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“Marley was dead, to begin with…” —and what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge’s mean, sour, pruney old business partner after that? Chained and shackled, Marley is condemned to a hellish eternity. He’s even given his own private tormentor: a malicious little hell-sprite who thoroughly enjoys his work. Desperate, Marley accepts his one chance to free himself: To escape his own chains, he must first redeem Scrooge. So begins a journey of laughter and terror, redemption and renewal, during which Scrooge’s heart, indeed, is opened; but not before Marley—in this irreverent, funny and deeply moving story—discovers his own.
Author Bio
Tom Mula has been an award-winning playwright, actor, and director for more than twenty-five years. He received two Joseph Jefferson Awards for his play GOLEM at the National Jewish Theatre and for his work on Nicole Hollander's hit musical, SYLVIA'S REAL GOOD ADVICE. His novel "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" (the backstage version of Dickens' Scrooge story told by Marley's Ghost) was published by Adams Media; it became a best-seller. The audio version was broadcast nationwide on NPR for six seasons, and received an INDI Award for Spoken Word. The play received the prestigious Cunningham Prize from the Goodman School of Drama. It premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, received an After Dark Award, and was repeated the following year. Since then, it has been performed in theatres across the country. Several of Mr. Mula's adaptations have received critical acclaim, among them DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE; FALSTAFF, his adaptation of John Gardner's "In the Suicide Mountains," and a rock-musical version of DR. FAUSTUS. Peninsula Players in Wisconsin premiered his play BOB ALMIGHTY. Some of Mr. Mula's acting credits include HOT MIKADO at Drury Lane, for which he received an After Dark Award and a Joseph Jefferson Award; his award-winning one-man performance of his book "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol"; Christine Thatcher's EMMA'S CHILD; the Fool in KING LEAR; Richard III, Caliban, Bottom, Feste, Malvolio, and Prospero; another award-winning solo turn as THE CIRCUS OF DR. LAO; seven seasons (over four hundred performances) as Goodman Theatre's Scrooge; and nine seasons at Peninsula Players. His directing credits include Jeff nominations for PORCH and A LIFE, and the world premiere of Larry Shue's play WENCESLAS SQUARE in Chicago and at the Queens' Festival in Belfast. Mr. Mula teaches at Columbia College as an Artist-in-Residence.
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank
The Holidays are hard for the Food Bank and those that are hungry. MTG asks that you donate to make the Holidays seem a little brighter for those that could use your help. You may make a donation simply by seeing one of the Theatre Guild volunteers or use the secured link below.
Donate!
Direct website to donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/morristheaterguild/
Our goal is to raise $2500. Please help us meet this.
Your financial gift supports food distributions and feeding opportunities across 13 counties within Northern Illinois. Every $1 donated can provide $8 worth of groceries for a neighbor in need.
Northern Illinois Food Bank serves our neighbors in 13 counties.
- Boone County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
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Cast
Lucky 10 Sponsors
LUCKY 10 SPONSORS
Grundy Bank,
Caroline Cummings & Ann Polson Family,
D'Arcy Chevrolet Buick
Interested in becoming a Lucky 10 sponsor? Please reach out to us via email at: info@morristheatreguild.org or speak to one of our volunteers.
Perks of a Lucky 10 Sponsor:
Only 10 members allowed
Lasts 7 years
10% off advertisements
2 free tickets to every show (must call 2 weeks before to reserve)
Cost: $1000 (one time payment)
Creative Team
Christine Johnson
Brian Pross
Matthew Johnson
Meet the Company
John Hehl
John is excited to be part of this show, and his debut with Morris Theatre Guild. Most recently, John played Doc Gibbs in Grove Players' production of Our Town and Huckabee in the Joliet Drama Guild's The Fantastiks. Previous credits include Plaza Suite, Drown the Stage with Tears, Time of Your Life, Androcles and the Lion, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Of Mice and Men. Thanks to Monica for letting John out to play. Thanks to the rest of his family and friends who support and encourage this indulgence. Thanks to the whole team - cast, crew, directors and board - for making this an edifying experience. Let's break all the legs!
Jim Welch
Jim Welch is thrilled once again to be performing on the Morris Theatre Guild stage.
You may have seen Jim on stage in other MTG hits, such as, “The Odd Couple”, “The Alto's”, “Over the River and Through the Woods” and "Squabbles." He also portrayed Herr Schultz in The Just Passing By Theatre Companies production of “Cabaret”. Most recently Jim portrayed Paul Sheldon in the MTG Fall Production of "Misery."
Jim has directed such stage hits for the MTG such as, “Lost In Yonkers” “Wait Until Dark”, “Steel Magnolias” and “Bill W & Dr Bob”. Jim will be directing a reboot of "Seeing Stars In Dixie," this winter 2024.
Jim is employed with Heniff Transportation as a hazmat tanker driver and loves spending time with his family. Jim is a diehard White Sox fan and enjoys boating, fishing, swimming, and relaxing at his cottage on Delavan Lake Wisconsin, and camping at The Rod & Gun Club. Jim has been a board member for the Morris Theatre Guild for 36 years, and is currently serving as Vice President. He is looking forward to many years ahead with the MTG
Jennifer Wallenberg
Jennifer is entering acting at a later stage in her life but it is something she has been wanting to do for a long time. Jennifer has a love for movies with thrillers being her favorite genre. Jennifer has been married for 40 years to her husband David, she has an amazing son Kyle, and 2 wonderful grandchildren with one on the way. Jennifer has lived in Morris less than 10 years and enjoys boating, golf, and being outdoors. Jennifer has been a nurse for 40 years, and enjoy spending time with her friends & family, and taking long walks with my dog.
Ellen Rasmussen
Ellen is very excited to join this cast at Morris Theatre Guild for this very unique perspective of a familiar Christmas tale, as seen through the eyes of a dead guy. So much can be learned in a shifted perspective! Oh, and it's fun! Hopefully, you agree. And no matter what anyone tells you, Ellen in no way been typecast.
Ellen have been acting since She was knee-high to a gnat, and has enjoyed acting in a number of shows in this theatre since first auditioning for "The Diary of Anne Frank" two years ago.
Many thanks to her family for their loving support in every way! Kudos to the baby actor for trying something new (bet you won't even be able to tell who that is!)! And hats off to the veterans on the stage. And of course, none of this would be possible without the people who are not on the stage. Thank you, and thank you again!
Christine Johnson
Brian Pross
Matthew Johnson
Multimedia
Donors
MORRIS THEATRE GUILD
SEASON TICKET PATRONS
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Morris Theatre Guild Presents:
March 1-3 & 8-10, 2024
May 10-12 & 17-19, 2024
July 12-14 & 19-21, 2024
AUDITION INFORMATION
Seeing Stars in Dixie
Jan 7, 2024 from 2-4pm and Jan 8th from 6:30-8:30pm
It's 1956 and Hollywood has arrived in Natchez, Mississippi with its brightest stars to film Raintree County. Meanwhile at Clemmie's, a Natchez tea room, the widowed proprietor who has a fascination with movies and a secret admirer, oversees her own cast of characters: Tootie, her take charge friend; Jo Beth, a former beauty queen; Glease, a man more comfortable with women than macho men, and Marjorie, an unethical social climber. Competition for a small role in the movie brings out the best and worst of these memorable characters. Twists, turns and revelations lead Clemmie to trade a moment of fame for love and the chance to impact the lives of people dear to her.
Clemmie: Female. 49-60 Widowed proprietor of a small tea room.
Tootie: Female. 35-50 The take-charge kind of person in any crowd.
Glease: Male. 50-59 A modest man more comfortable in the company of women.
Jo Beth: Female. 25-35 A beauty queen wannabe prone to disasters.
Marjorie: Female. 30-50 A socially prominent lady-about-town.
American Buffalo
Feb 18th from 2-4 and Feb 19 from 6-8pm
In a Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to rob a man of his coin collection, the showpiece of which is a valuable “Buffalo nickel.” These high-minded grifters fancy themselves businessmen pursuing legitimate free enterprise. But Donny, the oafish junk shop owner, Bobby, a young junkie Donny has taken under his wing, and “Teach,” a violently paranoid braggart, are merely pawns caught up in their own game of last-chance, dead-end, empty pipe dreams.
STRONG ADULT LANGUAGE
DONNY: Male 50’s. Owner of the junk shop, and has a degree of authority over both Bobby and Teach. Don acts as a parental figure to the young and inexperienced Bobby. Furthermore, Don seems genuinely concerned with Bobby’s health.
TEACH: Male 50’s. It is clear that Teach has strong opinions and is aggressive. Teach acts with the bravado of a confident thief, when in reality he in fact has little clue of what to do. He pressures Don to leave Bob on the outside of the operation. He constantly instructs the others in the ways that “business” is conducted.
BOBBY: Don’s “gopher” who serves him in the dual capacities of coffee-fetcher and surrogate son. He is not as talkative nor excitable as Don or Teach, but remains faithful to Don. He is not the most Machiavellian or pragmatic.
Godspell (2012)
This show will be cast using incoming High School Freshman to Graduating College Sr.
March 23, 2024 from 9:30am to Noon & 1:30pm to 4pm, March 24, 2024 1pm to 4 pm
A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.
Character Breakdown:
Anna Maria (Alto): A bit of a tomboy, but basically open and sweet. Perhaps the youngest of the group. She is the first of the group to commit to following Jesus in the song “Day by Day.”
Celisse (Mezzo-Soprano): The female equivalent of the class clown. Goofy and a cut-up. In the 2012 Broadway revival, she played several instruments, including conga, ukulele and guitar. She sings “Learn Your Lessons Well.”
George (Tenor): The comedian, the class clown. The guy who can do a hundred voices and imitations. He sings “Light of the World.”
Jesus (Tenor): Must be the most charismatic individual in the cast. High energy, charming, funny, gentle but with strength. He is the sort of person others instinctively follow.
John the Baptist/Judas (Baritone): He has attributes of both Biblical figures: He is both Jesus’ lieutenant and most ardent disciple and the doubter who begins to question and rebel. Like Jesus, he is also charismatic, but in more of an overt revolutionary way. Usually played by someone handsome and masculine, with an undertone of sexuality. He is the most “serious” and intellectual of the group, though as with all the actors, he must still possess a good sense of physical comedy. He sings “Prepare Ye,” “All For the Best,” and “On the Willows.”
Lindsay (Soprano): The confident one, the show-off. The first one to volunteer, sometimes she jumps in before she really understands what’s going on. She sings “Bless the Lord.”
Morgan (Alto): Sassy and slightly cynical, the most urban of the group. Also the “sexy” one, but her sexiness contains a large element of put-on, in the manner of Mae West or Madonna. She sings “Turn Back, O Man.”
Nick (Tenor): Very high energy. Impish and playful. In the original, he played several musical instruments, including concertina, recorder and guitar. He sings “We Beseech Thee.”Telly (Tenor): Not the brightest in the bunch, he is a little slow on the uptake. But there is a great sweetness and innocence about him. Because he sings “All Good Gifts” he must be a very good singer.
Uzo (Alto): The shy one. Sometimes a little slow to get things, but when she does, she commits all the way. Has an “earth mother” kind of warmth to her. She sings “By My Side.”
Ensemble roles may be added at director’s discretion.
Other Local Theatres to visit:
Joliet Drama Guild (Joliet): https://www.thejolietdramaguild.com/
Engle lane Theatre (Streator): https://englelane.org/
Stage 212 (LaSalle): https://www.stage212.org/
Limestone Stage (Lockport): https://www.limestonestage.org/
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