EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY CONTINUES ITS 8th ANNUAL SEASON IN DECEMBER WITH ENTERTAINING HOLIDAY OFFERINGS

‘A Christmas Carol,’ Dec. 4-20 Christmas Cabaret on the Boulevard, Dec. 8 & 15

Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) is ready to lift your spirits this holiday season.

ECTC continues its eighth annual season on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast in December with both classic and new holiday entertainment.

All holiday productions will be staged at ECTC’s performance space located on the second floor of 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach.

As part of its Professional Theatre Mainstage series, ECTC presents Charles Dickens’ beloved classic tale, A Christmas Carol. The show opens Friday, Dec. 4 and runs three weekends through Sunday, Dec. 20. Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees Dec. 6, 13 and 20.

In this thrilling adaptation by Patrick Barlow five actors bring to life some of Dickens’ most beloved characters. From Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Bob Cratchit and Mrs. Fezziwig, Barlow’s A Christmas Carol uses simple props, fresh physicality and the power of imagination to convey this timeless story of redemption. Witness Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from a stingy miser to a man who generously celebrates the spirit of the season all year long, in this highly theatrical adaptation.

This production is directed by Nathanael Fisher with music direction and choreography by Vincent Pelligrino. Lighting and set design is by Rebeca Lake. Costume and prop design is by Anna Fisher. Stage Management and sound design is by Phillip Padget.

The cast includes Bruce Collier (Scrooge). A native of Ohio, Collier has performed professionally in summer stock in Ohio, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Courtyard Playhouse in New York City, New Horizons Theatre in Michigan and The REP at Seaside. He has appeared with Emerald Coast Theatre Company in Bakersfield Mist, A Wrinkle in Time, It’s A Wonderful Life, Around the World in 80 Days, The Fantasticks, and Collier’s one-man show, Winston Churchill: Through the Storm.

Rounding out the cast are Charlie Meeks, Hillary Marshall, Rebeca Lake, Vincent Pelligrino and Tara Padgett (understudy).

“This is Scrooge as you’ve never seen him before,” says ECTC co-founder and producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher. “This adaptation is full of fast-paced, family-friendly comedy that is sure to put theater patrons of any age in the holiday spirit.”

Tickets to A Christmas Carol are $32 per person for adults, $30 for seniors/military and $28 for students. Purchase tickets online at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org

Professional Theatre Second Stage is a new ECTC offering this year. As the name suggests, ECTC’s Second Stage: Musical Revue, is an additional, intimate performance space located separately from the Mainstage that will showcase musical cabaret acts, as well as small bands, solo musicians and performing artists.

Two performances of Christmas Cabaret on the Boulevard will be Tuesday, Dec. 8 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Mix, mingle, and enjoy live musical selections performed by talented performers from the cast of A Christmas Carol, ECTC Education’s Musical Theatre Cabaret Class, and a very exciting addition — reknown pianiast Tom LaDow — who is sure to create holiday cheer with pre-show Jazzy Christmas tunes and a delightful accompaniment to the vocalists.

Tom LaDow studied classical piano at Birmingham Southern College under the direction of concert pianist Sam Howard and later at Samford University under the direction of classical pianist W. W. Turkevich. He cut his teeth playing for many years on the Birmingham jazz scene. A seasoned jazz pianist, he played regularly with all the great B’ham players among them many Alabama Jazz Hall-of-Famers including trumpeter Bo Berry and bassist Cleve Eaton of Count Basie fame. Currently he performs predominantly in the Atlanta area, where he leads bands with three different music genres: contemporary jazz, classic rock and a 10-piece party/dance band.

Enjoy classic holiday songs and join in some carols as well. Like a mug of hot cocoa, this event will warm your heart and get you in the holiday spirit.

Tickets to Christmas Cabaret on the Boulevard are $22 per person for adults; $20 for seniors/military; $18 students. Purchase tickets online at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

“We invite everyone to come out to see just why our new Second Stage Cabarets have become a huge hit! This is a casual evening at the theater where fun, laughter and music take center stage. Who could ask for anything more?” asks Fisher.

With COVID-19 safety protocols in place, all offerings will be performed in ECTC’s performance space located at 560 Grand Boulevard, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach.

ECTC’s eighth season continues on the Mainstage with the hilarious comedy Florida Girls (Jan. 15-31) and dramatic comedy Popcorn Falls, Feb. 12-28.

ECTC’s 2020-2021 season is made possible with support from Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, St. Joe Community Foundation, Howard Hospitality, and South Walton Tourist Development Council. ECTC TYA producions are made possible with support from Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Progress Bank and Wells Vision and Laser Eye Center.

ECTC is implementing its Safety Protocol Plan to ensure our patrons can enjoy all offerings in a safe environment. Patrons can find the detailed plan on ECTC’s website.

To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Follow this link to images of A Christmas Carol.

Follow this link to example images of a past ECTC Cabaret Musical Revue.

Follow this link to graphic art and images for the 2020-2021 season.

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ABOUT EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY Emerald Coast Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults.

ECTC continues its eighth annual season on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast in December