Theatre in the Park's A Christmas Carol

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A Christmas Carol Starring Ira David Wood Experience The Magic! 2O22 Theatre In The Park
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Put a little Christmas in your heart!

Forty-nine years ago, Ira David Wood III’s musical comedy adaptation of A Christmas Carol premiered at Theatre In The Park. David wanted to pen an original version of the Charles Dickens classic since he was a student at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He was certain of one thing: he didn’t want it to be a traditional adaptation, but he still wanted to remain faithful to the original theme.

When his adaptation of A Christmas Carol opened in 1974, public demand was immediate. Seat cushions were sold off lobby sofas to accommodate overflow crowds. Due to popular demand, the show soon shifted to the larger space at Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium. Only once has the company not performed in Raleigh. In 1989, A Christmas Carol was presented at Chapel Hill’s Dean Smith Center where it played to its largest single audience - over 10,000 people at one performance!

In keeping with the spirit of its creation, A Christmas Carol continues to serve as a major fundraiser for Theatre In The Park as well as many charitable causes. Chosen to represent the City of Raleigh in conjunction with the National Sister Cities Program, the production’s reputation became international with acclaimed tours to Kingston-Upon-Hull, England in 1987 and Compiègne, France in 1989. A Christmas Carol returned to France in 2009 in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Raleigh and Compiègne becoming Sister Cities. One British reviewer wrote: “Given a West End theatre, this show could run for years.” Perhaps this adaptation’s greatest seal of approval has come from members of the Dickens family, who over the years have traveled from England to attend the production.

Since its premiere forty-eight years ago, almost two million people have delighted in this unique production’s rare and special magic. A Christmas Carol was named the number one special event at DPAC for the 2013-14 season and December 7-13, 2014 was declared “A Christmas Carol Week” by Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane. Raleigh’s News & Observer has cited this adaptation as “. . . one of the most successful shows in North Carolina theatre history.”

David has played the role of Scrooge since 1974, with one exception. In 2010, open heart surgery required David to relinquish the role. Fortunately, his son, Ira David Wood IV, took the reins and continued proudly in his father’s footsteps. Not one to shy away from the stage, David still made a walk-on appearance every night. This year, Ira David Wood IV will perform the role of Scrooge in select performances.

Theatre In The Park would like to thank YOU, our audience, for your wonderful support over the years. We are deeply honored that you have included us in the celebration of your holiday season.

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Ira David Wood IV Ira David Wood III
4 A Christmas Carol The Triangle’s top spot for your favorite brands, entertainment and more. DISCOVER VisitNorthHills.com
Theatre In The Park 5 Photography and/or recording a performance is strictly prohibited by law. Technical Director Tim Ruffin Scenic Design Mark Pirolo Lighting Design Christina L. Munich Production Stage Manager Christine Rapp Sound Design Brian L. Hunt Production Manager Brent Simpson Assistant Director Ira David Wood IV Musical Director Diane Petteway Choreographer Freddie Lee Heath Costume Design LeGrande Smith Adapted for the Stage & Directed by Ira David Wood III A musical comedy based on the book by Charles Dickens Theatre In The
presents the 49th annual production of A Christmas Carol B There will be a 15-minute intermission.
Park
A Christmas Carol Our business is your solution. LAWYERS All-girls, college-preparatory, boarding and day school for grades 9-12. Have a ChristmasMerryvery from 900 Hillsborough St | Raleigh, N.C. | www.sms.edu Join us for our 2023 Season Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits
and Lyrics
2023 Inherit The Wind
2023 Raleigh
Noises Off!
The
See our website or contact our box office for more information. (919) 831-6058 TheatreInThePark.com
Books
by Gerard Alessandrini February 16-26,
By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee April 13-23,
By Ira David Wood III June 8-18, 2023
By Michael Frayn August 10-20, 2023
Legend of Sleepy Hollow By John Heimbuch and Jon Ferguson October 5-15, 2023

Lamplighter

Nephew Fred

Sean Allen

Chris Maxwell Niece

Becca Bralley Bob Cratchit

David Moore Tiny Tim Cratchit

Grayson Gutekunst Mrs. Cratchit

Heather Shinpaugh Peter Cratchit

Graham Gutekunst Martha Cratchit

Jane Fitzpatrick Belinda Cratchit

Stella Lanier Jacob Marley

David Henderson Young Scrooge

Carter Phillips Mr. Fezziwig

Brent Simpson Mrs. Fezziwig

Molly Hamelin Laura .............................. Isabella Kenoyer/Kameron Draper Elmer The Christmas Elf

Frank Theriault Ghost of Christmas Past

Cecelia Jensen Ghost of Christmas Present

John Shearer Ghost of Christmas Future

Casey Cleland, Betsy Gershaw,

Greg Moore ‘You Can Do It’ Singers

Velazquez

and starring

Ira David Wood III & Ira David Wood IV as Ebenezer Scrooge

Cast Townspeople

Makenzie Anderson, Catherine Bass, Ricky Blalock, Dempsey Bond, Julia Clayton, Casey Cleland, Gene Cordon, Sam Davis, Rob Douglas, Gary Gardenhire, Patty Gardenhire, Betsy Gershaw, Heather Gutekunst, Jon Gutekunst, Molly Hamelin, Leyna Harris, Cecelia Jensen, Heidi Johnston, Stella Lanier, Rob Maitland, Brooke Miller, Finn Miller, James Miller, Piper Miller, Taylor Mills, Caroline Moore, Seanna Osborne, Alden Elizabeth Parsons, Anna Berkeley Parsons, Mia Pettiford, Jonathan Rand, Parker Rand, JR Richardson, Tracy Rose, Brent Simpson, Sutton Smith, Juanita Velazquez, Thomas Miller Wood, McKinley Younger

Dancers

Hannah Allen, Becca Bralley, Kameron Draper, Amelia Edmonston, Caroline Glenn, Isabella Kenoyer, Brooke Miller, David Michael Mills, Seanna Osborne, Carter Phillips, Kelly Stewart, Hunter Taylor, Lawson Walker

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Theatre In The Park 9 Director ......................................... Ira David Wood III Assistant Director ................................ Ira David Wood IV Production Manager ................................. Brent Simpson Scenic Designer ........................................ Mark Pirolo Lighting Designer ............................... Christina L. Munich Sound Designer/Sound Engineer ........................ Brian L. Hunt Master Electrician ....................................... Erika Stoll Costume Designer .................................. LeGrande Smith Costume Designer (Scrooge) ............................... Rita Riggs Technical Director ...................................... Tim Ruffin Production Stage Manager ............................ Christine Rapp Assistant Stage Manager .............................. Yamila Monge Musical Director .................................... Diane Petteway Choreographer ................................... Freddie Lee Heath COVID Safety Manager .............................. Yamila Monge Scenic Artist ...................................Carol Winstead Wood Wardrobe .......................... Heather Carithers, Rachel McKay Tailor ............................................. Dae Toll Chapin Seamstress .................................... Mary Jane Marchant Wig Master ........................................... Peggy Keith Scrooge Wigmaker ................................. Heather Fleming Costume Volunteers .... Jessica Phillips, Kelly Stewart, Heather Shinpaugh, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seanna Osborne, Ianthe Osborne Audio Assistants ............. Tom Beaty, Charles Jones, Morgann Russell Laundry Assistant ....................................Hadley Garcia Carpentry ...................................... Sage Amthor Twiss Props Supervisor .................................. Bryan Sodemann Assistant Technical Director ............................... Will Mikes Special FX Technician ............................ Sage Amthor Twiss Sound System ............................................... SAVI Kid Wrangler.......................................... Jordan Lewis Ira David Wood’s Assistant ....................... Ashley Mattox Wood Official Photographer .................... Catherine Davis Photography Playbill Layout & Design................ Krista McNamara, Dawn Joseph Production Personnel A Christmas Carol Orchestra Piano Diane Petteway Musical Director Bass Guitar Tom Bryan Percussion Dan Davis Guitar Bernie Petteway Band Manager Trumpet Bobby Hinson Woodwind I Steve Rose Woodwind II Erik Riggs Synthesizer Michael Santangelo

WE RESOLVE.

TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina recognizes the unique role the arts play in feeding the mind, heart and soul. We applaud all efforts that serve the health and well-being of North Carolinians.

Thank you, Theatre in the Park.

10 A Christmas Carol
® Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. U39366, 10/21
11 A Christmas Carol Aloft Durham Downtown 345 Blackwell Street Durham, North Carolina 27701 W XYZ® bar • Fast & free WiFi • Splash pool • Re:charge SM gym & more ©2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Aloft and its logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. AT ALOFT DURHAM DOWNTOWN Our hotel is located on the historic American Tobacco campus, next door to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and Durham Performing Arts Center, and just steps from the excitement of Downtown Durham. To book your stay, call 919 402 5656. Learn more at aloftdurhamdowntown.com STAY & PLAY
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Christmas Carol
Theatre In The Park 13 Merry Christmas from the Theatre In The Park staff! CONTACT US Executive Director Ira David Wood III Artistic Director Ira David Wood IV Managing Director Brent Simpson Patron Services/Box Office Manager Andrea Amthor Twiss Executive Assistant Ashley Wood Technical Coordinator Sage Amthor Twiss Ticketing Manager Kari Littlejohn Social Media Coordinator Gretchen Struckmeyer Custodial Engineer William Cox Theatre In The Park 107 Pullen Road Raleigh, NC 27607 Box Office: 919-831-6058 TheatreInThePark.com DON’T MISS A SHOW! Become a Season Member of Theatre In The Park for exclusive benefits and the greatest value. PLUS members also receive advance ticketing for A Christmas Carol.

Over 60 years old, Theatre In The Park is Raleigh’s premiere regional theatre, and as one of the state’s largest non-profit performing arts organizations, has produced more original works than any theatre in NC.

Originally chartered in 1947, Theatre In The Park started out as The Children’s Theatre of Raleigh, Inc. During the early 70’s, its name was changed to Theatre In The Park in order to reflect its expanded programming, location and new “home” in the National Guard Armory building located in scenic Pullen Park.

In 2004, the building was renamed “The Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre,” to reflect the decades of work done by the theatre’s Executive and Artistic Director.

Theatre In The Park has been awarded the prestigious Medal of Arts from the Raleigh Arts Commission; was appointed NC’s Cultural Ambassador to France & England; and our annual production of A Christmas Carol has been voted one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southern Tourism Society.

Each year, Theatre In The Park works closely with a number of charitable organizations and civic groups, providing direct financial and in-kind support, keeping with our mission to “EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN, EMPOWER, and always ENTERTAIN.”

Recent partners include:

American Cancer Society, Arts Access, Duke Children’s Hospital, Hilltop Home Foundation, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Pretty in Pink Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse, NC, American Lung Association, Caring Family Network, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, NC Food Bank, The Rotary Club

BOARD OF ASSOCIATES

Van Eure

McCrae Hardy

Bob Hatley

Lisa Hood

John Jernigan

Arnold Lynch

James Maynard

Mrs. Larry Monteith

Candace Covington-Olander

Dr. David Overton

Robert J. Ramseur, Jr.

Smedes York

Henry Young

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sean Allen President

Debbie Laney

Secretary

Gary Gardenhire

Patty Gardenhire

Bruce Ham

Dr. Robert Harris

Katie Martin

Brooke Miller

David Moore

Mark Olexik

Adrienne Earle Pender

Lisa Poole

J.R. Richardson

Tim Ruffin

David Sherlin

Heather Shinpaugh

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Christmas Carol
You know A Christmas Carol . . . But do you know Theatre In The Park?
GIVE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TODAY “What more could they ask for?” - Sir Walter Raleigh Bryan Regan 12 ISSUES PER YEAR 1 YEAR $25 2 YEARS $45 3 YEARS $60

Contributors to Theatre In The Park

Theatre In The Park is grateful to our contributing members for their generous support. Their investment in our mission strengthens the cultural vitality of this community by sustaining all you see on this stage as well as many educational and outreach programs of the theatre. To become a contributing member, please call our office at 919-831-6936, or visit us in the lobby.

Producers ($5000+)

Gail and Dean Bunce Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation

Benefactors ($1000-4999)

Brent Simpson and Danny Driscoll Tommy and Pat Frazier Joseph Duncan Barbara and Jim Gardner Brooke and James Miller Bob and Hannah Poteat Southern Lawns of Raleigh, LLC Danny Wilson

Sustainers ($500-$999)

JoLynn and William Arseniu Jim and Linda Brannan Randall and Claudia Denton Jerald and Amanda Fountain Cheryl and Charles Hall David Kennedy

Joshua Martin Doug and Georgia Meckes Arnold Pender Lynn and Ann Tew Jeffrey H. Price and Lisa Tillis Janet Watson Hamilton E. Withers, III

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Patrons ($250-$499)

Sean and Jamie Allen Mike and Kaye Bailey Linda and Thomas Birk Steven Wood and Libby Bunn Gillie and Tom Church Alan and Ella Colborn Dena and Marty Coward Dianne and James Creech Alice Garland and Mike Davis Linda Rapuano and Joseph Dirr Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Fisher III Rachael P. Fuhrman Thomas and Lisa Giroux Holly and Bob Harris Don and Connie Hiller Steve Johnson

Deann Jones Eric and Tonya Mills Adrienne Pender John and Michelle Phelps Lubin and Nancy Prevatt William Rasdorf Kathy and John Riedy Stephanie Shook Earl Singleton Robert and Alice Sliwa Dru McClelland Smith Donna Strickland Mark and Judy Thompson Leigh and Sandy Vaughan Cheryl and Joe Wolozyn

Friends ($100-$249)

Jim Barrick Heather Boodey Harlan and Sheri Britt Mary Craig and Brick Brown Tim Brown John and Nora Buben Sandra Carlino Burton Carnegie Paul Carr Janis Coville The Cowan Group Ginny Delaney Phyllis and Martin Demko Tom and Peggy Eifler Cheek, Vance, Smith, Barwick Family Arthur and Martha Fletcher Brenda and Jerry Foldesi Morgan Ford Don and Beth Fuller John and Carolyn Gallick Ellen and Larry Goode Greg and Pam Griffin Sue Hughes Marty and Rose Jenkins Molly and Steven Kiefer Vicky Langley

Pat and George Lee Mike and Janet Masters Deborah Mcstoots Robert and Susan Montgomery Rich and Roberta Morgart Kay and Linda Mowery Marilyn Palmer Scott and Jackie Palmquist Beverly Patterson Sam and Sharon Pennica Anne Platsky L. Norwood Pritchett Razzmatazz Senior Dance Troupe Joyce Rothchild Jean Sculati Heather Shinpaugh Brian and Gynell Sippy Cathy and Richard Smith Brian Sweeney Sammy and Barbara Taylor Fred Watke Michael and Meredith Watson Barbara and David Weinstein Duane Williams Elaine W Wood

Theatre In The Park 17

Make an Impression Placeholder

Theatre
The
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In
Park
Theatre
19 THANK YOU! We would like to thank our 2022 A Christmas Carol Ambassadors for keeping us safe and well!
In The Park
Gail
Plexus Capital Anonymous
and Dean Bunce Joan and Ran Johnston  LeGrande and Doug Smith Brent Simpson and Danny Driscoll Liza and Joel Williams
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Theatre In The Park

YOU BELIEVE

Theater is about more than performing art. It’s about community. About coming together, enriching our lives. WE AGREE

22 A Christmas Carol
Arts_NC_Raleigh_Theatre_in_the_Park_Christmas_Carol_2021_4.5x7.5_4c_Ad.indd 1 9/19/22 1:33 PM
TowneBank.com Member FDIC
Theatre In The Park 23 Every Woman Wants a Bailey Box Under the Tree Raleigh | Cary | Rocky Mount | Greenville | Los Angeles www.baileybox.com QE Follow along on social @BaileysFineJewelry to see all of our amazing sparkle!
Theatre In The Park 24 Celebrate Live at Jan 13 Jan 18 - 22 Feb 14 - 19 April 4 - 9 April 28 - 30 Jan 27 - 28 Feb 8 April 20 Jan 31 - Feb 5
Theatre In The Park 25 PROUDLY SUPPORTS A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol QuailRidgeBooks.com • 919.828.1588 • North Hills • 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
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Theatre In The Park

If you’re the producers of this performance of A Christmas Carol, you’d choose Medlin-Davis. Thanks, TIP, for putting your trust in us.

27 A Christmas Carol
Now with 8 locations in the Triangle • www.medlindavis.com • 919-828-0578

In Loving Memory

“On Christmas Day, remember me.”

Bob Allen

Don Ayscue

Steve Barlow

Della Basnight

Jim Bates

Gert Bliss

Stephen Boyette

Linda Bryant

Phyllis J. Bullock

Kurt Buscam

Helen Crisp

Bettie Duffy

Allen Everhart

Joe Farrell

JK Ferrell

Annemarie Fenske Hilda Gothson

Lisa Ham

Patrick Harvey Richard Hatch

Earl Hunter

Christopher SeaJay Johnson

Fran Johnston

Roger Jones

Rick Koobs

Bill Langley

Shawn Stewart-Larson

Michèle Le Chatelier

Kristian Marceno

Rodney Marsh

Bob McAuliffe

Willie Graham Medlin

Lane Miller

Rudy Partin

David Permar

Greg Peterkin

Don Pickette

J. Lynn Pittman

Craig Price

Rika

Woody Rhodes

Jo Lee Credle Robinson

Greg Smith

Snuggles

Ed Stahl

Larry Stogner

Mark Utermohlen

Joyce Weiser

Bettie W. Wood

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29 A Christmas Carol SCAN HERE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN CENTER 2010 FAIRVIEW ROAD RALEIGH, NC 27608 HAYESBARTONPLACE.COM 919.887.7634 A Life Plan Community offered by Liberty Senior Living. © 2022 Hayes Barton Place Hayes Barton Place proudly celebrates the past... the present... and the future with A Christmas Carol! 122193 hayes barton place christmas carol ad-accp.indd 1 11/7/22 4:32 PM
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Connecting People With the

2022-2023

Raleigh Arts Partners

• African American Cultural Festival

• Animazement

• Arts Access

• Arts Together

• Artspace

• Artsplosure

• Burning Coal Theatre Company

• CAM Raleigh

• Carolina Ballet

• Chamber Music Raleigh

• Community Music School

• Cultural Voice of NC

• El Pueblo

• The Justice Theater Project

• Marbles Kids Museum

• National Women’s Theatre Festival

• The NC Chamber Music Institute

• NC Master Chorale

• NC Museum of History

Pueblo con las Artes

• NC Opera

• NC State LIVE

• NC State University Theatre

• NC Symphony

• NC Theatre

• North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre

• Nuv Yug Cultural Organization

• Performance Edge

• Philharmonic Association • PineCone

• Raleigh Boychoir

• Raleigh Civic Symphony Association

• Raleigh Little Theatre

• The Raleigh Ringers

• Theatre in the Park

• Theatre Raleigh

• TheGifted Arts

• VAE Raleigh

32 A Christmas Carol
nurtures creativity and
our
by championing the arts
Arts The City of Raleigh Arts Commission
enriches
community
in Raleigh:
Partnering with local cultural organizations
Supporting arts programming
Advocating for arts investment
Presenting art exhibitions, public art and special events
sustenta la creatividad
nuestra
las artes
Raleigh por medio
Vinculando al
La Comisión de Artes de la Ciudad de Raleigh
y enriquece a
comunidad, favoreciendo
en
de:
La asociación con organizaciones culturales locales
El
la programación de las artes
apoyo de
El
la inversión en el arte
fomento de
La presentación de exposiciones artísticas, arte público y eventos especiales
www.raleighnc.gov/arts 919-996-3610 OfficeofRaleighArts RaleighArts Raleigh_Arts
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Theatre In The Park 34 17001 Searstone Drive, Cary, NC 27513 | Searstone.com | Call to schedule a personal appointment 919.234.0339 Wishing you a happy HOLIDAY SEASON!
35 A Christmas Carol

Our Family of Proud Sponsors Healthy Holidays Sponsor

Heart of the Holidays Sponsor Show Sponsors

Bunce Family Casto Management Services Jaguar Land Rover of Cary Joan and Ran Johnston Koka Booth Amphitheatre Liberty Senior Living Management LLC

Ragsdale Liggett Raleigh Orthodontics

Anonymous Bailey’s

Duke Energy Center for The Performing Arts

Razzmatazz Senior Dance Troupe Saint David’s School LeGrande and Doug Smith Towne Bank WakeMed Mary “Winkie” Worley

Theatre In The Park wishes to thank our sponsors that have contributed generously to our 2022 Season.

Theatre In The Park is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Office of Raleigh Arts.

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Land Rover Cary & Raleigh
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Theatre In The Park 38 WE’RE PUTTING EVEN MORE HEART INTO THE HOLIDAYS. In keeping with the spirit of the holidays, the state’s leading heart center is proud to be a part of A Christmas Carol. WakeMed Heart & Vascular’s more than 2,000 exceptional people, who provide exceptional care, wish you and your heart and everyone in it the happiest of holiday seasons. wakemed.org/hearts Job # 3559WM21 • Job Title: Holiday Ad Publication: Theater in the Park’s A Christmas Carol program Colors (include spots if used): CMYK Trim: 4.5 x 7.5 • Bleed: 4.75 x 7.75 Exceptional people. Exceptional care. For every heart.

Ira David Wood III is the Founder & Executive Director of Theatre In The Park. A graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he was raised in Enfield, NC and became his hometown’s first Eagle Scout. Summers during his college years were spent as a leading actor in The Lost Colony, the oldest outdoor drama in the country, and for seven years, David also served as Artistic Director. Upon graduation, he became the first Theatre Arts Consultant for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. A year later, he founded Theatre In The Park, and established its home in the old Pullen Park Armory building. In only a few years, Theatre In The Park became North Carolina’s largest community theatre with an international reputation. David wrote and directed the Opening Ceremonies for the Summer Olympic Festival - the largest single event ever held in North Carolina. Two of his original plays (Eros & Illinois and Requiem For a King) have had extended runs Off-Broadway. His script, Requiem For a King, has also been optioned by Motown Productions. His play, Finale, was recently published by Original Works, Inc.

In honor of his many achievements, Raleigh’s City Council voted unanimously to rename the theatre’s facility “The Ira David Wood III Pullen Park Theatre.” In September of 2010, he was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he received the prestigious North Carolina Award in Fine Arts.

A partial list of honors include: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, The Halifax Resolves Award, The Morrison Award, The Distinguished Alumni Award from UNCSA, The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, two Raleigh Medal of Arts awards, and the Builder of Bridges Award. He has been presented three keys to The City of Raleigh and honorary citizenship awards from Columbia, SC and Compiegne, France.

Consistently voted Best Local Actor in decades of public opinion polls, David has managed to accumulate impressive film and television credits, having appeared on screen with such stars as Christopher Walken, Natalie Wood, Neil Patrick Harris, Cliff Robertson, Matthew Modine, James Earl Jones, Burt Reynolds, and Louise Fletcher.

David is probably best known and loved for annually portraying the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in his own musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 49th year of consecutive production this year. A Christmas Carol was named the number one special event at DPAC for the 2014-15 season and December 7-13, 2014 was declared “A Christmas Carol Week” in the City of Raleigh by Mayor Nancy McFarlane. With three international tours to its credit, and having played to almost two million people, the production is now cited as “. . . one of the most successful shows in North Carolina theater history.”

David plans to step down from the role of Scrooge once the production celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2023. His son, Ira David Wood IV, will take over the role. David will continue to direct the show. David is the author of A Lover’s Guide to The Outer Banks, Confessions Of An Elf, and The Russian Galetea. He is also a contributing author to Murder In Dealey Plaza: What We Know Now That We Didn’t Know Then. The proud father of three - Evan Rachel Wood, Ira David Wood IV, and Thomas Miller Wood. David and his wife Ashley remain proud to call North Carolina “home.”

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Ira David Wood IV made his first appearance in A Christmas Carol in 1984 as a baby in his mother’s arms, later playing Tiny Tim in the show from 1989-1991. In 1993 Ira caught the eye of casting agents and landed a leading role in an ABC made for TV mini-series, becoming a member of the screen actors guild at age 8. After various film work as a child, Ira relocated to Los Angeles and began studying film acting at the prestigious “Shop” alongside classmates such as Kirsten Dunst and Freddie Prince Jr. to name a few. Ira remained in LA after being asked to teach at that same studio over the next three years. After various film and TV roles in Hollywood, including the MTV show Punk’d, Ira returned to Raleigh.

In the summer of 2009, Ira directed his Sister Evan Rachel Wood in the title role of Juliet at Theatre In The Park while also tackling the role of Mercutio in the same sold out production. Ira then played a leading role in the Tony award winning play The Lost Colony. Ira caught the attention of director Quentin Tarantino after auditioning for the movie Inglorious Bastards. Tarantino then asked for a meeting. Ira walked into the meeting pretending to scream expletives at Steven Spielberg on his cell phone before the meeting had even begun, sending Tarantino into hysterics, garnering more attention. Only a few days later Ira received a call that his father was going to have open heart surgery. Ira abandoned a budding career in Hollywood saying “LA will always be there. My father won’t…and they don’t have hush puppies anyway.”

He returned to Raleigh to perform the title role of Scrooge in place of his father that year and has remained in Raleigh. Playing title roles locally like Dracula, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Austin in True West, Lt. Kendrick in A Few Good Men and Romeo at Koka Booth amphitheater. Ira won the Broadway World award for best supporting actor in 2019 for the production A Life in The Theatre. Ira is also an accomplished sketch comedy writer, learning from Kids In The Hall cast member Kevin McDonald. This year Ira stepped into the role of Artistic Director at Theatre In The Park, where he continues to act, write, and direct.

A

I

Act II

Theatre In
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Merry Christmas (Company), Humbug To Me (Company), Don’t You Recall (Company), We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Children’s Choir), Halloween Again (Scrooge), Once A Year (Crachits), Take A Bit of Magic (Company)
Put A Little Christmas in Your Heart (Scrooge & Marley), Gloria (Company), Once Upon A Dream (Christmas Past, Scrooge, Marley), Wine of Human Kindness (Christmas Present), You Can Do It (Christmas Future, Marley, Ghosties, Vegas Dancers), Rock & Roll (Scrooge, Christmas Past, Christmas Present, Christmas Elf, Christmas Future, Marley, Ghosties), Mistletoe & Firelight - Finale (Company)
Christmas Carol Musical Numbers Act
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Theatre In The Park 43 CAPITALCHEVROLET.COM 9820 CAPITAL BLVD., WAKE FOREST, NC 27587 919-568-1964 Merry Christmas from your #1 Chevy Dealer in the Carolinas

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