For many people, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without watching Charles Dickens’s classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol, about the spiritual transformation of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. While Dickens’s famous novella will be broadcast on TV in several versions, you can attend live dramatic readings of A Christmas Carol that are happening in Toronto churches and universities during the 2012 holiday season.
A Christmas Carol at Runnymede United Church
Well-known actors, musicians and broadcast personalities including Jeff Douglas from As It Happens, Paul Kennedy from Ideas, Fiona Reid, Barbara Gordon, soprano Virginia Hatfield, baritone Brett Polegato and the Etobicoke School of the Arts’ Malindi Ayienga perform a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol at Runnymede United Church, 432 Runnymede Road on Sun., Dec. 2, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Music is by the Etobicoke School of the Arts Holiday Choir and the Runnymede United Chancel Choir. Tickets are $25, with proceeds going to The Stop Community Food Centre. Call 416-767-6729.
A Christmas Carol at Toronto Centre for the Arts
Dufflebag Theatre presents a humorous, interactive version of A Christmas Carol from Dec. 22 to 30, 2012 with performances at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Dec. 22, 23, 29 and 30, 2012. Performances are in the Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, 416-250-3708. General admission tickets are $18.75.
A Christmas Carol at The Church of the Redeemer
A dramatic reading of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol will take place on Sun., Dec. 9, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at The Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. (at Avenue Rd.). Readers include Peter Keleghan, Marilyn Lightstone, Judy Maddren, Eric Peterson and Leah Pinsent. Tickets are Adults $25 and Children under 12 $10 and may be purchased online.
A Christmas Carol at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the Paulist Ministry Centre
CBC broadcasters Michael Enright, Garvia Bailey and Kevin Sylvester will read Dickens’s A Christmas Carol on Sun., Dec. 9, 2012 at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the Paulist Ministry Centre at 840 Bathurst Street across from the Bathurst subway station. Tickets are $10 advance and $12 at the door. Proceeds go towards St. Peter’s Church Ministries for the Homeless.
A Christmas Carol at Soulpepper Theatre
Soulpepper Theatre will perform Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol on Dec. 3, 4, 11, 12, 14 and 15, 2012 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts at 50 Tank House Lane in the Distillery District. Joseph Ziegler stars in the role of Scrooge. Production is two hours with a 20 minute intermission. Adults $51-$68 and Students $32. (See my review of Soulpepper Theatre’s A Christmas Carol.)
A Christmas Carol at Glen Rhodes United Church
Glen Rhodes United Church at 1470 Gerrard St. E. will be performing a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol on Sat., Dec. 1, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The church will also be hosting a Christmas Cookie Bake Sale. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door.
A Christmas Carol at Montgomery’s Inn
The Humber River Shakespeare Co. performs Dickens’s A Christmas Carol at Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W. (at Islington Ave.) on Dec. 6, 13 and 14, 2012 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 22 at 2 p.m. The play includes five actors, 30 characters and Victorian costumes. Tickets are Adults $15 + service fee and Children $10 + service fee and may be purchased online.
A Christmas Carol at Todmorden Hills
The East Side Players perform a reading of A Christmas Carol at Todmorden Hills Museum at 67 Pottery Rd. on Sun., Dec. 9, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $10.62 plus tax, Children $4.42 plus tax. Call 416-396-219 to reserve.
