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Circle
Theatre Presents World Premiere of A Lone Star Christmas
Carol
Local Author and Musician Add Texas "Twist" to Tradition
2009
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What: A Lone Star Christmas Carol
by Gary Moody & Gary Taylor
Where: Circle Theatre
230 W. Fourth Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Sundance Square
When: November 19 - December 19
Shows: Previews: November 19, 20, & 21 (Matinee)
Opening Night: Saturday, November 21, 8:00pm
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Fort Worth, TX - Circle Theatre, a professional
theatre located in Sundance Square, presents the world
premiere of A Lone Star Christmas Carol by Gary Moody &
Gary Taylor. Preview performances for the show are
Thursday, November 19; Friday, November 20; and
Saturday, November 21 (matinee). The production will
officially open Saturday evening, November 21 at 8:00pm,
followed by a post-show party with the cast & crew.
North Texas natives Gary Moody & Gary Taylor worked
together on various projects in the 80's. But it wasn't
until twenty years later, in 2000, that they decided to
collaborate on A Lone Star Christmas Carol. Author, Gary
Moody, states, "We thought audiences might appreciate a
modern and colloquial "translation" of Charles Dickens'
A Christmas Carol. It seemed to us that folks would
enjoy seeing Dickens' story spoken and sung in the
vernacular of the American Southwest, rather than
chronicling a traditional English Christmas in the
1840's."
Under the direction of Chris Robinson, A Lone Star
Christmas Carol features Jeff McGee**, Gary Moody*, Burl
Proctor**, Rachel Rice**, John Venable**, & Heatherton
Hardy Wilson*. Music director & guitarist, Gary Taylor,
will be accompanied by Charles Crawford (guitar) and
Rick Norman (bass). Sara Harris* will serve as stage
manager for the production.
Producer, Rose Pearson, says, "Circle Theatre is proud
to partner with the "two Garys" in creating a wonderful
seasonal offering that will fit beautifully in smaller
regional theatres. This musical re-telling of Dickens'
classic tale is a must-see for the holiday season. It
has toe-tappin' original music and a cast of actors who
were all born and bred in the Lone Star State. How is
that for a show being "totally Texan"?"
Circle Theatre is partially supported by the Arts
Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County; The City of
Fort Worth; The Texas Commission on the Arts; and The
National Endowment for the Arts. Corporate sponsorship
for the current season is provided by Four Day Weekend
Comedy and McDonald Sanders Law Firm.
Production Team:
Production team members for A Lone Star Christmas Carol
are: Sara Harris*, Stage Manager; Bill Newberry, Set
Designer; Drenda Lewis, Costume Designer; David Lambert,
Sound Designer; John Leach, Lighting Designer; and Cathy
O'Neal, Props Designer. *Actors' Equity
Association
Writers:
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Gary Moody has
worked as an actor, announcer, writer and
director on stage and in films and television
for over 35 years. As such, he is a member of
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the Screen
Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of
Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the
American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (ASCAP). Previous appearances at
Circle Theatre include The Retreat from Moscow
(Best Performance by a Male Actor, Fort Worth
Weekly), Bus Stop (Column Award nomination) and
Unnecessary Farce. His web site
www.theOscarSite.com, which started out as a
hobby in the late 1980s, has become a definitive
source for information on the Academy Awards®. A
graduate of the University of North Dakota, Gary
is one of the founding members of refUNDtheatre,
an organization devoted to funding recruitment
of talented students to the UND Theatre Arts
program.
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Gary Taylor was
born here in Ft. Worth while his parents were
students at TCU, so it is fitting that Circle
Theatre is the setting for Gary's musical work.
Gary began playing guitar when he was 11 years
old, and was composing music at 15. After taking
piano and classical guitar lessons, he became
interested in theory and composition. During his
twenties, Gary could be found teaching high
school mathematics and music theory, and playing
music around town with his band, The Works. It
was also during these years that he scored and
recorded his first musical, McMulligan and Reigh,
which was performed by his band, along with the
SMU symphony orchestra. A master's degree in
mathematics and many more original songs
followed through the years. He has also written
a book on math and music, which he hopes to
promote someday soon. Gary has 3 daughters, 2
granddaughters, 1 grandson, and a wife of 36
years.
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Director:
Chris Robinson is excited to make his Circle
debut after last directing Ruthless! for Flower
Mound Performing Arts Theatre. Earlier this
year, Chris directed OnStage's hit production of
The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Some of his
other directing credits include: Greater
Lewisville Community Theatre, Guys & Dolls; Sage
& Silo, The Rocky Horror Show & Cotton Patch
Gospel; OnStage: La Cage Aux Folles. Chris has
performed in the DFW theater community for over
19 years, as well as several regional theaters
across the country. A Rabin and multiple Column
award winner, Chris serves on the board of
directors for The Column Awards and produces the
multi-media for the ceremony each year.
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About Circle Theatre
Circle Theatre is a non-profit regional theatre, founded
in 1981 by Rose Pearson and Bill Newberry. The Theatre's
mission is to present professional, innovative
productions in its intimate 125-seat setting. Circle
provides a place for emerging playwrights, directors,
designers and actors to hone their craft. As an Equity
Theatre, Circle offers salaries and benefits to
professional artists who wish to continue pursuing their
careers while living in Texas. Additionally, during the
Theatre's off-times in its main stage season, Circle
provides its space to emerging theatre companies. Circle
Theatre also strongly supports the role education plays
in the future of all arts organizations and collaborates
with local university theatre departments to give
students the experience of working in a professional
theatre environment. Following a successful capital
campaign, Circle Theatre underwent an extensive
three-month renovation before re-opening in March 2009.
The Theatre will present its 29th season, in 2010. For
more information, please visit
www.circletheatre.com
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.
Call 817.877.3040 or stop by the box office, Tuesday
through Friday, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and one hour
before show times.
Circle Theatre accepts Bell Helicopter coupons, the KERA
Member Rewards Card, Sundance Square Insider coupons and
the Star-Telegram Press Pass.
Tickets for children 6 -12 years of age are half price.
As a courtesy to our patrons and performers, Circle
Theatre does not admit children under age six.
Performances:
Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm;
Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Tickets: Previews Thursday and Saturday matinees: $10
Preview Friday evening: $15
Opening Saturday Night: $30
Thursday evenings: $20 - $25
Saturday matinee: $20 - $25
Friday/Saturday evenings: $25 - $30
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