Young Avon Actress Cast in Hartford Stage Holiday Production

Hartford Stage is pleased to announce the local youth actors cast in its 18th annual production of A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas. A Christmas Carol will run November 27 through December 27.

Norah Girard, age 5, from Longmeadow, Mass., and Max McGowan, age 7, from West Hartford, will handle the pivotal role of Tiny Tim in alternating performances.

Over the past 17 years, Connecticut families have been thrilled by Dickens’ supernatural tale of redemption, which introduced the exclamation “Bah! Humbug!” and popularized the perennial greeting “Merry Christmas.” Adapted and originally directed by Michael Wilson, A Christmas Carol is directed by former Hartford Stage Associate Artistic Director Maxwell Williams (The 39 Steps, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Reverberation at Hartford Stage).

United Technologies serves as the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor for A Christmas Carol.

Additional youth actors cast (in alternating performances) include: Tiana Bailey, age 11, from Bloomfield, as Belinda Cratchit; Ella Bernarduci, age 12, from Avon, as Claire; Atticus Burrello, age 11, from Ashford, as Turkey Boy; Lily Bucko, age 13, from Higganum, as Fan; Charlize Calcagno, age 5, from Burlington, as Fruit Child/Want; Luciana Calcagno, age 7, from Burlington, as Fruit Child/Ignorance; Celine Cardona, age 9, from Meriden, as Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl; Sophia Friedman, age 11, from West Hartford, as Spoiled Child/Fred Party Girl; Lily Girard, age 10, from Longmeadow, Mass. as School Boy; Nicholas Glowacki, age 9, from West Hartford, as School Boy; Tyra Harris, age 9, from Bristol, as School Boy; Emma Kindl, age 10, from Marlborough, as Belinda Cratchit; Audrey Linquist, age 6, from Canton, as Fruit Child/Want; Aidan and Dermot McMillan, age 12, from Middletown, as Peter Cratchit; Addison Pancoast, age 6, from Rocky Hill, as Fruit Child/Ignorance; Ethan Pancoast, age 10, from Rocky Hill, as School Boy; Ankit Roy, age 10, from Ellington, as School Boy; Jane Shearin, age 13, from Newtown, as Fan; Fred Thornley IV, age 10, from Colchester, as Boy Scrooge/Fred Party; Sophia Rose Tomko, age 12, from Somers, as Claire; Jack Wenz, age 12, from West Hartford, as Peter Cratchit; Sammy Wetstein, age 12, from Simsbury, as Boy Scrooge/Fred Party Boy; Julia Weston, age 9, from Hartford, as School Boy; and Tilden Wilder, age 9, from Simsbury, as Turkey Boy.

Information and Special Events

· Dates & Times – The production runs November 27 to December 27. Weeknight and evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and select weekday matinees begin at 2 p.m. For a full schedule of dates and times, visit www.hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol.

· Sensory-Friendly Performance – Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. Hartford Stage will host its second annual sensory-friendly performance. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a theatre experience that is welcoming to all families of children with autism or other disabilities that create sensory sensitivities.

• Family Fun Night – Bring kids of all ages on Thursday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m. Before the show, our spooky ghosts will greet and entertain. After the show, get autographs from all your favorite characters! The event is free with the purchase of a ticket for that evening’s performance.

• Market Days – Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping at Hartford Stage! Local artisans will showcase unique gift items in our lobby, free to the public, from 12:30-2 p.m. Buying a ticket for the matinee performance of A Christmas Carol gives you an extra chance to shop during intermission and post-show, December 6, 12 and 13.

For show times and tickets, contact the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151 or visit http://www.hartfordstage.org/christmas-carol.

Photo courtesy of Hartford Stage Co.