For immediate release.
MORE STARS SIGN ON FOR SPECIAL GUEST ROLE IN
TWISTED TELLING OF A HOLIDAY FAVORITE
IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
Hysterical New Holiday Classic Continues Through December 30, 2012,
At Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a TV alien, a silver screen starship pilot, a Tony
Award nominee, a Mini-Me and others join the collection of stars from the worlds of stage,
screen, radio, politics, music, food, fitness, spirituality and interplanetary transport (both real and
imagined) who had already signed on for special cameo performances in the world premiere of
The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” at Center Theatre Group’s
Kirk Douglas Theatre.
The newly announced list of special guests features the Los Angeles Times’ Pulitzer
Prize-winning food writer Jonathan Gold, actors Sebastian Siegel, Todd Stashwick, French
Stewart, Tony nominee Stephen Tobolowsky, Vern Troyer (Mini-Me), Rita Wilson (actress /
recording artists) and John Cho (from the recent film version of “Star Trek” who, in conjunction
with the previously announced George Takei, gives this production a sweep of the top two most
famous Lieutenant Sulus).
Additional guest stars (announced earlier) include musicians Lance Bass and Henry
Rollins; actors Rose Abdoo, Jason Alexander, Ed Begley, Jr., Barry Bostwick, Neil Flynn,
Keegan-Michael Key, Sharon Lawrence, John Lehr, Ben McKenzie, Lamorne Morris, Danny
Pudi, Shoshannah Stern, George Takei and Fred Willard; radio personalities Lisa May and
Sandra Tsing Loh; writer Bruce Vilanch; scientists Bobak Ferdowsi and Bill Nye; chefs Susan
Feniger and Valerie Gordon; professional wrestler John Hennigan (formerly known as WWE
superstar John Morrison); child actress turned politician Sheila Kuehl; and LA treasures Father
Gregory Boyle and Richard Simmons. All guests are subject to change.
-more-
Additional Guest Stars for Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens” - 2
Written by Second City alums, Peter Gwinn (formerly of “The Colbert Report”) and
Bobby Mort (currently of “The Colbert Report”), The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist
Your Dickens!” will run through December 30, 2012. Previews began November 24 and the
comedy opened November 29, 2012.
Directed by Marc Warzecha (Resident Director, The Second City) the permanent cast
features Second City alums Frank Caeti (“MADtv”), Larry Joe Campbell (“According to Jim”),
Dan Castellaneta (“The Simpsons”), Amanda Blake Davis (“Second City Does Dallas” at the
Dallas Theatre Center), Brian Stepanek (“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”), Jean Villepique
(“Up All Night”) and Ron West (“3rd Rock from the Sun”).
The scenic design is by Tom Buderwitz, costume design by Leah Piehl, lighting design
by Brandon Baruch and sound design by Cricket S. Myers. The production stage manager is
Kirsten Parker.
With its trademark humor, irreverence and originality, The Second City, in a creative
collaboration with CTG, is taking the classic Charles Dickens’ Christmas tale and giving it a
hearty twist. In addition to Scrooge (played by Ron West), the ever-morphing ensemble will
bring the famous Victorian streets to frenzied life with Tiny Tim, that fat, plucked goose, all
those know-it-all ghosts, a host of anachronistic characters and hilarious improvs which will
have Dickens guffawing in his grave.
The Second City specializes in sketch comedy and improvisation and has delighted
audiences for over 50 years. With resident stages in Chicago and Toronto and touring ensembles,
The Second City entertains over a million guests each year. It is also the largest training center in
the world for improvisation, sketch and acting, with schools in Los Angeles, Chicago and
Toronto, and 20,000 registrations per year. The Second City served as a training ground for a
host of famous alumni, including Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, John Candy, John
Belushi, Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and more. Colbert said,
“The Second City was everything to me,” and Murray said, “Second City is the best job anybody
in the American theatre can get. It’s incomparable.” The New York Times reported that “The
entire recent tradition of American satire can be summed up in three words: The Second City.”
Tickets for “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” are available by calling (213)
628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box
office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre
box office. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA
90232.
December 12, 2012
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