shirley Pierson
For Cygnet: Pageant, Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Assassins, WCYG A Christmas Carol (’13, ’12), Parade (Craig Noel Outstanding Costume Design Award), Mistakes Were Made, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life (’09, ’10, ’11), The History Boys, A Christmas Carol. Selected San Diego Theatre: Marry Me a Little, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabbler, When Last We Flew, Pippin, Harmony Kansas, Next Fall, Diversionary Theatre; Seascape, Into the Woods, New Village Arts; Holiday Memories, Scripps Ranch Theatre; Richard III, Old Globe/University of San Diego. Shirley received her MFA in Theatrical Design from San Diego State University. View her work at: shirleypiersondesigns.com. View her work at shirleypiersondesigns.com.
Marguerite Sugden
Meg is a recent graduate from UCSD with a B.A. in theater and she is delighted to return to Cygnet Theatre after interning with them last summer on Company, The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties. Previous SM credits include The Underground New Play Festival (UCSD), Doomsurfing (Knight & Brinegar), The 24hr Play Festival, OnStage Readings, and Variations (Nomads Theatre Company). She would like to thank Cygnet Theatre for this wonderful opportunity and to all her friends and family for their endless support.
Billy Thompson
Composer
Katie Whalley Banville
Choreographer
R. Craig Wolf
Co-Scenic & Lighting Designer
Billy Thompson
Cygnet Resident Artist. Billy has served as composer, musical director, accompanist, and performer for the stage since 1999. His first full length musical, Invasion!, earned him the 2007 LA Weekly Theatre Awards for Best Original Score and Best Musical Direction. He has provided source music and scoring for film, soloed as a promotional pianist for Miramax, and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Desert Symphony Orchestras. He has held faculty and faculty assistant positions at USC, AMDA-LA, and The Strasberg Institute. He is currently a Composer-in-Residence with the San Diego Opera Words & Music outreach program. Billy holds a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA in Musical Theatre from SDSU. Past shows with Cygnet: Parade, It’s A Wonderful Life, Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Katie Whalley Banville
Bio to come.
R. Craig Wolf
R. Craig Wolf has taught and designed lighting nationwide for both theatre and dance. Credits include designs for New York’s Dance Theatre Workshop, Theatre Artaud in San Francisco, Japan America Center in Los Angeles, SRT in Santa Rosa, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. In addition, Craig is resident designer for Native Voices at the Autry and senior designer for Mountain Light Company in Denver, CO. Head of the Design Area and Professor of Stage Design at San Diego State University, Mr. Wolf is the co-author of Scene Design and Stage Lighting, now in its tenth edition. Craig is pleased to be designing for Cygnet Theatre again this season.
Taylor Wycoff
Taylor is delighted to be continuing her work as dramaturg for the Cygnet Theatre. Previous dramaturgical credits include Fool for Love, True West, Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, A Christmas Carol, Playwrights in Process: New Play Festival, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Shakespeare’s R&J, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean (Cygnet); Kita y Fernanda, Yellow Face (Mo’olelo). She has had the privilege of presenting her research at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference and the Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium. She served as a Consensus Organizer for Mo’olelo’s recent productions of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors and Extraordinary Chambers, teaches for Kids Act and is a graduate of Young Audiences Teaching Artist Institute. Taylor holds a BA in Theatre Arts and International Relations from the University of San Diego and is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.
Angelica Ynfante
Cygnet Resident Artist. Previously at Cygnet: Fool for Love, True West, Pageant, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean, A Christmas Carol, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde. Texas State University graduate with a BFA in theatre. She made her way around the U.S. and Mexico for five years working in Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont, New York, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Cancun until she made it to sunny California where she is currently the props mistress with the San Diego Rep. She has also worked with Moxie Theatre.
April 2024