Covina Center for the Performing Arts Announces A CHRISTMAS CAROL As Closing Show Of 2009 Season

Covina Center for the Performing Arts is proud to announce the second annual production of the Christmas classic A Christmas Carol opening on December 3, 2009 at 8 pm. This production marks the conclusion of CCPA's 2009 season, the second in its renovated facilities at Citrus and Badillo in downtown Covina.

Eleven performances are offered: December 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 all at 8 pm and matinees on December 6, 13 and 20 at 2 pm. No performance is scheduled for December 5, the date of Covina's annual Downtown Christmas Parade.

Director Bart McHenry, chairman of Azusa Pacific University's Department of Theatre, Film and Television, will make his directorial debut with CCPA, mentoring a company from throughout Southern California.

The CCPA production of A Christmas Carol features a script that was adapted by McHenry and CCPA's technical advisor Patrick Copeland. The director announces that the show, using the extensive production resources of the Covina Center's $12 million facility will be "very family friendly."

John Butz, most recently seen as Sir Joseph in CCPA's concert staging of HMS Pinafore, will be featured as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly curmudgeon whose Christmas redemption is the focus of Dicken's classic novel, first published in 1843. Butz is a newcomer to Southern California,having recently relocated from Iowa. His previous stage credits include, in addition to HMS Pinafore, appearances in the musicals 1776, Fiddler on the Roof, and Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer's Night's Dream.

Paul Griffiths Springer Spring of Costa Mesa, also making his CCPA return, will appear as Bob Cratchit. Other principals in the cast include producer and CCPA Operations Director Angelo Collado, making a rare appearance in front of the footlights as Marley; Elliot MacAdam of Ladera Ranch as Tiny Tim; and costumer and CCPA regular Mark Gamez of La Verne playing multiple roles.

Rounding out the cast, and all playing multiple characters are: Azusa residents Joel and Amanda Simeone, Seth Evans and Lina Alfinito, Los Angeles residents Brandon Massey and Kristen Levoy, Jeremy Leochner and Joh Butz of Glendora, Elaine Capogeannis of Burbank, Gabriella and Alexis MacAdam of Ladera Ranch, Covina resident Elder Timol and Allison Davis of Carmichael, California. Ken Crowley of San Dimas will stage mange.

Coming in January, 2010 to the Covina Center is a return appearance of TV weatherman and comic Fritz Coleman (January 9 and 10). As a final offering on the special events calendar, Paul Casey's ELVIS the Musical-American Trilogy will be performed January 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Further information and tickets for A Christmas Carol, Fritz Coleman and Paul Casey as ELVIS, or 2010 Season Tickets, call the theatre at 626.331.8133, or visit the CCPA website at www.covinacenter.com. The season ticket hotline may be reached at phone extension 626.