A Christmas Carol
The Fourth Annual
Join us for our fourth year of
A Christmas Carol
a staged reading benefit
Friday, December 9
Rowayton Community Center
Saturday, December 10
Pequot Library
Tickets are $75 and include
a cocktail party at 5:30 and the show at 7:00
Funds raised from this benefit will go toward a new sound system for our summer show and educational tours, educational programs to underserved communities,
and to our summer show: As You Like It
CAST
Gerardo Rodriguez* as Scrooge
Gerardo Rodriguez Select credits include: The Hombres (Two River Theater), It’s a Wonderful Life (Hartford Stage), Terra Firma (The Coop), Summer and Smoke (CSC), Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement (INTAR), It Can’t Happen Here (Berkeley Rep.), Se Llama Christina (INTAR), To the Bone (Cherry Lane), Seven Spots on the Sun (Cincinnati Playhouse), La Ruta (Working Th.), Lucy Loves Me (INTAR), Elemeno Pea (Humana Festival), Dramatis Personae (Playwrights Realm), Chad Deity (Mixed Blood). TV/Film: “Elementary”, “The Blacklist”, “Blue Bloods”, “Shades of Blue”, “Search Party”, “Person of Interest”, “Law & Order”, “CI” & “SVU”, Blind, Misty Button, The Artist’s Wife, Cruzando, Last Night at Angelo’s. MFA-ART/MXAT.
Winsome Brown* as Narrator
Winsome Brown is an Obie-award winning actor who adores Dickens and is thrilled to be reading for you tonight. This summer she played King John in Shakespeare on the Sound’s King John. Theatre: for Shakespeare on the Sound: Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Carol. Hit the Body Alarm (Performing Garage), This is Mary Brown (La MaMa, Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Pill (La MaMa) The Burial at Thebes (Irish Rep), The Master Builder with Wallace Shawn and directed by André Gregory, World of Wires (Paris, Krákow, Boston), La Vie Matérielle directed by Irina Brook (La MaMa, French tour), Tale of 2Cities (UCLA Live, PS 122 – Obie award). Film/ TV: News of the World, Dopesick, The Blacklist, Crowded Room with Tom Holland (upcoming), Elementary, Supergirl, Resurrection, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Lady & the Dale. Winsome is also a writer & director, and she narrates regularly for Apple News+. Happy Holidays! winsomebrown.com
Nick Urda* as Bob Cratchit
Nicholas Urda (Bob Cratchit)
This production marks Nick’s 4th A Christmas Carol with SOS and his second time playing Bob Cratchit. Nick is also the Director of Educational Outreach for Shakespeare on the Sound . With SOS, Nick has been seen on stage as Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and as Macduff in 2017’s production of Macbeth. He and his family have recently relocated to CT from NYC, where Nick worked as an actor, director and teaching artist. As a director, Nick has directed everything from new works to Shakespeare. As a performer, Nick has been acting professionally on stage and on screen for the past 18 years. Nick’s credits include Federico García Lorca in Olives and Blood (CT Rep) and The Off-BWay premiere of The Preacher and The Shrink, as well as working with such companies as Northern Stage, Two River Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Co, DC and The Royal Shakespeare Company and of course Shakespeare on the Sound. He holds a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College as well as completing the fellowship with The Shakespeare Theatre Co, DC. He can be seen on film in Strawberry Flavored Plastic, Audition and White Irish Drinkers as well as many television commercials.
This production marks Nick’s 4th A Christmas Carol with SOS and his second time playing Bob Cratchit. Nick is also the Director of Educational Outreach for Shakespeare on the Sound . With SOS, Nick has been seen on stage as Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and as Macduff in 2017’s production of Macbeth. He and his family have recently relocated to CT from NYC, where Nick worked as an actor, director and teaching artist. As a director, Nick has directed everything from new works to Shakespeare. As a performer, Nick has been acting professionally on stage and on screen for the past 18 years. Nick’s credits include Federico García Lorca in Olives and Blood (CT Rep) and The Off-BWay premiere of The Preacher and The Shrink, as well as working with such companies as Northern Stage, Two River Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Co, DC and The Royal Shakespeare Company and of course Shakespeare on the Sound. He holds a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College as well as completing the fellowship with The Shakespeare Theatre Co, DC. He can be seen on film in Strawberry Flavored Plastic, Audition and White Irish Drinkers as well as many television commercials.
Kate Simone* as Mrs. Cratchit
SOS debut! Kate has been a professional actress working both on stage and screen for the past thirteen years. TV credits include Mistresses (ABC) and HAPPYish (Showtime). She won the 2016 Connecticut Critics’ Circle Best Supporting Actress Award for her portrayal of Louise in Gypsy at Music Theatre of Connecticut. Kate made her directing debut in 2021 for New Canaan High School’s production of Oklahoma! Kate has been teaching voice and acting lessons for the past 3 years at The Studio and she is currently directing The Music Man at New Canaan High School. Many thanks to Lorah, Claire & her family for all their support!
Cooper Jennings as Ebeneezer
Cooper Jennings
Recent credits include King John at Shakespeare on the Sound (Bastard), Power of the Dog (Arkov), Troilus and Cressida (Troilus) at the Juilliard School and The Three Musketeers (D’Artagnan) at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. MFA in Acting, The Juilliard School.
Recent credits include King John at Shakespeare on the Sound (Bastard), Power of the Dog (Arkov), Troilus and Cressida (Troilus) at the Juilliard School and The Three Musketeers (D’Artagnan) at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. MFA in Acting, The Juilliard School.
Anne Guadagnino* as Belle & Mrs. Fred
Anne Guadagnino is an actor and educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds an M.F.A. in acting from Columbia University and a B.A. in Theatre and Education from UW-Madison. Past credits include Lady Blanche and Lord Bigot in Shakespeare on the Sound's King John. Presently she teaches at Saint Ann's School and in the future she hopes to be an old, accomplished actress who is not filled with longing and regret like our dear Ebenezer Scrooge. O tidings of comfort and joy to all and a hearty thank you to the SOS community for inviting her back to Rowayton!
Nick Rehberger* as Marley
Nick Rehberger He/Him recently appeared as The Sheriff of Nottingham in Hood (Asolo Rep). On Broadway, Nick was seen as Fyedka in Bartlett Sher’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof and stood by in John Tiffany’s production of The Glass Menagerie. Regionally, he has appeared as Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone (FPAC), Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice (St. Louis Rep), and Will Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Screen credits include “FBI: Most Wanted,” “The Equalizer,” and “Elementary” on CBS, “Girls” and “The Deuce” on HBO, “Gotham” on FOX, and the films I Am Michael and Thirdy. He is a proud graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. @nickrehberger
Vernice Miller* as Ghost of Christmas Present
Vernice Miller - is a Jamaican born, Afro-Caribbean theater artist who is passionate about the arts as a vehicle for positive social change. A few highlights from Miller’s acting career; Broadway: Disorderly Conduct (dir. George C. White); Off-B’way & Regional: The Memory Exam by Steven Fechter, King John (dir. Claire Kelly), Eve’s Song (dir. Jo Bonney), (Di)Visions of America 2020 (dir. John Sims), Fast Blood (Civic Ensemble), All God’s Chillun Got Wings (dir. Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.), The Trial of One Short Sighted Black Woman (dir. Paul Carter Harrison). Salt Chocolate and Frankie’s Wedding (dir. Gabrielle Lansner), Lysistrata Project (dir. Ellen McLaughlin). Europe: Nomansland & Port d’Alger 1962 (Slovenia, Poland, Ukraine & France) (dir. Seth Baumrin), Old Dreams New Hope (Denmark); Film/TV: Law & Order (NBC), Through The Wire, (PBS), Flaming Armadillo (National Swiss TV), The Golden Boat (dir. Raoul Ruiz), Leo Sonnyboy (Switzerland, dir. Rolf Lyssy). Solo, London New Play Festival’s Best Actress Award for Medea Nine-Night. www.ALATetc.org.
Marguerite Stimpson* as Ghost of Christmas Past
Marguerite Stimpson is thrilled to be working with Shakespeare on the Sound again, after appearing as Constance in last summer’s production of King John, as well as previous readings of A Christmas Carol. Marguerite has appeared in the Broadway and West End productions of The Elephant Man, as well as the Broadway production of Butley.
Other theater credits include Transfigures at the WP Theatre, Desperate Writers Off-Broadway, The Elephant Man at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Tragedy: A Tragedy at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Pericles at both the Shakespeare Theatre D.C. and the Goodman Theatre, Butley at the Huntington Theatre, and Antigone at American Repertory Theatre. Select television credits include “FBI: International”, “Lioness”, “The Blacklist”, “Billions”, “Little America”, “The Path”, “Blue Bloods”, “Law and Order: SVU”, “30 Rock”, “The Onion” (Huffington Post Best Comedy Video), as well as the film Eighth Grade (Golden Globes 2019) and many independent films. Marguerite received her MFA from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training A.R.T./ MXAT at Harvard University.
Other theater credits include Transfigures at the WP Theatre, Desperate Writers Off-Broadway, The Elephant Man at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Tragedy: A Tragedy at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Pericles at both the Shakespeare Theatre D.C. and the Goodman Theatre, Butley at the Huntington Theatre, and Antigone at American Repertory Theatre. Select television credits include “FBI: International”, “Lioness”, “The Blacklist”, “Billions”, “Little America”, “The Path”, “Blue Bloods”, “Law and Order: SVU”, “30 Rock”, “The Onion” (Huffington Post Best Comedy Video), as well as the film Eighth Grade (Golden Globes 2019) and many independent films. Marguerite received her MFA from the Institute for Advanced Theater Training A.R.T./ MXAT at Harvard University.
Michael Karadsheh* as Fred
Michael Karadsheh is a New York-based actor and graduate of Columbia University’s MFA Acting Program. Recent productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Moscow x6 (Columbia University), Wilder Shorts! (Columbia University), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Sound), Tomorrow Will Be Sunday (Chautauqua Theatre Company), The Most Oppressed of All (Target Margin Theater), Three Sisters (Columbia University), Sabra Falling (In The Heart of the Beast), and Where Do We Live (Columbia University) TV Credits: Justin, Everything's Trash (Freeform/Hulu).
Rod Singleton* as Mr. Fezziwig
Rod Singleton is thrilled to play once more with Shakespeare on the Sound after far too long! In 2017, Rod had the pleasure of playing Duncan in Macbeth! Other credits include Ragtime (Ogunquit Playhouse, Asolo Rep), Topdog/Underdog (Lake Dillon Theatre Co.), Romeo & Juliet (Hudson Valley Shakespeare), Cymbeline (Virginia Shakespeare Festival), and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Oregon Cabaret Theater). Proud Morehouse Man! Member of Actor’s Equity. Love, light, and gratitude to this entire theater family! AMLTJATB
Rebekah Dunn* as Mrs. Fezziwig
Rebekah Dunn is delighted to be working with SOS. Recently relocated to CT after 20 years in Los Angeles but was flown out for many summers with Connecticut Free Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Cyrano de Bergerac, Love’s Labour’s Lost and multiple Midsummers as Titania, Helena, and asst director. Other credits: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Othello, Tempest and Taming of the Shrew with Santa Clarita Shakespeare; Hamlet, Midsummer and Harold and Maude with Theatricum Botanicum; Proof, To Kill a Mockingbird, Murder in the Cathedral, Dancing at Lughnasa and the original cast of 4 of the Don't Hug Me musicals. Off stage she loves mom-ing her 4 kids ages 8-14 and running her educational production company Shakespeare Kids. Classically trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild since 2000.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association