Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a dinner theatre and musical production, based on the story by Charles Dickens will run Dec. 18-21 in the University of North Carolina Wilmington Warwick Center Ballroom. The show features book, lyrics and music by UNCW Professor Frank P. Trimble, vocal arrangements by Kristin Graf and orchestration/soundtrack by Rodney Ingle.

Dec. 18, 19, 20: Dinner 6:30 p.m., Show 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21: Dinner 1:30 p.m., Show 2:30 p.m.

True to the original Dickens tale, the show portrays a miserly Scrooge and his uninvited ghostly guests. This version, however, unfolds in a world of song and dance with humorous as well as solemn twists and turns. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes the form of a 19th century cockney bag lady. Christmas Present appears as a brash, street-wise kingpin, and Christmas Future speaks her mind in this production. Musical styles span gospel, blues, jazz, country and rock with songs including Come To Us Christmas, Loyal To Us All, Money, Money, Money, Ain't It A Blast and Ebenezer's Auction.

A limited number of "show only" tickets are available. Prices are $40 for adults, ($20 show only), $32 for students, ($12 show only), and $30 for children ($10 show only).

Ticket prices include a buffet dinner of mixed greens with dried cranberries, walnuts and feta cheese in red wine basil vinaigrette, marinated grilled chicken, balsamic roasted vegetables and seasoned basmati rice, german chocolate or carrot cake, coffee and iced tea. Reservations are required. Call 910.962.3195.

Ebenezer is a fund-raising event for the UNCW Department of Communication Studies to establish the Mimi Cunningham Speaker Series. As an added donation to the cause, join "Mimi's Inner Circle" by reserving a table of eight (8) for $500. Contact Frank Trimble 910.962.3441 or trimblef@uncw.edu for additional information.