Beloved Ghost Tale Kicks Off Holiday Season at CWU

November 15, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.--Central Washington University's Central Theatre Ensemble (CTE) is ready to chase away your holiday humbugs with one of the most popular and endearing stories of all time, "A Christmas Carol," in McConnell Auditorium, with performances the weekend after Thanksgiving.

The Charles Dickens classic story of a ghost with a heart of gold has been adapted by Ken Jones into an 80-minute production filled with fun and magical surprises for the entire family.

This production, which CTE hopes to make a biennial tradition, features traditional Dickensian settings and costumes, mixed with some modern-day special effects.

"We don't want to give too much away," says director George Bellah 3rd, "but the audience is in for some big surprises involving time travel and ghosts."

And, true to the title, the production features a quartet of carolers who provide the framework for the show. "In many ways this production is really a musical," says Bellah. "In addition to the quartet, every cast member has to sing."

The 24-member cast includes nine community members, eight of whom are local children, 14 CWU students and guest artist Keith Edie as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Edie, who appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association, began his acting career as an undergraduate student at CWU, where he performed in numerous productions, including four Youth Theatre Tours and the title role in "Romeo and Juliet."

"Being on stage here again is at once familiar and completely different," says Edie. "As a lecturer in the department and professional actor, I really have to be on task and set an example for my students."

After receiving his bachelor's degree in performance at CWU, Edie went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in acting at Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory and participated in the Apprentice Training Program at New York Stage and Film/Powerhouse Theatre. He was based in Los Angeles for more than seven years, working in film, television and on stage. He also worked with The English Theatre of Frankfurt (Germany) for three seasons.

"It is so rewarding to be able to bring my professional training and experience back to the next generation of young actors at CWU, both on stage and in the classroom," says Edie.

"A Christmas Carol" performances are Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 1-2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission, $7 seniors and students, and $4 for CWU students with ID. All performances are in McConnell Auditorium.

Tickets can be purchased at www.cwu.edu/~theatre/tix, or by calling 963-1301 or visiting the Student Union Box Office. Cash transactions can be made at the McConnell box office, which is open 60 minutes prior to each performance.

"A Christmas Carol" is suitable for family audiences. Ghosts may be frightening for very young children. Persons of disability may make arrangements for reasonable accommodations and printed material in alternative format by calling 509-963-1760 or by leaving a message on TDD 509 963-2143.

Contact: Leslee Caul, CWU Central Theatre Ensemble, 509-963-1760; caull@cwu.edu
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.