A CHRISTMAS CAROL BOSTON PERFORMANCES 2010

FOR RELEASE ON: Monday, November 29, 2010

Media Contacts:

Al LePage, Performer, Great Stories Alive! / 503-335-3876 / Al.LePage@SpireTech.com
Guy LeBlanc, Director of Marketing & Museum Services, Wayside Inn / 978.440.9630 / history@wayside.org

Joanne Barry, Director, A Place to Turn / 508-655-8868 / info@aplacetoturn-natick.org

A very Victorian "Christmas Carol" returns to
Longfellow's Wayside Inn for "America's 1876 Centennial!"

"Thomas Hutchinson, Englishman and Traveling Thespian" is back again to passionately present
Dickens holiday classic, spin some tales, and share American history from a British perspective

"Englishman Thomas Hutchinson" portrayed by Al LePage as "Scrooge" himself! Image by Melissa Ostrow/www.melophoto.net

Dickens' "Christmas Carol" will be presented in the style of the Victorian era as dramatic reading performances on Saturday evening, December 4th in the Martha-Mary Chapel of Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury. Al LePage will again perform as "Englishman Thomas Hutchinson, Traveling Thespian" complete with English accent, clothing of the period and other accoutrements. This full performance from 8 to 10 PM of Dickens' historic public reading version as Dickens himself did it. Before the performance, "Thomas Hutchinson" will engage audience members in dialogue and also discuss -- from his own very personal British point-of-view -- relevant history and people, among other things, as if it were the "American Centennial of 1876!" They'll be some tasty treats at intermission and someone will get a very special gift at the close of the show, too. Doors open thirty minutes before each performance, and the show is best appreciated by adults and mature children 10 years of age and up, with admission being $10 per person. All ticket sales will equally benefit the Wayside Inn Historic Site and the emergency food pantry, A Place to Turn, both non-profit organizations. Seating is limited, and since the last two year's events have sold out before the performance, though tickets could possibly be available at the door, it's highly recommended you reserve ahead by calling the Wayside Inn at 978/443-1776.

"History and Christmas," begins LePage, "now, there's two great stories! Yes, there will be the telling of the great story of the Carol, a story I might add that Longfellow actually heard from the mouth of Dickens himself while the famed English author visited Boston in 1867. But, there's also the story written by those who have celebrated Christmas since New England separated from "Olde" England in 1776. So, get ready for the opening act when I invite you back home to the year 1876 to talk about local history on the hundreth anniversary of the American Rebellion against King George III!"

"Thomas Hutchinson introduces the Carol!"

LePage entertains appreciative audiences with his one-man "solo" of Dickens' Christmas Carol and “this year” takes you back to “America 1876” as Victorian-era "Englishman Thomas Hutchinson." His full performances not only use Dickens exact public reading version, but also are done just like Dickens did simply by using his voice, facial expressions, gestures and movement to create all 26 characters -- accents and all -- plus sound effects, too! From Scrooge to Tiny Tim, from Marley's Ghost to Mrs. Cratchit, there's howls and growls, bangs and bongs, a dance with a song, lively laughter and heartfelt tears. His love of improvisation combined with a highly interactive style means that he may not only engage you in conversation, but also encourage you to join him on stage at some point! In fact, watch out! Since he's playful, likes to experiment and believes in seizing the moment, even he doesn't always know what's going to happen next. And, before each reading, he's definitely got what could aptly be called “his stories” to tell both in “the year” and the place he's performing to connect, interpret, and share history with the audience. This not only makes each performance unique, but also keeps them fresh and exciting, spontaneous and full of surprises, too!

"Bringing history to life by portraying someone from the past," begins LePage, "is a very powerful way to engage people, and connect them with the history of where they live or visit. Great stories can make people more aware of the reality around them, connecting them with others and within themselves for greater understanding and compassion. Live drama can bring these great stories to life in a way that provides both entertainment and insight. And sure, I'm performing but I'm also really preaching, it's like being able to give one of the best sermons I've ever heard in my life, over and over again! I'm on fire! Hence it truly is a performance with passion and purpose. One very important purpose includes increasing people's awareness of hunger and to benefit A Place to Turn, an emergency food pantry in Natick serving area residents, plus benefit the Wayside Inn Historic Site in its efforts as a non-profit to preserve history itself."

"I cut and pasted these pages from Dickens very first edition," says "Hutchinson"
portrayed by Al LePage. "It was just an old beat up worn-out copy and thought
it would beautify my folder for the dramatic reading script." LePage loves to
play with the audience! (Above) Image by Melissa Ostrow/www.melophoto.net

LePage "Plays Ball" with the audience before the reading

"More people than ever are relying on emergency food pantries," notes Joanne Barry, director of A Place To Turn. We have seen an increase of close to ten percent in people seeking and receiving assistance over the last twelve months. Hunger persists as a problem here in MetroWest, especially among people living in poverty. But, we've also seen many middle-income working families affected as well. Significant parts of the population are facing prolonged joblessness or the need to work several part-time jobs to afford local housing. Many have physical or emotional disabilities that limit their capacity to be self supporting and manage on such limited incomes that they have to make daily choices between paying for housing costs, food or prescriptions. But with the help of a caring community, we offered critical hunger relief and hope to over 7,000 people served in just this last year."

"Given the themes of personal transformation and charity in Dickens 'A Christmas Carol,'" notes LePage, "it makes a lot of sense to donate my time and talents to benefit local area nonprofits and the work they do through dramatic readings of this particular story. On a very personal note I became especially sensitive to the plight of those who are hungry, when as a young man through no fault of my own, myself and other teachers all lost their jobs mid-year when the private school in Boston we taught at suddenly closed. And, given my sparse resources at the time, when faced with the choice of either paying my bills or eating, well, let's just say I got pretty hungry at times. Also, since I grew up in Framingham, I had many occassions both from my childhood and as a young man, to visit and enjoy the Wayside Inn over the years, and supporting its preservation in this way is a great way to give back. Finally, all involved, from volunteers to my hosts at the Wayside Inn, from my performances to those who buy the tickets, we all become the story of "A Christmas Carol." In essence, everyone's donation, whether of time or talent, money or food, brings the message of generosity and hope alive and, to update an old phrase, with good will towards men, women and children, too."

"Baseball will never catch on in America as Cricket has in England," says "Thomas Hutchinson" (Al LePage) engaging the audience in playful conversation before the actual reading begins. LePage loves to improvise, so be prepared! Image by Melissa Ostrow/www.melophoto.net

There are two other opportunities to see LePage perform. First, at his full 2-hour "historic grand performance" event using Dickens actual historic script -- where a rare edition of A Christmas Carol plus two silver British coins, all from the nineteenth century, will be given away -- happens on the very same calendar date that Dickens performed in 1867 at the very same location, on Thursday, Dec. 2, 7-9 PM, in 1600-seat Converse Hall, 88 Tremont St., Boston. Finally, one last shorter 1-hour matinee performance will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2-4 PM, in the historic Press Room of the Omni Parker House Hotel, 60 School St., Boston. All tickets for these performances must be reserved in advance. If still available, there are discounts for those who qualify, and tickets can be bought up to just a few hours before each event either online through BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling their 24/7 toll-free number, 1-800-838-3006. All events hosted at the Omni Parker House Hotel are being fully sponsored by OMNI Hotels & Resorts, Parker House/Boston and the exclusive print media sponor for all Boston performances is GateHouse Media New England.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” notes LePage. “So come and play along with me! Yes, join me for lots of laughter, and hopefully some tears, during my dramatic reading solo of Charles Dickens classic 'A Christmas Carol'."

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A Place To Turn, an emergency food pantry

A Place to Turn is a non-profit organization that has been serving the needs of the Metrowest community since the late 1970's. The emergency food pantry was established in the old parish house at the Hartford Street Presbyterian Church in Natick, created by a group of local residents troubled both by poverty and the lack of emergency assistance in the local area. It has and continues to provide emergency groceries and clothing to individuals and families in need. Funding and support come from many sources, including the United Way of Tri County, Project Bread, local businesses, schools, religious organizations and many individuals. People can participate in a variety of ways and besides much appreciated financial support, the organization also values the time and talents of volunteers, plus donations of non-perishable food and other essential items. Serving over 7,000 people in 25 cities and towns in Metrowest, the majority of clients are from Framingham, Marlboro, Natick, and Ashland. For further information, visit their webiste at www.aplacetoturn-natick.org or phone (508) 655-8868.

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

Longfellow's Wayside Inn is a Massachusetts Historic Landmark and the oldest Inn in the United States, continuing to provide food and lodging along-side the old Boston Post Road since 1716. As a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, the Wayside Inn is dedicated to the preservation of its 125-acre historic campus and outbuildings, which include the old Howe Tavern, the Martha Mary Chapel, the Redstone School, and the world famous water-powered Wayside Inn Grist Mill. Countless individuals, school groups and civic organizations take advantage of the property's educational programs each year, which focus on the site's colonial past as well as its more recent history as the country's first living history museum while under the ownership of industrialist Henry Ford from 1923 to 1945. The site is funded with revenue generated from its restaurant and overnight guest rooms, fundraising initiatives, corporate and public donations, and through historic preservation grants. The Wayside Inn Historic Site is on the National Register of Historic Places. For further information, visit www.wayside.org or phone 978-443-1776.

NOTE: EMBEDDED IMAGES ARE OFFERED FOR FREE USE BY THE PRINT MEDIA
AND MAY BE CROPPED AND COLOR-BALANCED AS NEEDED
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PLEASE CREDIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER AS FOLLOWS:

Melissa Ostrow/www.melophoto.net

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"Englishman Thomas Hutchinson, Amateur Thespian" as portrayed by Al LePage is sure to bring lots of laughter,
and hopefully some tears, during his upcoming dramatic readings of Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol."