A Christmas Carol 2022 playbill

English writer and social critic, Charles Dickens created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters. Regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, his works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, he was recognized as a literary genius.

Did you know?

Born in Portsmouth, Charles Dickens had to leave school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtor’s prison. Charles, only 12-years-old, boarded with a family friend in Camden Town. To pay for his board and to help his family, he worked ten-hour days at a Blacking Warehouse, earning six shillings ($23.50 USD) a week pasting labels on pots of boot blacking.

He later wrote that he wondered, “how I could have been so easily cast away at such an age.”

The strenuous and harsh conditions made a lasting impression and became the foundation of his interest in labor/socio-economic reform for the working class, poor and became the major themes of his work.

“The warehouse was a tumble-down old house, abutting of course on the river, and literally overrun with rats. Its wainscoted rooms, and its rotten floors and staircase, and the old grey rats swarming down in the cellars, and the sound of their squeaking and scuffling coming up the stairs. The dirt and decay of the place, rise up visibly before me, as if I were there again.”  ~ Dickens

After his mother died and left him money to pay off the creditors, Charles’ father was released from prison and went to live with family members.  

However, Charles’ own mother would not support her young boy’s removal from the boot blacking warehouse.

“I never afterwards forgot, I never shall forget, I never can forget, that my mother left me there.” ~ Dickens

Eventually, Charles was sent to Wellington House Academy where much of the desultory teaching, poor discipline punctuated by the headmaster’s sadistic brutality, seedy ushers and general run-down atmosphere, are embodied in David Copperfield.

Charles then worked as a junior clerk in a law office. A theater buff, he went to theaters obsessively, claiming that for at least three years, he went to the theater every day!

At 20, he set out on his career as a writer, working as a political journalist, and travelled across Britain to cover election campaigns. In 1836, he accepted the editor’s position at Bentley’s Miscellany. He also finished the last installments of The Pickwick Papers, and began writing the first installments of Oliver Twist.

Becoming disillusioned in England, Charles spent a month in America giving lectures and questioning international copyright laws.

Returning to England in 1843, he began work on A Christmas Carol. The seeds for the story were planted during a trip to Manchester when he witnessed the conditions of the manufacturing workers there. This caused Dickens to “strike a sledge-hammer blow” for the poor.

He later wrote that, as the tale unfolded, he “wept and laughed, and wept again” as he “walked about the black streets of London 16 or 20 miles many a night when all sober folks had gone to bed.”

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in six weeks. Published on December 19, the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve. By the end of 1844, 13 editions had been released. In 1849, he began public readings of the story, which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages. The story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.

We all know Dickens’ beloved story of A Christmas Carol: miserly old man has a ghostly encounter and turns his life around. Who doesn’t love a good redemption story? This year, however, in the wake of a pandemic, an increasingly shaky democracy, and a global recession driven by corporate greed, I find it especially challenging to believe in Scrooge’s story. Dickens knew what he was doing when he wrote a Christmas story centered on an anti-hero. He knew that his audience, beat down by the inhumane working conditions of the industrial revolution, would also have a hard time placing their hope in someone like Scrooge.

What I discovered in my journey with A Christmas Carol this year is that this Dickensian community’s joy is not at the mercy of Scrooge, it never was. The love and hope that we encounter in A Christmas Carol is alive and well all around Scrooge, in spite of him. In this community, we find an invitation, mercifully extended to Scrooge, to participate in that communal good. This discovery transformed my approach to staging this year’s production of A Christmas Carol. I became curious about the role that the ensemble plays. To me, the ensemble represents the community of people who never stopped believing in the malleability of the human heart. They find joy in the darkest of places; yes, they know that the world needs to be changed, but they invite Scrooge to be a part of that change for his own sake. You see, from Dickens’ perspective, the character suffering most deeply in this story is Scrooge himself.  Instead of letting Scrooge slip away into a lonely oblivion, the characters in Dickens’ story give him one last chance; and the great miracle is that he takes it.

My prayer for this Christmas season is that we can give each other the gift of believing in the goodness of our neighbor again, especially the one we find most miserly.

Amelia Peterson (Director) began her directing career as a teenager at Bearden High School under the wing of Knoxville legend, Leann Dickson, who would often pull Amelia offstage to ask her opinion about staging and visual storytelling. Local directing credits include Every Brilliant Thing (River & Rail Theatre Co.), and The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph's Baby (River & Rail Theatre Co. - 2016, 2017, 2018). New York City: Morbid Poetry at the Incubator Arts Project; Long, Long Ago with Firebone Theatre Company; Apt 3E Director’s Lab Series with Molly Murphy. Washington, DC: Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival; Inkwell Theatre’s Showcase Reading Series. Film credits include Ghostlight (co-director), and Whipoorwill (screenwriter). Amelia is a co-founder of River & Rail Theatre Company, a mother to three awesome kids, and a partner to her favorite person, Joshua Peterson. She wants to thank Casey Sams, Kate Buckley and the incredible creators at the Clarence Brown Theatre for taking a chance on her.

This project [is being][was] supported in whole or in part by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Knox County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Arts & Culture Alliance.

The Educational Interpreting Program began at The University of Tennessee in 1992 within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Students are trained to work in educational and community settings facilitating communication between deaf and non-signing members of the hearing community. Students take course work in American Sign Language, Interpreting, Deaf Education, Education and Psychology as part of their curriculum. Before graduating seniors complete a 300+ hour internship in a school or agency placement working with professional interpreters. While in the program students participate in volunteer activities at the Tennessee School for the Deaf, Knoxville Center of the Deaf, and the Knoxville Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. 

Sponsored by

Meet the Interpreters

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Carol LaCava (Interpreter Mentor) Carol worked as the coordinator of the UT Educational Interpreting Program for thirty years. She has interpreted over 100 theatrical performances in her career. She is thrilled to be able to share this experience with three talented interpreting students for this production.

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Jocelyn Denham (Interpreter) is a senior in the Educational Interpreting program at the University of Tennessee. She was raised in Madisonville, Tennessee but moved to Knoxville four years ago for school. After graduation she hopes to be a community interpreter.

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Christiane (Kit) Frith (Interpreter) will graduate in May from UT with a degree in Educational Interpreting and a minor in Theatre. She is originally from Memphis and currently works at the Knoxville Center of the Deaf. Although Kit has been on an extended sabbatical from acting, her past productions include Paradise Road (Dollywood), Biloxi Blues, The Producers, and Annie. One of her favorite shows was Oliver! in 2002 here at the Clarence Brown, so she is honored and elated to be under its stage lights again. She would like to thank her family, Gay Baker, Megan Potts, and all her mentors for their encouragement and guidance. Most importantly, thank you all for coming to support Deaf Night @ the Theatre!

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Sarah Smith (Interpreter) will graduate in December 2023, from UT, with a degree in Educational Interpreting. She is excited to start her internship in the spring semester and for Deaf Night to be her theater debut! She was born and raised in Knoxville and is now raising two beautiful children here. She would like to thank Gay Baker, Megan Potts, her predecessors, and her family, that has supported and encouraged her on this journey.

We acknowledge that we live, work, and create art on the traditional lands of the Tsalagi peoples (now the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians) and the Tsoyaha peoples (Yuchi and Muscogee Creek).

We are indebted to these indigenous peoples for their stewardship, both past and present, of this beautiful land.

We recognize and value diversity in all forms, including age, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity, national origin, race religion, spirituality, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and veteran status.

We believe inclusivity and diversity in our workplace should reflect the increasing multicultural and global society in which we live. We seek to foster excellent creative research, scholarship and professional practice by creating a welcoming environment, ethical recruitment practices, and a diverse student body who will have lives of awareness and understanding through their creative research, teaching, practicing and advocating for others in a diverse world.

Detailed information on our DEI initiatives can be found here: https://theatre.utk.edu/diversity-inclusion/

AMELIA PETERSON (Director) began her directing career as a teenager at Bearden High School under the wing of Knoxville legend, Leann Dickson, who would often pull Amelia offstage to ask her opinion about staging and visual storytelling. Local directing credits include Every Brilliant Thing (River & Rail Theatre Co.), and The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby (River & Rail Theatre Co. – 2016, 2017, 2018). New York City: Morbid Poetry at the Incubator Arts  Project; Long, Long Ago with Firebone Theatre Company; Apt 3E Director’s Lab Series with Molly Murphy. Washington, DC: Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival; Inkwell Theatre’s Showcase Reading Series. Film credits include Ghostlight (co-director), and Whipoorwill (screenwriter). Amelia is a co-founder of River & Rail Theatre Company, a mother to three awesome kids, and a partner to her favorite person, Joshua Peterson. She wants to thank Casey Sams, Kate Buckley and the incredible creators at the Clarence Brown Theatre for taking a chance on her. 

TERRY D. ALFORD (Musical Director) Terry is a Distinguished Lecturer in Theatre and teaches Musical Theatre Performance and Honor’s Introduction to the Theatre and Acting. Prior to joining the UT faculty Mr. Alford held the positions of Director of Musical Theatre at The University of Tulsa, and Director of Musical Theatre at The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. He has worked professionally as a performer, director, musical director, and composer at theaters across the country, including the California Theatre Center, Madison Repertory, Omaha Playhouse, Augusta Barn, Fireside Theatre, Light Opera of Oklahoma, and the Clarence Brown Theatre. Terry has directed or musically directed numerous productions and has created the scores for four original musicals and a variety of chamber and vocal music pieces. He is a member of the Clarence Brown Professional Company and regularly directs and musically directs for the Clarence Brown Theatre. Terry is the director of the CBT Summer Acting Workshop and serves as co-facilitator of Outreach and Education hosting Theatre Tours and Talk Backs.

KATHERINE STEPANEK (Scenic Designer) Katherine, a native of St. Louis, is thrilled to be designing another show with the Clarence Brown Theatre. Previous work includes: Blithe Spirit, Exit, Pursued by A Bear, Million Dollar Quartet, as well as Detroit ’67. Outside productions have included both scenic and lighting design work for Highlands Playhouse (Highlands, NC), Shawnee Theatre (Bloomfield, IN), the Clarice Smith Dance Theatre (College Park, MD), the Summit Theatre Group (Kansas City, MO), and the Jack Aldrich Theater (Sandusky, OH). Katherine has also worked in the art department for various films, including Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. She received her graduate degree in Scenic Design from the University of Tennessee.

LAUREN T. ROARK (Costume Designer) is the head of graduate Costume Design in the Department of Theatre at the University of Tennessee. She has previously designed King Charles III, Million Dollar Quartet, A Christmas Carol (2021), and Always...Patsy Cline at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Select regional credits include Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her work has been featured in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology’s Young Designers’ Forum Exhibition and she was awarded the Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence. Lauren has worked in costume shops spanning three continents, including Brazil and Hong Kong. She holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829. To learn more, visit www.laurentroark.com

TRAVIS GABODA (Lighting Designer) is a native of Stevens Point, WI. However, he is proud to call Knoxville his home. Design credits: Clarence Brown Theatre (It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, The Santaland Diaries and A Christmas Carol); Cumberland County Playhouse (Oklahoma! and Steel Magnolias), Timber Lake Playhouse (CATS, Anything Goes, HAIR, and Voices in the Dark), and a series of Dance compilations at Austin East High School. Travis served as the resident Master Electrician for the CBT and has moved into the position of Electrics Shop Manager. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he received his BFA in Theatre Design. He would also like to thank his wife Sarah and sons Taylor and Nathan for their constant understanding and love.

MIKE PONDER (Sound Designer) was an early disciple of the home studio boom and the revolution in computer and MIDI based production in the 80’s, dabbling in music recording, writing and commercial jingles in Boston before returning to Knoxville to buy a house with a small studio space in the basement. For over 24 years, Mike has been Sound Engineer and Sound Designer for UT Theatre and the Clarence Brown Theatres, designing, engineering and even composing for many of the theatre’s productions over the years. Some standout productions have been the American production of the Hungarian movement-only play, Oozstanc (US title: Dance in Time), with the creator and director Laszlo Marton as well as playing live music and sound effects “poolside” for Metamorphoses; Other stand-outs include, for The North Carolina Stage Company (Asheville), Hedwig & the Angry Inch and Lee Blessing’s Chesapeake with its composed dog oriented bass. Mike keeps a small project studio in West Knoxville.

DJ PIKE (Projection Designer) is originally from Clinton, Utah, where he earned his BA in Theatre at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. DJ is now a third-year graduate candidate at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, earning his MFA in Scenic and Projection Design. Recent scenic designs include Murder on the Orient Express, She Kills Monsters, The Winter’s Tale, The Revolutionists, Everyman, and Sunday in the Park with George. Recent projection designs include Murder on the Orient Express, A Christmas Carol, The Magic Flute for UT Opera, and Sunday in the Park with George. You can explore more of his work at djpike.com.

CASEY SAMS (Choreographer) Casey teaches movement for actors, musical theatre, and serves as the Associate Chair for the theatre department. She regularly directs and choreographs for the CBT, and has served as Intimacy Choreographer for the CBT, River and Rail Theatre Company, First Take Productions, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has had the great good fortune to work as a choreographer or director at such theaters as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Vermont Stage, The Utah Shakespearian Festival, Great River Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Stage, and Knoxville Opera, among others. Her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees are from Penn State, she is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York, and she is a member of the inaugural class of Education Advocates with Theatrical Intimacy Educators.

KATIE CUNNINGHAM (Voice, Text, and Dialect Coach) has been acting at Clarence Brown Theatre since 2013 and teaching at UTK since 2018. Recent voice, text, and dialect coaching includes Nashville Rep; River & Rail Theatre; Southwest Shakespeare Company; and many productions at Clarence Brown Theatre. Her work has been published in the Voice and Speech Review, The Conversation, and the International Dialects of English Archive. She is a Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork and has extensive experience in Miller Voice Method and Fitzmaurice Voicework. In addition to an M.F.A. in acting from Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and a B.A. in dramatic art & political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she holds a graduate certificate in vocology from the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at Lamar University. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, VASTA, and PAVA (Pan-American Vocology Association).

PATRICK LANCZKI (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back for his ninth season at the CBT and his seventh as Production Stage Manager. His regional stage management credits include five years as resident stage manager at Asolo Repertory Theater, as well as multiple seasons at Arkansas Repertory Theater, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Northern Stage, and several Off- Broadway productions. As an actor, starting at age 16, he has appeared in numerous national and international tours, including seven tours of Jesus Christ Superstar, television, movies and voiceovers. Patrick has been a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association since 1984 and dedicates his work on this production, as always, to his late father Alex. AHFOL to Katie, my best friend, favorite actress, and wife.

RACHEL JARNAGIN (Stage Manager) Rachel, from Knoxville, TN, has been working in the arts and entertainment industry for 7+ years in various professions ranging from Stage Management to Technical Direction to Event Management and Coordination. She found her calling for stage management in her undergraduate studies at Maryville College in Maryville, TN but has enjoyed broadening her experiences outside of live theatre. Rachel is currently the Assistant Events Coordinator with World's Fair Park Events but her other credits include Touring Stage Manager for ArtsPower Inc., Stage Manager for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Assistant Technical Director for the Clayton Center for the Arts. Rachel is incredibly honored to return to Clarence Brown Theatre and assist with their production of A Christmas Carol this year.

KENNETH MARTIN (Department Head, Artistic Director) Ken comes from the University of Missouri, at Kansas City, where he was the Patricia Mcllrath Endowed Professor and Chair of the Theatre Division.  His 26-year career in academia also included nearly 18 years serving as chair of the theater departments of Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina and Ashland University in Ohio. Tremendously successful as an administrator at both institutions, Martin navigated curricular revisions and development, managed resources effectively and efficiently, created innovative collaborations, cultivated significant enrollment growth, and forged international partnerships. A member of United Scenic Artists, his designs have been seen at theatres across the country including Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, New Theatre, Ohio Light Opera, Cleveland Ensemble Theatre, Ocean State Theatre and many others. He has also designed shows for many colleges and universities including Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Coastal Carolina University, Cuyahoga Community College, and The Ohio State University. Martin has actively served his profession as a respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, as a consultant for several regional theaters and through active participation in organizations like the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Educational Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

TOM CERVONE (Managing Director) has dedicated most of his professional career (and life) advocating for and working in the best interests of the arts and culture industry, 25 years (and counting) serving proudly as the managing director for the Clarence Brown Theatre/Department of Theatre at UTK. He previously served as the first executive director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation and the executive director for Dogwood Arts. Cervone spent many years on the board of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and currently serves on the boards of the WordPlayers, the Knoxville Children’s Theatre, Department of Theatre and recently appointed to the Board of Governors of West Liberty University. Cervone remains active within the UTK community as a member of the Exempt Staff Council and Chancellor’s Commission for LGBTQ people. He received the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Service to the University in 2010. He is a longtime member of the Actors’ Equity Association. Cervone holds his undergraduate degree in Speech and English Education with an emphasis in Theatre from West Liberty University in West Virginia and an MFA (1993) and MBA (2010) from UTK. He is a graduate of and was selected as the Class Representative of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2011.  Cervone is a member of his undergraduate alma mater’s class of 2015 Alumni Wall of Honor.

SUSAN L. McMILLAN (Production Manager) is in her ninth year as Production Manager at CBT and UT Department of Theatre. In addition, she teaches Stage Management. Prior, Susan was the Production Manager and Stage Management Instructor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, for 6 years. Susan is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and was a Stage Manager at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 18 years. Additionally, she has stage managed at the Guthrie Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, PCPA, Rogue Valley Opera, Portland Civic Theatre, and has toured to the Kennedy Center. Through science and music (B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Biology from Oregon State University), Susan found her passion in theatre. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunities and adventures, inspirational mentors, artistic and talented colleagues, amazing students, and the love and support of her family and friends.

DAVID BRIAN ALLEY  (Scrooge, Ensemble) David reprises his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in this year’s production of A Christmas Carol, a role he first played last season. He appeared earlier this season as Colonel Arbuthnot in Murder on the Orient Express, and last season as Ed in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. David first became a CBT Company member in the Fall of 2000, performing in The Woman in Black, and has appeared in over 55 CBT productions including Hamlet; The Madwoman of Chaillot; King Charles III; The Santaland Diaries; The 39 Steps; The Trip to Bountiful; Noises Off; Kiss Me, Kate; Fuddy Meers; It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play; Moonlight and Magnolias; The Merry Wives of Windsor; Amadeus; Copenhagen; Major Barbara; A Flea in Her Ear; Stones in His Pockets; ‘ART’; The Rainmaker; and The Glass Menagerie among others. Regional: Playmaker’s Repertory; The Mark Taper Forum; Hollywood Actors’ Theatre; The iO Theatre Chicago; and Chicago TheatreWorks. Film: David recently finished filming a Feature-Length film, Angel of Light, that was shot and produced here in Knoxville. He has also appeared in Light from Light; Something, Anything; Prison Break-In; The Heart is Deceitful; Gina: An Actress, Age 29; and The Sleep Seeker. TV: Women of the Movement (ABC); Snapped; Fatal Attraction; Storm of Suspicion; Vengeance; Unsolved Mysteries; and It’s A Miracle. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. davidbrianalley.com He is married to his beautiful wife, Jill; is father to his favorite “productions” of all-time, Devin and Caroline; and is a proud, beaming step-father to Abby and Ethan!

GUTHRIE BUTLER  (Caroler, Young Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Topper, Ensemble) Guthrie is so excited to be working on another CBT production. He is a Theatre major at the University and is finishing his final semester here after four and a half years. He is grateful to be working with so many wonderful performers and he hopes you enjoy the show!

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JOSEPH CORAM (Fred, Dick Wilkins, Peter Cratchit, Undertaker, Ensemble) is the son of Melissa and Jeremiah Coram and is a Sophomore at UT. This will be his debut performance at the Clarence Brown Theatre. He has participated in many different shows at the Knoxville Children’s Theatre, the most recent of which was The Little Mermaid. He is enjoying his Sophomore year at UT and is very excited to make his debut in this performance of A Christmas Carol. He would like to thank his parents for supporting him and pushing him to be the best that he can be, Coke Morgan for being an amazing vocal coach, Elizabeth Williams for being a fabulous instructor and director, Charlotte Chrimes for being the best twin ever, and Dennis Perkins for being his acting and directing mentor for many years.

GREGORY CRANE (Marley, Mr. Fezziwig, Young Marley, Ensemble) Gregory is thrilled to make his CBT debut with this wonderful group of artists. A recent California transplant, his favorite theatre credits include: Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Zach in A Chorus Line, Valentine in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Tom in The Glass Menagerie, Sidney in Deathtrap, and Otto in The Diary of Anne Frank. He is the creator of Love, 10 a solo play about Tennessee Williams. Gregory earned a BFA from Playwrights’ Horizons Theatre School at New York University. Dedicated to Mom and to Ted.  

RACHEL DARDEN (Mrs. Cratchit, Miss Ortle, Ghost of Christmas Future, Ensemble) Rachel grew up on the western slope of Colorado – a place that more resembles Mars than anything John Denver sang about. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre from Colorado Mesa University before beginning a decade long journey away from, then back to acting (there was a yurt, questionable hair choices, and a lot of pie). She is currently in her final year of MFA training. During her time at UTK, she has had the opportunity to play such roles as Agnes in She Kills Monster, Greta in Murder on the Orient Express, and will be seen as Judy in this spring's production of Trouble in Mind. Upon graduation she plans to pursue her craft in Washington, D.C.

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JED DIAMOND (Understudy - Scrooge, Marley, Mr. Fezziwig) has been Head of Acting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville since 2005. The UT MFA in Acting program has been ranked among the top-25 programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia for the past five years, reaching #8 in 2020. Jed has appeared in many roles at the CBT, most recently in Murder on the Orient Express. He has also acted at Wheelhouse Theatre Co; The New York Shakespeare Festival; Roundabout Theatre; The Acting Company; Signature Theatre; Arena Stage; Syracuse Stage; etc. Prior to UT, he was founding faculty of the New York Shakespeare Festival Shakespeare Lab and of the Actors Center. He taught at NYU Tisch School of the Arts; Stella Adler Studio; Playwright’s Horizons Theatre School; Fordham University, etc. He is an AmSAT* certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, trained in New York and London. He has taught as a guest artist at Yale School of Drama, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Playmaker’s Repertory Theatre, and Great River Shakespeare Festival, etc. He has an MFA from the NYU Graduate Acting Program. *American Society of the Alexander Technique

LIVI FENECH (Understudy - Baker, Ghost of Christmas Past, Martha, Catherine, Mrs.Dilber, Caroler, Belle, Agatha, Laundress, Caroline, Ensemble) Livi is a Knoxville based actor and senior at UT. This spring she will graduate with her bachelors in Theatre and Communication Studies. Most recently, she performed in a series of new works with First Take Co. Other credits include Clarence Brown Theatre, Tennessee Stage, The WordPlayers. Love always to her mom, Tiffany, for sharing her love of theatre. 

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TYLER GLOVER (Understudy - Bob Cratchit, Schoolmaster, Archie, Joe, Tree Seller, Young Marley, Albert, Charles, Ensemble) is a second-year undergrad student at UTK and is very excited to be a part of this year's production of A Christmas Carol. You may have seen him in this year’s production of Murder on the Orient Express (Waiter/ Steward) at the Clarence Brown Theatre, Twelfth Night (Sir Tobi Belch) from All Campus Theatre, and Hello Dolly (waiter) from The Wordplayers. He is currently working to get a Cinema Studies and English degree, while also minoring in Secondary Education and Theatre. 

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KAGE OAKLEY HARROLD  (Tree Seller, Albert, Charles, Ensemble) A recent transfer to Knoxville, Kage is a classically trained vocalist with extensive performance experience from Shakespeare to Sondheim. Some of their favorites past roles include Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Katurian in The Pillowman, and Cosmo in Singin' in the Rain! They are thrilled to be involved in their first show at the Clarence Brown Theatre with this truly incredible cast and crew. When they are not performing, you can most likely find Kage reading a mystery novel, writing poetry, or studying with their cat Luna. Kage would like to thank the entire cast and crew for welcoming them into this production with open arms, as well as their wonderful family and friends for always supporting them in whatever they do, no matter how crazy.

SARAH HAZLEHURST (Understudy - Caroler, Mrs. Fezziwig, Miss Ortle, Mrs. Cratchit, Ghost of Christmas Future, Ensemble) is a junior here at the University majoring in Theatre with an acting concentration. Sarah is 20 years old and from Jackson, Tennessee. She is thrilled at the opportunity to understudy this show and has had a wonderful time doing so. Sarah will be making her first appearance in the lab theatre as Hawkins in Men On Boats next semester......

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JACOB LEON (Understudy - Caroler, Young Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Topper, Fred, Dick Wilkins, Peter Cratchit, Undertaker, Ensemble) is a Freshman at UTK majoring in Theatre. He is very excited to get to work on a production at the Clarence Brown Theatre for the very first time and to learn from all of the incredibly talented people working there. He has been involved in theatre since high school and has fallen in love with how accepting and kind the community is. He would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him, and especially his mom for being his hero and his biggest inspiration.

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GOLDEN LITTLEJOHN (Tiny Tim, School Child, Party Child, Ignorance, Ensemble) Golden is grateful to perform in his first CBT production. He is a 3rd grade Honors Program student at Beaumont Magnet Academy and wants to thank Mrs. Taylor, his theater teacher, for sharing this opportunity with him. Golden enjoys singing in the choir at Foster Chapel Baptist Church, competing with his EYF swim team, volunteering for Burlington Food Pantry, Mobile Meals, and Keep Knoxville Beautiful, and immersing himself in drawing activities. Golden has a strong village that runs deep. He extends love and thanks to each member of his village and everyone who came to support him and this production.

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NATALYA MacDONALD-RISNER (Young Beggar, Fan, Belinda, Want, Turkey Child, Ensemble) is excited to return to the stage at the Clarence Brown Theatre after a 5 year pause to pursue film and commercial acting! She made her debut at CBT in 2017 as Tiny Tim. She studied acting at Acting Up in Atlanta and is a current vocal student at Maryville Music Academy. She has been featured in many print and television commercial projects, including Dollywood, Pink Jeep Tours, and Yamaha Watercraft. She has also been the lead and featured talent in numerous films. Currently, she has been working on songs in the studio, hoping to release an album in the near future. Natalya is an 8th grade student at Samuel Everett School of Innovation. She would like to thank CBT for this opportunity, and her family and friends for their continued support.

MADISON M. MANSOURI (Understudy - Ghost of Christmas Present, Young Beggar, Fan, Belinda, Ignorance, Turkey Child, Ensemble) is thrilled to be working on A Christmas Carol. She is currently pursuing a degree in English and Theatre, and serves on All Campus Theatre as the Marketing Director. Madison is grateful for this opportunity, and would like thank to her parents, brother, and friends who have supported her.

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AMBERLIN McCORMICK (Caroler, Belle, Agatha, Laundress, Caroline, Ensemble) She is a fourth-year MFA Acting candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her credits include: Viola in Twelfth Night (National Black Theatre Festival), Eurydice in Eurydice (Warehouse Performing Arts Center) and Avigail in The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph (River and Rail Theatre). Amberlin would like to thank her wonderful instructors, family, and classmates!

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MICHAEL NAJMAN (Bob Cratchit, Schoolmaster, Archie, Joe, Ensemble) Born and raised in Queens, NY, Michael moved to Knoxville to attend UTK’s MFA in Acting program, and expects to graduate in 2023. His most recent roles include Hector MacQueen in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Oreint Express, Reverend Peters/Station Policeman in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Greg in A Kid Like Jake, and additionally voice coaching She Kills Monsters. Watch him play Dungeons and Dragons with his actor friends Sunday nights at 6:30pm at www.twitch.tv/magicpodcasters

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PENNY PETERSON (Tiny Tim, School Child, Party Child, Ignorance, Ensemble) is a 2nd Grader at Beaumont Magnet Academy in Knoxville. This is her first time on stage at the Clarence Brown Theatre, and she is having so much fun! Penny loves to read adventure books and play pretend with her friends. When she grows up she wants to be a scientist who figures out whether or not magic is real. Penny is grateful for all of the people in her life who love her and dream big with her.

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CHRISTINE SAGE (Baker, Ghost of Christmas Past, Martha, Catherine, Mrs. Dilber, Ensemble) is honored to be back in the theatre with you all, sharing a piece of timeless storytelling. At the CBT you’ve seen her in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, She Kills Monsters, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Blithe Spirit and A Christmas Carol. She comes from Los Angeles, where she won an Ovation Award for blending Shakespeare and circus. She’d like to give a special thanks to Blake for making the holidays merry.

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LAURA BETH WELLS (Caroler, Mrs. Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ensemble) Broadway: Emily Osborn in Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark (original cast). CBT credits: Patsy Cline in Always...Patsy Cline, Mrs. Bradman in Blithe Spirit, Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol. Other regional theatre highlights: Heather in Gideon’s Knot (Bridge Street Theatre), Mrs. Walker in The Who’s Tommy (CT Rep), Kafka/The Waitress in All in the Timing (Hangar Theatre), Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Teaching Artist: UTK, Maryville College, Pellissippi State, Knoxville Children's Theatre, SF Shakespeare Festival, Hangar Theatre, Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY Binghamton. Laura Beth received her BA in Theatre from UTK and her MFA in Acting from Kent State University. Sing Out, Louise!

MANAGEMENT
Assistant Director  - Madison M. Mansouri
Assistant Stage Management  - Courtney Morris
Young Performers Supervisor - Catherine York
Fire Watch - Bailee Bosclair, and
Katie Stepanek

COSTUMES
Assistant Costume Designer - Kaelyn Williams
Wardrobe Supervisor - Elizabeth Aaron
Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor - Blake Julian
Wardrobe Crew - Caleb Baty, and Kieran Byrd,
Keeley Wade, and Hogan Wayland

SCENERY
Deck AV - Sarah Wahrmund
Deck Crew - Ellary Hutsell, and Cameron Skillen

LIGHTING
Assistant Lighting Designer - Mitch Wilson
Production Electrician - Kayla Moore
Light Board Operator - Phyllis Belanger
Spot Operators - Jacob Cottrell, and Tyler Sivels

SOUND
Sound Board Operator - Keiry Tenorio-Vargas

PROJECTIONS
Projection Operator - Belle Holmes

SWING CREW
Kell Kellm, and Graham Schrober

SPECIAL THANKS
Emily Adams

ADMINISTRATION

Artistic Director/Department Head - Kenneth Martin
Managing Director - Tom Cervone
Business Manager - Tara Halstead
Accounting Specialist - Le Anna Jacobson
Administrative Specialist - Bee Caruthers
Marketing & Communications Director - Robin Conklin
General Manager - Vickie Carter
IT Specialist - Mark Spurlock
Graphic Designer - Julie Anna Summers

PATRON SERVICES

Manager of Ticketing and Sales - Sarah Burton
Box Office Manager - Callie Bacon
Lead House Manager - David Ratliff
Patron Service Associates - Faridat Akindele, George Bull, Desirea Burke, Julie Carter, Jordan Gatton-Bumpus, Kidist Girmai, Diamond Leonard, Emma Massengill, Jordan McCready, Faith McManus, Anderson McNeil, Ariella Mingo, Whitney Priest, Brana Shankle, Ariyana Shaw, Emmy Sinclair, Savannah Smith, Lillian Snead, Justin Spinella, Emily Stone, Jenna Tiger, Jacob Toran and Avalon Trunzo

ENGAGEMENT/DEVELOPMENT
External Relations Manager - Shelly Payne
Grants, Education, and Outreach Manager - Hana Sherman
Tours, Workshops - David Brian Alley
Summer Acting Workshops, Actor Talk Backs - Terry D. Alford

PRODUCTION
Production Manager - Susan L. McMillan
Rental Coordinator/Assistant Production Manager - Phyllis Belanger
Production Stage Manager - Patrick Lanczki

COSTUMES
Costume Shop Manager - Melissa Caldwell-Weddig
Cutter/Draper - Kyle Andrew Schellinger
Costumers - Amber Williams, Elizabeth Aaron, Ellen Bebb, and Laura Clift
Costume Assistants - M.J. Hromek, Alex Heder, and Kaelyn Williams
Costume Maintenance Crew -  Chase Miller and Catherine Blevins
Wig Design - Siobian Jones

ELECTRICS
Electrics Shop Manager - Travis Gaboda
Lead Electrician - Jon Mohrman
Lighting Assistants - Lisa Bernard, Liv Jin, Rachel Clift, Kaylin Gess, and Mitch Wilson

SCENERY
Technical Director - Jason Fogarty
Assistant Technical Director - George Hairston
Lead Carpenter - Jerry D. Winkle
Senior Carpenter - Kyle L. Hooks
Scene Shop Assistants - DJ Pike and Michaela Lochen
Scenic Charge Artist - Jillie Eves
Scenic Painter - Michaela Lochen
Painters - Laura Clift

PROPERTIES
Props Supervisor - Christy Fogarty 
Lead Properties Artisan -  Sarah Gaboda
Prop Assistants - Graham Brewer, Monica Gardiner, Sophie Smrcka, and Katie Stepanek

SOUND
Sound Supervisor - Mike Ponder
Sound Assistants - Allison Bucher and Amoirie Perteet

BRANDON GIBSON

June 8, 1986 - November 16, 2022

Brandon Gibson, artist, friend, and CBT/UTK Theatres company member; actor, singer, VOICE of Audrey II, as well as luminous, enthusiastic, and most charming box office employee. There are no words to adequately reflect the enormity of this loss to our community and, frankly, to the world. But, if you’ve got a moment or two or, two thousand, take a scroll through Facebook and one will immediately understand the incredible void we are all feeling, a collective sob, a hollow and empty space now exists wherever Brandon stood. Thank you, Brandon, for reminding us, moment to moment, day to day, and so forth, there is still lots of good in this universe. God Speed… "and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Tom Cervone on behalf of all of us here at the CBT…

Julie Howard, Chair
Margie Nichols, Immediate Past Chair
Steve Drevik, At-Large
Alexander Waters, At-Large

Jennifer Banner
Larry Brakebill
Will Brewer
Amy Caponetti
Lisa Carroll
Jeff Cheek
Brooks Clark
Katharine Pearson Criss
Leann Dickson
Steve Drevik
Danielle Ely
Pamela Given
Amy Morris Hess
Julie Howard
Erica Lyon
Maureen Dunn McBride
Margie Nichols
John North
Sara Phillips
Vladimir Protopopescu
Lee Riedinger
CortneyJo Sandidge
Susan Sgarlat
Pedro Tomás
Alice Torbett
Bob Trigiano
Robin Turner
Terry Tyler
Georgiana Vines
Alexander Waters
Donna Wertz
Melanie Wood
Wendy Wortham

Emeritus

Charlie Brakebill◊
Joe De Fiore
Susan Ferris
Townes Lavidge Osborn
Jan Simek

Ex Officio

Kenneth Martin
Tom Cervone
Holly Jackson-Sullivan
Stephanie Wall

◊ Deceased

Artists Circle

James Alan Carmichael and Cynthia Moxley
Dr. Jeffrey and Virginia Eberting
Laura Kimsey Eshbaugh
Pamela and James Given
Michael Higdon
The Lederer Family
Theresa Lee and Jacob Love
Mrs. Townes Lavidge Osborn and Robert S. Marquis
Linda and Terry Tyler

Producer Circle

Jennifer Banner
Larry and Jeanie Brakebill
Sandra and Peter Campbell
Lisa Carroll
Dr. Jimmy and Ileen Cheek
Michael Combs
Susan and Kent Farris
Drs. Joe and Jayne De Fiore
Drs. Nancy Duckles and Cameron Sears
Steve Drevik and Le Ann Rogers
Stanton and Alison Garner
Tara and Scott Halstead
Vickie Ellis and Joe Hoagland
Prof. Amy Morris Hess
John and Susan Hoffman
Julie Howard and Ted Flickinger
Susan and Jerry Kornegay
Robert and Brenda Madigan
Maureen Dunn McBride and Neil McBride
Mr. Arthur G. Mitchell
Margie Nichols and John Gill
Linda B. Norris
Hei Park
Meredith Peccolo and James Vaughan
Susan Sgarlat
Patricia Roux-Sharp
Jan and Mary Ann Simek
Donna Solod
Donald Thorne
Alice Torbett
Nancy Voith and Kenneth Stark
Donna and Terry Wertz
Wendy and Dale Wortham

Director Circle

Donna and Randall Riggs
Brooks and Karen Clark

Rising Star

Jeff and Laura Allen
Myrwood Besozzi
Will and Rebecca Brewer
Mr. John L. Butler, Sr.
Clay S. Davis, Jr.
Christopher and Kelly Herbstritt
Dr. Jeffrey D. Kovac
Dr. Samantha Murphy and Mr. Justin Roby
Sheena McCall
Sarah Phillips

Leading Player

Anne G. Armstrong
Amy Caponetti
Leann and James Dickson
Dr. Stuart B. Elston
Cynthia Gibson
Dennis F. Hayward
Lyle and Trish Irish
Michael and Nancy Lofaro
John D. North
Vladimir Protopopescu
CortneyJo and Calvin Sandidge
Robert Trigiano
Georgiana Vines
Alexander Oaks Waters

Priscilla Bright
Constance Burnett
Steve Drevik
Vickie Ellis
Mardel Fehrenbach
Virginia Kerwin
Susan Kornegay
Jerry Kornegay
Sharon Kreis
Stephen LaVie
Maureen McBride
Sheena McCall
Margie Nicols
Linda Norris
Sarah Philips
Donna Riggs
Fran Scheidt
Helen Sirett
Alice Torbett
Terry Tyler
Linda Tyler
Georgiana Vines
Donna Wertz

PROFESSORS

Kenneth Martin  Department Head, CBT Artistic Director
Casey Sams  Movement & Musical Theatre, Associate Department Head
Kenton Yeager Lighting Design, Head of Graduate Studies

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Jed Diamond  Acting
Joe Payne  Sound and Media Design
Christopher Pickart  Scenic Design

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Kathryn Cunningham  Voice and Speech
Gina Di Salvo  Theatre History and Dramaturgy
Shinnerrie Jackson Acting
Lauren T. Roark  Costume Design
Neno Russell  Costume Technology

LECTURERS

David Brian Alley  Senior Lecturer in Acting, Head of Undergraduate Studies
Terry D. Alford  Distinguished Lecturer in Music Theatre
Tracy Copeland Halter Acting
Steve Sherman Acting
Laura Beth Wells Acting
Katy Wolfe Voice

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Carol Mayo Jenkins Acting

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Misty Anderson Professor of English and Theatre, English Department, Allen C. Carroll Chair of Teaching
Stanton B. Garner, Jr.  Professor of English and Theatre, Chair, Department of English  

EMERITUS

Bill Black Costume Design & Technology Professor Emeritus
Kate Buckley  Directing Professor Emeritus
Marianne Custer  Costume Design Professor Emeritus
Calvin MacLean  Department Head, CBT Artistic Director, Professor Emeritus
John Sipes  Acting, Directing & Movement Professor Emeritus
Terry Weber Acting, Voice Professor Emeritus