A Colonial Christmas Carol with James Taylor

James Taylor

James Taylor will play Bob Cratchit in 'A Christmas Carol' at the Colonial

(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – James Taylor makes his Berkshire stage debut as an actor this week, playing Bob Cratchit in Berkshire Theatre Group’s annual community production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented for the first time at the Colonial Theatre.

Eric Hill and E. Gray Simons III will co-direct again and return to the stage with fellow company members Kim Taylor, Michael Brahce, Ralph Petillo, Gail Ryan and Chris Vecchia. Joining the community cast this year will be award-winning musician and Berkshirite James Taylor, in the role of Bob Cratchit; as well as four graduate students from BTG’s partner academic institution, Brandeis University, Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Sam Gillam, Brandon Green and Eddie Shields; three of Berkshire Theatre Group’s Artists-in-Residence, Rachael Balcanoff, Jacob Gold and Lauren Stanek; in addition to 20 children, representing nine different schools and seven different towns in the Berkshire area.

Of working with James Taylor, director Eric Hill said, “It’s a thrill to direct James Taylor in his theatrical debut – the process for A Christmas Carol is one of celebration and sharing of our common humanity on a community level. I know that James will bring his inherent charm and gentleness to bear in his portrayal of Bob Cratchit, a good and unpretentious man. To work with Kim, Rufus and Henry Taylor again will only add to the joy.”

A Christmas Carol runs December 17–30 at the Colonial Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. There are also sponsor tickets available for $100 for adults and $50 for children, which include a donation to the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Education Program.

Tickets will be on sale via phone at 413.997.4444 and walk up at 111 South Street, Pittsfield, Mass. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased in any one transaction. Standard Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10am–5pm, Saturdays 10am–2pm or on any performance day from 10am until intermission.

This community production is dedicated to the memory of Jack Fitzpatrick. A Christmas Carol’s founding sponsor is The Fitzpatrick Family. Additional sponsors include Greylock Federal Credit Union and Berkshire Life, A Guardian Company.

28 tickets from each performance will be donated to Charity Partners, a national fundraising platform dedicated to supporting the world’s most admired charities and a regular charitable platform for James Taylor tours and concerts. Charity Partners tickets are available on Charity Partners. 100% of the donations from this community production will be evenly split to benefit Berkshire National Resources Council and Berkshire Theatre Group. Donors will receive a premium seat to A Christmas Carol as well as guaranteed parking, a CD/DVD of James Taylor’s One Man Band, filmed at the Colonial, a copy of Nicholas Whitman’s book The Colonial Theatre: A Pittsfield Resurrection and a special holiday reception complete with cookies, hot chocolate and holiday cheer.

Tickets to A Christmas Carol have already been donated to The Academy at Charlemont, Berkshire Benevolent Association for the Blind, The Little Red School House, NA Women’s Softball League, The Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Berkshire Medical Center, The Richmond School, St. Helena’s Chapel, the Rudolf Steiner School, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Hillcrest Commons, Berkshire County Kids’ Place, Berkshire Health Systems and First United Methodist Church.

 

 

 

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