It’s that time of year once again. Time to sit back and enjoy an old English tale. We’ll follow a miserly old man, and the three spirits that help him find joy in the season once again. That’s right, it’s time for A Christmas Carol. But this isn’t the same old tale you’ve seen before. The truly Tony award winning actor Jefferson Mays is back at it again, playing 50 characters in this year’s A Christmas Carol Broadway.
What is A Christmas Carol on Broadway about?
Everyone knows the tale of old Ebenezer Scrooge. He would work his assistants till their death and all he cared about was money. Christmas be damned. That is until the ghost of his once business partner, Jacob Marley, visits him. In the tale, Marley goes on to inform Scrooge that if he doesn’t change his ways, then he will end up dying all alone and living an eternal life in turmoil. Marley informs Scrooge that 3 ghosts will visit him. They will help him see the error of his ways and help him to be a better person.
A Christmas Carol is often told with a wide spread cast to fill all of these roles, not one of which is insignificant. However, Jefferson Mays has decided that the only way to truly tell this story would be in the same way that it was told by Charles Dickens himself so many years ago, through narration. As a one man show, Mays takes us the audience on this incredible journey while portraying more than 50 characters, each getting just enough stage time to help us understand the story, while also narrating the tale. The show works so well due to the stunning visual effects by Dane Laffrey, and the incredible direction by Tony Award nominee Michael Arden.
What’s the history of the show?
Nearly 180 years ago, Charles Dickens would publish what many would consider his best manuscript to date, A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol is the story of a miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation one dark Christmas night through a series of ghostly visits. Now, A Christmas Carol is being brought to the Broadway stage in an incredible new vision. Having started out in Los Angeles 4 years ago, A Christmas Carol Broadway has managed to survive the darkest time in Broadway history to bring its unique charm to a new generation.
Mays is no stranger to this style of acting. For example, he’s been in shows such as I Am My Own Wife and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Both at one time graced the very stages of Broadway! A Christmas Carol Broadway is currently playing at the famed Nederlander Theatre.
What do people think of A Christmas Carol on Broadway?
From the final dress rehearsal, to its first days in preview, A Christmas Carol Broadway has become an overnight sensation. People are flocking to the Nederlander Theatre to enjoy the true genius of Jefferson Mays. While twitter may be silently standing by while this masterpiece makes waves, Instagram has other ideas. People are raving about the narration style, and adoring the one man aspect. You have to read their responses to truly understand.
@BronsonBiz on Instagram had this to say during preview week.
“MASTERFUL achievement in story telling through design, stage craft, technology and acting. The combination of light (and often lack thereof), sound, atmosphere, projections, scenic and text left me speechless more than a handful of times.”
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While @tflann1234’s husband may be being a grinch, we love their way of getting into the holiday spirit. “My husband (@jeffer516 ) won’t let me put up Christmas decorations yet, but that’s not stopping me from going to Broadway to start getting in the holiday spirit with @axmascarollive! (And I’m in AWE at what #JeffersonMays is doing on that stage!)”
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We here at Hollywood.com love Jefferson Mays and the amazing work he does on Broadway and beyond. So it’s only fitting that we find someone on Instagram with that same amount of love for this amazing actor. Here’s what @macattack543 had to say: Too soon? It’s never to soon to get into the holiday spirit with Jefferson Mays! 💙🎩”
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We have to agree with @rickyjones757: “The most visually stunning one man show I’ve seen. Jefferson Mays proves yet again he is a force of nature!”
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So, whether you are a fan of Christmas, Broadway, or Jefferson Mays, you are sure to have the time of your life when you join us all in celebrating the marvel that is A Christmas Carol Broadway. You can get your tickets now.
How long does it run for in New York City and London?
While A Christmas Carol is a staple of the holiday season, that doesn’t mean that it’s the same at every theatre. This season audiences can enjoy two very different versions of this incredible show. In New York City, audiences can marvel at the wonderment of A Christmas Carol Broadway, a one man show of epic proportions. A Christmas Carol Broadway runs from November 8, 2022 to January 1, 2023.
Our friends across the pond in London enjoy a traditional telling of the Holiday classic. Matthew Warchus’ big-hearted, smash hit production of A Christmas Carol returns to The Old Vic in a production adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne. Audiences attending the show will be treated to Tony Award-winning actor Owen Teale (Game of Thrones) taking his turn as Ebenezer Scrooge, a role previously played by Stephen Mangan, and The Walking Dead’s own Andrew Lincoln. A Christmas Carol runs at The Old Vic from December 15, 2022 to January 7, 2023.
