Twist Your Dickens Special Guests & Event Announced

Equal parts naughty and nice, Chicago’s famed The Second City brings our version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to the Goodman’s Owen Theatre, beginning December 5.

Titled Twist Your Dickens, Or Scrooge You!, this send-up of Dickens’ classic includes a special Chicago-based celebrity guest in a cameo role at each show; while audiences won’t know who appears in this spot from night to night, expected appearances include:

Comedian and Vocalo host Brian Babylon

WBEZ’s Niala Boodhoo

WXRT’s Lin Brehmer

Senator John Cullerton

Actor Allen Gilmore (Scrooge alternate in A Christmas Carol)

Chef Stephanie Izard

Chicago Tribune’s Candace Jordan

Chicago Cubs’ Len Kasper

WBBM-TV’s Bill Kurtis

Musician Jon Langford

Author Sara Paretsky

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

B96’s Showbiz Shelly

Sommelier Alpana Singh and more.

Written by former The Colbert Report writers Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort and directed by Artistic Director of The Second City Training Center Matt Hovde, Twist Your Dickens—a “riotous havoc” (Los Angeles Times) that blends legitimate theater, parody, sketch comedy and improvisation, including the integration of audience “misdeeds” that are written in the lobby preceding the show—finds Scrooge and Tiny Tim hopelessly mixed up with characters from the Peanuts holiday special, the Island of Misfit Toys and even Little Orphan Annie.

While the set and costumes reflect The Second City’s minimalist aesthetic, audiences can expect to see backdrops of their favorite holiday television specials and the ensemble sporting “business casual Dickensian” wear inspired by ugly sweaters and other pop culture icons. Twist Your Dickens runs December 5 - 28 in the Owen Theatre (press night is December 10 and opening night is December 11) and is appropriate for adults and savvy teens age 16+. 

Tickets ($15 - $45; subject to change) are on sale now, available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Twist, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). Please be advised that the show incorporates the use of strobe lights, smoke and haze. 

“Peter and Bobby have written a play that not only upends a classic holiday staple of the stage and screen, but lampoons a variety of other holiday farrago that has become an ingrained part of the yuletide season,” said Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City and President of Second City Theatricals. Added Goodman Theatre Executive Director Roche Schulfer: “The Goodman has always wanted to pair A Christmas Carol with a holiday production in the Owen. The Second City's Twist Your Dickens, Or Scrooge You! is a perfect fit and we look forward to expanding our audience now and in the future"

As previously announced, the seven-member cast includes Francis Guinan as Scrooge, Frank Caeti as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Peter Gwinn as Jacob Marley, Sayjal Joshi as Tiny Tim, Beth Melewski as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Robyn Scott as Mrs. Cratchit, and Tim Stoltenberg as Bob Cratchit. The creative team includes Tom Buderwitz (sets), Rachel Lambert (costumes) and Gina Patterson (lights). Mara Filler is the Production Stage Manager.

Headshots and bio information can be found in the Press Room.

Special Event: “Cocktails with a Twist”
Tuesday, December 9
6pm Pre-Show Reception, 7:30pm Performance
$65 with promo code TWIST

The Goodman’s Scenemakers auxiliary board hosts a night of yuletide debauchery with pre-show cocktails and hors d’oeuvres—with a twist, and a few surprises—in the theater’s rehearsal space, followed by a performance of The Second City’s send-up of Christmas classics in their holiday revue. The party continues post-show with more holiday libations and revelry.

Goodman Theatre is grateful to Nesek Digital, the Presenting Sponsor of the Scenemakers Board 2014/2015 Season; Baird, the Event Sponsor; and Sopraffina Marketcaffe, Trattoria No. 10 and Twisted Stem, the Event Partners of “Cocktails with a Twist.”

The Scenemakers young professionals board of 37 is in its 12th season, having contributed more than $80,000 to the Goodman’s new play development initiatives and Education and Community Engagement programming in the immediate past 2013/2014 Season. Other events scheduled this Season include: “Two Trains and a Sidecar” on March 11, 2015 and the Scenemakers’ signature fundraiser, the fourth annual “Scene Soiree” on June 13, 2015. For tickets and information visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Scenemakers.