A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens

Produced in Association with Jefferson Avenue Mission, December 2024

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Production Photos by Nathaniel Roland

Director’s Note—

Dear Audience Member,

We strive every year to tell Charles Dickens’ classic tale with a fresh, high-energy, tongue-and-cheek approach. So whether this is your first, second, or third time seeing a Brickworks production of A Christmas Carol, we hope it brings you a night full of whimsical holiday cheer.

Reminder to audience members new and old that just like Scrooge gets unexpectedly plucked out of his life, so you too may find yourself plucked out of your seat, thrust into the action of the play, or interacted with by our ensemble. We hope that this type of theatrical interaction leaves you changed for the better and not shaking in your seats. As they say, “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas.”

I would like to thank Jefferson Avenue Mission for continuing their partnership with Brickworks Theatre Company, for the use of their lovely facility, and for making this evening possible. I'd also like to thank my production team without whom this continued dream of theatre-making would die a slow and squalling death. And finally, I must thank my wonderful ensemble, who overcame herculean obstacles and the vengeance of acting cubes to make this zany, madcap show happen.

A well-known storyteller once wrote, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." As our performance will prove, this is as true now as it was when it was written. So tonight, please sit back, relax, and allow yourself to get swept away by our interactive performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Matt Bender is a Midwest-based theatre maker and educator who cut his teeth in Chicago’s storefront theatre scene. He holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Western Illinois University, and has worked as an actor, director, movement/fight director, and educator in regional and educational theatre for over a dozen years. From calling pig races for farmers at county fairs to entertaining crowds in the Superdome, Matt has never lost his love of bringing joy to live audiences, no matter the size.

Meet the Cast and Crew of A Christmas Carol

  • Ed Burguiere (Narrator)

    Ed returns for a third appearance on the Brickworks stage in the role of the Narrator. He enjoys acting and writing. Among his favorite roles are Johnathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Lt. Doug Roberts in Mr. Roberts, and Banjo in The Man Who Came To Dinner. Through "Ed Burguiere: Ministry Through Drama", he writes and performs monologues for churches and schools. He is also the co-host of "The Great Speckled Bird Hour"; an online radio show featuring Jesus Music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. It airs Fridays at 1pm on www.ctsrradio.com. Thanks for coming and "God bless us, everyone!"

  • Brandon Ellis (Ebenezer Scrooge)

    Brandon Ellis is a St Louis based actor with nearly a decade of acting experience ranging from on-stage performances to commercial works from all over the country. From plays such as Tecumseh! to Last Days of Judas Iscariot, to commercials with the likes of Bud Light, Brandon is ecstatic to be returning as Scrooge in this years production of Christmas Carol and would love to thank his friends and family that continuously support him and his endeavors. 

  • Faith Gorrell (Stage Manager)

    Faith Gorrell is a recent graduate with a B.A. in theatre. She is thrilled to be acting in A Christmas Carol this year after stage managing it last year. She has poured her heart, soul, and knees into the production and is excited to share the story with you.

  • Molly Perling (Chorus)

    Molly Perling is excited to return to Brickworks & the role of Chorus for A Christmas Carol! She first joined Brickworks as an ensemble member in 2022, and is honored to now serve on the board. Her other recent work includes Alicia in The Thanksgiving Play (Trinity Episcopal CWE), The Bailiff/St Thomas in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Cat’s Cradle Theatre), Angustias in The House of Bernarda Alba (Illinois State University), & working as fight director for Suite Surrender (Incarnate Word Academy) and Cabaret (Community Players, Normal IL).

  • Deborah Roby (Chorus)

    Deborah Roby is super thrilled to be back with Brickworks for Round 2 of her second favorite Christmas story (her first favorite obviously being the OG, the one about Jesus). Recent roles include Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night and Hannah Jelkes in Night of the Iguana. She hopes you enjoy the show and the joy of the season.

  • Geordie Denholm (Producer)

    With a long history in theatre, Geordie is excited to take on a producing role in this year’s production of A Christmas Carol! Favorite credits include Producer for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Cat's Cradle), Assistant Director for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Cat’s Cradle), "Maid" in Medea (Theatre Y), Assistant Director for Burning Bluebeard (The Ruffians), and "Romeo" in Romeo and Juliet (Artists of Concordia Theatre).

  • Kara Grimm-Denholm (Lighting, Set, and Costume Design)

    Kara Grimm-Denholm (she/her) is a St. Louis based theatrical designer. She holds a BA in theatre from Concordia University Chicago. She relocated from Chicago to St. Louis after completing a lighting design internship at Steppenwolf Theatre. She currently serves as a board member for Intersect Arts St. Louis and is a founding member of Cats Cradle Theatre, a project-based collective in Chicago. She lives in Benton Park West with her husband, two overexcited dogs, and approximately 500 house plants. Find out more about her work here.

The whole cast and crew would like to say thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to make A Christmas Carol possible, and a very special thank you to our donors!