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To get to opening night, they’ll need a Christmas miracle.

A Whynot Christmas Carol

BY CRAIG LUCAS

DIRECTED BY PAM MACKINNON

NOV 26–DEC 24, 2024

TONI REMBE THEATER

Runs approximately 2 hours including one 20-minute intermission

This is a family-friendly new adaptation of Dickens's classic tale. This performance includes bright lights, flashing lights, loud noises, and the use of theatrical haze.

A Whynot Christmas Carol

NOV 26–DEC 24, 2024

From Obie-winning playwright Craig Lucas and Tony Award winner and A.C.T. Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon comes a joyous and puckishly funny adaptation of Charles Dickens’s beloved classic. A small theater troupe in the town of Whynot has gathered to put up their director’s new version of A Christmas Carol. From the first rehearsal to opening night, we follow these sometimes-reluctant comrades on their quest to put on a great show with too little time and money but no shortage of opinions. An ingenious set and costume design by Tony Award winner David Zinn (A.C.T.’s The Wizard of Oz) transports us behind the curtain as our ragtag cast boldly tackles prop mishaps and dance blunders, collaborating against all odds in hopes of a holiday miracle: real change. With festive music, magical ghosts, an effervescent cast of kids, and ample hijinks, this fresh telling amplifies Dickens’s moving and evergreen call for true generosity all through the year.

Why not…take the hassle out of the holiday?

The Whynot Spot is an all-inclusive pre-show and intermission offering in the Garret, a private space on the top floor of the Toni Rembe Theater. Your reservation includes a pre-show and intermission table with traditional holiday drinks and snacks, plus activities for the kids with no lines or intermission strategies needed. A table for four is as low as $110 with inexpensive add-a-seat options for families larger than four, and couples' reservations start as low as $45—a great savings when compared to the a la carte options at the concession lines.

The Whynot Spot will be open for select weekend performances only. Book your space for December 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, or 24.

THE WHYNOT SPOT

The Whynot Spot reservation is just for preshow and intermission—please make sure to book your tickets to A Whynot Christmas Carol separately.

Community Guest Performances

During select performances the cast will be joined by performers curated by Rebecca Ennals and Natalie Greene from A.C.T.'s Education and Community Programs. Huge thanks to all of our guest performers!

Wed, Dec 4, 6:30 p.m. | Urban Jazz Dance Company
Sat, Dec 7, 1 p.m. | Community Music Center Children's Chorus
Sat, Dec 7, 7 p.m. | A.C.T. Young Conservatory Cabaret Carolers
Sun, Dec 8, 6:30 p.m. | A.C.T. Young Conservatory Cabaret Carolers
Wed, Dec 11, 6:30 p.m. | SF Gay Men's Chorus

Fri, Dec 13, 7 p.m. | SF Pride Band
Sat, Dec 14, 1 p.m. | SF Pride Band
Sat, Dec 14, 7 p.m. | Alumni from A.C.T.’s Intensive Acting Programs

Sun, Dec 15, 1 p.m. | Community Music Center Children's Chorus
Wed, Dec 18, 6:30 p.m. | Feline Finesse Dance Company

Fri, Dec 20, 7 p.m. | Feline Finesse Dance Company
Sat, Dec 21, 1 p.m. (open caption) | Urban Jazz Dance Company 
Sat, Dec 21, 7 p.m. | Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus

Sun, Dec 22, 1 p.m. | Chocolate Platinum Soul Line Dancers
Sun, Dec 22, 6:30 p.m. | SF Gay Men's Chorus

Stay tuned for more groups and dates being added!

InterACT Events

At A.C.T.’s free InterACT events, you can mingle with cast members, join interactive workshops with theater artists, and meet fellow theatergoers at hosted celebrations in our lounges.
All titles, schedules, and artists are subject to change. No refunds. Tickets are for personal use and not for resale.

COVID-19 Safety Policy
American Conservatory Theater is happy to welcome you to our home. Our COVID-19 policy is in accordance with guidelines provided by the State of California and City of San Francisco. At this time this means that masking is encouraged but not required. It also means that vaccination checks are no longer required to see a performance. These policies will be updated if city guidelines change.

Production Photos

Cast

Kuba Adams †

Colette "Coco" Brown †  

Catherine Castellanos*

Devin A. Cunningham

Gianna DiGregorio Rivera*

Rosie Hallett*

Dan Hiatt*

Patrick Kelly Jones*

Isabella Lowry †

Ciara McCarthy †

Róisín McCarthy †

Sara Toby Moore

Valentina Mottl † 

Jenny Nguyen Nelson*

Colin Ringseis †

Stacy Ross*

Harper Sims †

Jomar Tagatac*

Piera Tamer †

Audrey Wells †

Chloe Zimei †

U/S

Michelle Drexler

John R. Lewis*

Carrie Paff*

Michael Shipley*

Alyssa Leanne So

*Member of AEA

† Member of A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory

Creative

Erika Chong Shuch

Choreographer

David Zinn

Scenic & Costume Designer

Russell H. Champa

Lighting Designer

Jake Rodriguez

Sound Designer

Skylar Fox

Illusions and Magic

Amanda Villalobos

Puppet Designer

The Kilbanes

Original Music

Kate Kilbane

Music Supervisor

Dan Moses

Music Director

Alphabet Rockers, Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd

Original song "Whynot A Christmas Carol"

Joy Meads

Dramaturg

Katie Craddock and LeeAnn Dowd

Casting

Stage Management

Megan McClintock

Stage Manager

Christina Hogan

Assistant Stage Manager

Emma Walz

Assistant Stage Manager