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Half Moon Theatre’s A Christmas Carol Promises Night to Remember at the CIA

Hyde Park, NY – Buy your theatre tickets and make your now for this funny, dynamic, and fast-paced new adaptation of a favorite holiday classic! Half Moon Theatre Company invites you to bring the entire family to celebrate the holiday season with A Christmas Carol.

In this adaptation by Patrick Barlow (creator of the Tony award-winning hit The 39 Steps), five actors bring Charles Dickens’s iconic characters to life in this streamlined, highly theatrical re-telling of Scrooge’s redemption—from miserly curmudgeon to a generous and kind member of society. Family members of all ages will come together to laugh, shed a tear, and revel in the joy of the season.

A Christmas Carol is directed by Michael Schiralli and features Darrell James as Scrooge, along with Wayne Pyle, Maria Silverman, Shona Tucker, and Ryan Walter—who play all the other characters including Bob Cratchit, Marley, the three Ghosts, and of course Tiny Tim.

Director Michael Schiralli says, “It is with great delight that I direct Half Moon’s production of A Christmas Carol. This fast paced evening is packed with everything needed to bring the magic of this perennial favorite ‘ghost story’ to life. We are thrilled to share it with the Hudson Valley at the CIA.”

“A Christmas Carol is the perfect holiday show for the whole family,” said HMT Managing Director Kristy Grimes. “We were delighted to discover this exciting adaptation by Patrick Barlow, which premiered at the Delaware Theatre Company in 2012. Barlow highlights the humor and spookiness of the tale—with lots of physicality as the actors have to continually ‘transform’ into different characters—but without losing the heart of the story. Give your kids their first A Christmas Carol experience, or bring your office mates, clients, or out-of-town guests for a special holiday outing.”

Create a lasting holiday memory by dining at one of the CIA’s award-winning restaurants before the show. Due to overwhelming popular demand, The Culinary Institute of America has agreed to hold a block of pre-theatre dinner reservations at three of their award-winning restaurants for the run of this show.

Performance Dates:

• Friday 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18 at 8 p.m.
• Saturday 12/5, 12/12, and 12/19 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Sunday 12/6 and 12/13 at 2 p.m.
• Special performance: Wednesday 12/16 at 7 p.m.

Special Events:

Opening Night Reception December 5: Meet the cast and enjoy a beautiful dessert reception provided by the CIA after the show (party included in the ticket price: $27–$50).

Talk Back with the Cast December 13: Directly following the matinee performance, stay to talk with cast members about the production and the importance of A Christmas Carol to our cultural heritage.

Special Dining Option for Theatre Patrons: and are offering a $49 per person three-course menu, while will feature a $39 per person pre-theatre menu for the Wednesday and Friday shows (which includes a number of choices for each course from the restaurant’s menu). Prices do not include beverages, tax and service.

Caterina de’ Medici will also be open on December 5 and December 12 for a special family-style pasta dinner, where a beautiful selection of salads, antipasto, and pastas are served table-side for a unique dining experience. CIA restaurants are closed on Sundays, and restaurants will also be closed on Saturday, December 19. For restaurant reservations, you must call 845-905-4533 or e-mail ciarestaurantgroup@culinary.edu.

To purchase tickets to Half Moon Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, call 1-800-838-3006 or order online at www.halfmoontheatre.org. Tickets are $22–$50 and are on-sale for all performances. Theatre tickets are sold separately, and are available with or without the pre-theatre dining option.

Group discounts are available for parties of seven or more ($28–$38 pp). Celebrate the holidays by getting family, friends, or co-workers together for a memorable and festive outing. Call 845-235-9885 or e-mail info@halfmoontheatre.org for more information.

Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:

Darrel James as Scrooge in Half Moon Theatre’'s production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Patrick Barlow’s new adaptation), playing weekends December 4–19 at The Culinary Institute of America’s Marriott Pavilion in Hyde Park. Tickets available at www.halfmoontheatre.org. (Photo credit: Jennifer Kiaba)

Media Contacts:

Kristy Grimes
Managing Director, Half Moon Theatre
845-625-3047
kristyg845@gmail.com

Stephan Hengst
Director—Communications, CIA
845-905-4288
s_hengst@culinary.edu

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to driving leadership development for the foodservice and hospitality industry, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; bachelor’s degree majors in management, culinary science, and applied food studies; and executive education through its Food Business School. Its conferences and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry in the areas of health & wellness, sustainability, world cuisines & cultures, and professional excellence & innovation. The college also offers certificate programs and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its worldwide network of 48,000 alumni includes leaders in every area of foodservice and hospitality. The CIA has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.

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