Holiday Favorite A Christmas Carol to Open at California Theatre in San Bernardino

Charles Dickens' poignant tale of transformation and redemption, "A Christmas Carol," is arriving just in time for the holidays with two performances at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts. Presented by WorldWide Theatricals, the holiday classic will be staged for two performances only, at 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 21. Single tickets are $38.50 to $75 and are available through the box office at 909-885-5152 or Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. Join the ghosts of Christmas Present, Past and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a revealing journey of transformation and redemption, as they teach him valuable and revealing lessons about mankind and, more importantly, himself. With such unforgettable characters as Scrooge and his nephew Fred, the embattled clerk Bob Cratchit and his son Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, Mr. Fezziwig and Scrooge's fiancée Belle, "A Christmas Carol" has been a holiday favorite since Dickens' book was published in 1843. "'A Christmas Carol' is one of the most loved holiday shows ever written," said WorldWide Theatricals producer Jesse Dinkel. "We're looking forward to presenting this exciting production and bringing the Christmas spirit truly alive in the Inland Empire." The story of Scrooge's transformation from a cold-hearted, bitter and miserly old man to a person filled with childlike joy, good will and generosity is one of the most unforgettable tales of Victorian era literature. Dickens' story was an instant success and garnered critical acclaim when it was first published. Written at a time when there was already strong nostalgia for longtime holiday traditions, as well as the birth of new ideas and practices, "A Christmas Carol" is synonymous with the yuletide season. The novel was so popular when it was published that within months, at least eight theatrical versions of the story were in production. Dickens himself read from the novel on stage in 1852 and continued to do so for many years. Attesting to its immense popularity, the novel has never been out of print and has been adapted to stage, film, opera and other media multiple times. Actors from Lionel and John Barrymore to Alastair Sim and Basil Rathbone to Albert Finney and George C. Scott to Sir Patrick Stewart have portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge. "A Christmas Carol" is one of four shows in the WorldWide Theatricals' 2013-2014 season. Other shows include the award-winning musical "Rent," March 29; John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," May 31, and the poignant musical "Miss Saigon," June 29.