Christmas Carol at BGC Amphitheater Dec. 7 to 27

MANILA, Philippines — Christmas in the theater circuit begins with a revival of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol opening Dec. 7 at the BGC Amphitheater until Dec. 27.

Globe Live executive producer, Joe Caliro, reiterates his company’s desire to help local theater producers by way of sponsoring production costs. “It’s the same musical, but a different show. All the theater that’s being produced right now is in November because there are too many Christmas parties, there are too many things to do. That sounds kind of Bah Humbug to me. It was always planned from the very beginning to create a new tradition in the Philippines,” Caliro said in recent presscon.

He added that there were a resounding 3,000 people who went to see A Christmas Carol on Christmas last year. “Keep in mind that the theater only seats 600. We had 3,000 people show up on Christmas night.”

Director Robbie Guevara said that the production is new. “The only thing retained is the title, the music, the lyrics, and half the cast. The other half is new. The set is new, the lights will be new, which means the direction and the choreography are all new.”

Based on Charles Dickens’ beloved novella, A Christmas Carol: The Musical is the well-loved tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter miser who hates Christmas. Visited by three ghosts, Scrooge revisits his past and is given a glimpse of the world around him in the present and a prophecy of his future. This Charles Dickens classic is considered the quintessential Christmas story.

With a combination of new and old cast, the lucky theater group is 9 Works Theatrical which promises a production with more grit, more depth and more spirit while staying faithful to the story.

Reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge is legendary actor, set designer and director Miguel Faustmann.

Theater veteran Noel Rayos also joins the cast, juggling the roles of Jacob Marley and Mr. Fezziwig.

Fresh from his well-acclaimed performance as Julio Madiaga in Maynila Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag The Musical, tenor Arman Ferrer also joins the cast of A Christmas Carol as Fred. A theater actor and classical singer, he was a featured soloist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. He originated the role of Emilio Aguinaldo in Mabining Mandirigma, for which he received the PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay for Best Featured Male in a Musical in 2015.

Globe Live and 9 Works Theatrical’s A Christmas Carol will be shown at the Globe Iconic Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, Bonifacio Global City on Dec. 7 to 9, 14 to 16, 21, 22, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 10 and 17 (Sundays) and Dec. 25, Christmas Show, at 7 p.m.