PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
VIVIENNE BENESCH
Dear Friends, As the holidays approach, it is such a treat to be welcomed into your homes and ears for Ray Dooley’s virtuosic performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by William Leach. As we at PlayMakers made plans for this unique season, we knew that we wanted to find a way to harken back to the old tradition of Radio plays, where families would gather around and listen to a story together, allowing their imaginations to be transported by the voices pouring into their homes. Providing audiences across the country the chance to experience Ray’s extraordinary one man take on the story, which he performed live first in 1998 and brought back to our audiences in 2017, feels like one of the greatest gifts we could give this holiday season. Ray is one of Carolina’s treasures, and we’re very lucky that he has called PlayMakers and UNC his home for these many years. This particular holiday season is, of course, very different from years past. Though we may feel in many ways more disconnected and isolated from each other, this year has proven just how interconnected we all are. As Scrooge learns over the course of his journey, our fates are inextricably tied to each other’s, and it is this truth that allows us to survive as a community. I cannot wait until we can gather as a community again, and celebrate life together. But for right now, grab your eggnog, gather around the fire, and enjoy Ray Dooley in A Christmas Carol. Warmly,
Vivienne
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