Computer graphic ghosts on the left and a dinosaur and the Allen Elizabethian Theatre on the right.
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It's Christmas, Carol!

November 23, 2022 – January 1, 2023 Angus Bowmer Theatre
Palooza Saturdays Meet the Writers Audience Reviews Director's Notes Cast Suitability
Palooza Saturdays Meet the Writers Audience Reviews Director's Notes Cast Suitability

New jokes. New folks. Same dinosaurs.

This slightly unhinged, fully irreverent, song-skewered comedy was such a hit in 2021 that we’re bringing it back for a second holiday spectacular! Come see it—or see it again!

On Christmas Eve, three ghosts take affluent society woman Carol Scroogenhouse through time and space to reckon with her views on love, wealth, and holiday cheer. Whisked to a Shakespearean theatre, a prehistoric holiday celebration, and a Zombie future, will Carol find her soul with the help of these apparitions? Featuring hilarious songs from the twisted minds of your favorite OSF clowns, Carol! is a fun, uplifting, and music-filled romp.

(Approximate running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, with one intermission.)

It’s Christmas, Carol!
A play with lots of songs by
Mark Bedard, Brent Hinkley, and John Tufts
Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh

2nd annual holiday tradition!
November 23, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Opening day: December 3
Angus Bowmer Theatre



The cast of It's Christmas, Carol! singing and smiling out at the audience.
View Full Image with Credit It's Christmas, Carol! (2022): Ensemble. Photo by Joe Sofranko.
The cast of It's Christmas, Carol! singing and smiling out at the audience.
It's Christmas, Carol! (2022): Ensemble. Photo by Joe Sofranko.
Saturday mornings are about to get a whole lot sillier!
Join us in Carpenter Hall over delicious hot chocolate and rugelach for fun demos and discussions with the artisans bringing It’s Christmas, Carol! to life! Palooza Saturdays are from 10:00am to 11:00am all through December.

Meet the Writers of It's Christmas, Carol!

Four people with their heads on each other shoulders looking out into the distance.
View Full Image with Credit It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Brent Hinkley, John Tufts, Christiana Clark, Mark Bedard. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
Four people with their heads on each other shoulders looking out into the distance.
It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Brent Hinkley, John Tufts, Christiana Clark, Mark Bedard. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 

Audience Reviews

A man looking surprised and a woman frowning toward the camera.
View Full Image with Credit It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Mark Bedard, Erica Sullivan. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
A man looking surprised and a woman frowning toward the camera.
It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Mark Bedard, Erica Sullivan. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
Pirronne Yousefzadeh
Director’s Notes

It is such a pleasure to return to OSF and reunite with the cast and creative team for It’s Christmas, Carol! Last year, through all of the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, we persevered, and while those challenges are not entirely behind us, we are thrilled to create this year’s version, with a number of wonderful new cast members and an ever-evolving (and all the more delightful!) script. It’s Christmas, Carol! epitomizes the sense of communal joy we crave while harnessing the power of theatre through spectacle, song, dance, and the athleticism and virtuosity of performers of the highest caliber working at the top of their abilities to bring it all to life.
        On a more personal note, as an Iranian-American director, it is of special meaning to me to direct a holiday show that is for everyone, that democratizes the tradition such that people of all backgrounds can feel seen, heard, and represented. That is my personal mission in the work I create, and it feels particularly paramount during a time of year when I hope we can celebrate and cherish our shared humanity.

—Pirronne Yousefzadeh


Three people with surprised looks dressed in dinosaur costumes.
View Full Image with Credit It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Shayna Blass, Benjamin Pelteson, Amy Lizardo. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
Three people with surprised looks dressed in dinosaur costumes.
It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Shayna Blass, Benjamin Pelteson, Amy Lizardo. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
Memorable Lines from the Play
“God bless us! Every one?! Even Billy? Who’s always taunting me with his normal life expectancy?”

“Listen, you have one chance of escaping my fate! You have no idea how many strings I had to pull to get you this opportunity. So don’t ferret it up.”
“Can’t you see what I’m trying to say? I love you. Marry me. Here and now. Let’s elope. If you don’t want to do it in person, we’ll do it by mail. We’ll envelope. But if you’d rather stay here and eat melons, we’ll cantaloupe.”

“Maybe this would all be better if we didn’t need to rely on a system in which the obscenely wealthy have to be supernaturally terrorized into sharing their wealth, one individual at a time.”
A slapstick comedy scene with four characters from the play.
View Full Image with Credit It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Brent Hinkley, John Tufts, Christiana Clark, Mark Bedard. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 
A slapstick comedy scene with four characters from the play.
It’s Christmas, Carol! (2022): Brent Hinkley, John Tufts, Christiana Clark, Mark Bedard. Photo by Joe Sofranko. 

Cast

Ensemble: Shayna Blass*, Christiana Clark*, Armando Durán*, Amy Lizardo*, Benjamin Pelteson*, Lynette Rathnam* 

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern

Creative Team

Anna Williamson
Assistant Lighting Designer
* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern

Understudies

* Member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
** AEA Professional Theatre Intern
Suitability
It’s Christmas, Carol! is packed with slapstick physicality, sparkling verbal wit, music and mayhem! Families should be advised that the rapid-fire dialogue does contain innuendo and the use of sexual double entendre. Additionally, there are sexual gestures and references.

For additional content warnings regarding violence or graphic depictions that may be upsetting to some audience members, please see our Content Warnings page (may contain spoilers).
Accessibility

The Angus Bowmer Theatre is outfitted with an elevator that takes patrons to either Row E or Row K.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is committed to accessibility. We recognize the needs of persons with disabilities and strive to make our facilities and productions accessible to all. Please visit our Accessibility page for details.

Our 2022 Season