Pre-show chillin' out: Don Darryl Rivera, Chris Sieber, John Bolton & Jen Cody
Doug Sills consults with choreographer Marcos Santana
Harvey Evans was my guest for the concert as he'd appeared on Broadway with Doug Sills in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Harvey congratulates cast member Elizabeth Ward Land at the after-party.
Rehearsals for the Actor's Fund benefit performance are fast and furious.
Enter the Ghost of Christmas Present
with the lovely Joshua Henry who plays Bob Cratchitt
with Erik Altemus, best known as PIPPIN's brother Lewis, at the orchestra rehearsal.
We have 28 musicians playing the Jule Styne/Bob Merrill score onstage for the first time. it was written for an animated tv special in 1964. You can hear a couple of brief snatches below.
Erik, with Kendall Sparks behind
Doug Sills, Erik Altemus and John Bolton
Our brilliant Scrooge, the one and only Douglas Sills
Doug and Joshua Henry
Matthew Scott and Doug Sills
Doug and Bob Cuccioli ("Jekyll & Hyde")
Don Daryll Rivera, currently appearing as a baddie in ALADDIN
The Actors Fund presents a one night benefit concert presentation of the holiday classic Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol!
Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Starring (in alphabetical order) Erik Altemus, Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Bolton, Jennifer Cody, Robert Cuccioli, Joshua Henry, Don Darryl Rivera, Matthew Scott, Tony Sheldon, Christopher Sieber, Douglas Sills, and Betsy Wolfe
Directed by Carl Andress Music Director Grammy & Emmy Award winner John McDaniel Choreography by Marcos Santana
Based on the very first prime-time animated holiday special, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is being presented on stage for the first time and features an unforgettable score by Funny Girl’s songwriting team, composer Jule Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the programs and services of The Actors Fund, the national human services organization that helps everyone in performing arts and entertainment. The evening will feature the original orchestration – heard live for the first time – with a full orchestra.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is a delightful retelling of the Dickens classic, featuring the comically myopic cartoon character Quincy Magoo. Originally airing in December 1962, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carolwas the first animated holiday special ever produced specifically for television. Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is used by permission from Classic Media, LLC and is being presented through the generosity of Dreamworks Animation, Margaret Styne, and the estates of Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, with special thanks to Joseph Weiss.
TICKET PRICES: $75 $150 $250 $500 - Includes Post-Performance Cast Party $1,000 - Includes Post-Performance Cast Party TO PURCHASE TICKETS: VISIT:The Actors Fund Store EMAIL:tickets@actorsfund.org