Creative Spirit & Marblehead Museum
proudly present
A Christmas Carol
a theatrical reading in Marblehead’s historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion
Adapted by John Jakes
Directed by Peyton Pugmire
December 8-10, 2023 | The Jeremiah Lee Mansion, 161 Washington Street, Marblehead
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The Cast
(In alphabetical order)
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Peter Bottéas - Charity Gentleman/Ghost of Christmas Future
James Bridges - Young Ebenezer/Businessman/Turkey Boy
Martin Brother - Bob Cratchit
Kai Chao - Fred/Dick
Maggie Hamel - Fan/Belle
Dan Kelly - Charles Dickens/Headmaster/Fezziwig
Francie King - Jacob Marley/Ghost of Christmas Present/Businessman
Nathan Lamont - Ebenezer Scrooge
Mary O'Donnell - Mrs. Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past/Sara
Production Team
Peyton Pugmire - Director/Prop Designer
Elissa Jordan - Stage Manager
Maureen Festa Crary - Costume Designer
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Marblehead Museum Staff
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Lauren McCormack - Executive Director
Jarrett Zeman - Associate Director
Thank You to the Following Sponsors & Individuals:
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The Marblehead Current, Coldwell Banker Realty,
Rob Henry and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra, Marblehead Museum Staff and Board,
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A Message from Peyton Pugmire, Show Director & Owner of Creative Spirit
Welcome one and all to the magnificent Jeremiah Lee Mansion! I am happy you are with us to experience our telling of A Christmas Carol. May this beloved story about redemption and our capacity to love entertain and move you this evening. I’d like to offer my deepest gratitude to the Marblehead community for its support of Creative Spirit and to the museum staff, Lauren and Jarrett, for once again opening their arms to this exciting collaboration - our fourth year! I’d also like to thank the wonderful cast and production team who have worked hard over the past two weeks to prepare for this performance. And, finally, thank YOU for being with us! Happy holidays, and God bless us, everyone!
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Who’s Who in the Cast & Crew
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Martin Brother (Bob Cratchit) is originally from Portland, Oregon, but has been happily settled on the East Coast for the past 7 years. Martin has been seen in North Shore productions with the Marblehead Little Theatre, History Alive-Salem, Mugford Street Players, and Gloucester Stage. Favorite roles include Heck Tate in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and El Gallo in “The Fantastiks.” When not on stage, Martin makes a good point as an acupuncturist in Danvers.
Peter Bottéas (Charity Gentleman, Ghost of Christmas Future) is a transplanted Canuck residing in Marblehead and Paris. He spent his youth singing in choirs and coffee houses, traipsing through the corridors of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and generally making mischief. He is a psychotherapist, literary translator, poet, and voice-over artist, and recently published Bathed in Moonlight, a translation of contemporary Greek poetry. He delighted in being part of Peyton’s production of A Christmas Carol in 2021 and The Secret Garden in 2023.
Kai Chao (Fred, Dick) is excited to work with Peyton again! Boston: Lyric Stage Company – Pacific Overtures. Regionally: The Umbrella Stage Company – The Joy Luck Club, La Cage aux Folles, Side Show; Reagle Players – Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty & the Beast, Mame. Locally: Mary Poppins, A Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie, Cabaret. He has also performed with Disney Entertainment, and is ever thankful for the love and support from his husband Al.
Maureen Festa (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be returning to A Christmas Carol. Favorite work includes: The Umbrella Stage – Middleton Heights (premier); Hedwig and the Angry Inch; View from The Bridge; To Kill A Mockingbird; Dear Elizabeth; La Cage aux Folles. Theatre on Fire – The Aliens; Party Time. The Footlight Club – The Rocky Horror Show; Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party; And Then There Were None; An Ideal Husband. Seven time DASH Best Costumes nominee and one time winner. Maureen is a resident of the North Shore with her loving husband and their three cats.
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Maggie Hamel (Fan/Belle) is delighted to join this festive production! Favorite past roles include Mary Lennox (The Secret Garden) at Creative Spirit; Pippa Hailsham-Brown (Spider’s Web) and Rebecca Gibbs (Our Town) at the Barnstormers Theatre; Little Red (Into the Woods), Logainne (25th… Spelling Bee), and Little Sally (Urinetown) at Concord Academy; and Allison Summers (Billy Elliot) at Seacoast Rep. Maggie loves to tap dance and works for a doll maker.
Elissa Jordan (Stage Manager) served as Artistic Associate for Divine Stageworks from 2008 to 2013 and has stage managed and performed in local theatre productions since 2004. Favorite productions include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, (Footlight Club), And Then There Were None (Footlight Club), La Cage Aux Folles (Umbrella Stage Company), and To Kill a Mockingbird (Umbrella Stage Company). Elissa is Manager of STEAM Curriculum at Boston Children’s Museum and a member of the rock cover band, Box of Records.
Dan Kelly (Charles Dickens/Headmaster/Fezziwig): Dan feels very privileged to join this cast for the third time in telling this great story of redemption. A happily retired attorney for over a year now, Dan has been busy post-retirement with appearances at the Firehouse Center for the Arts (Ed in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Charles in Pippin), the Concord Players (Lemml in Indecent), the Marblehead Little Theater (Richard in Equivocation), and the Colonial Chorus Players (Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods and Guiteau in the upcoming Assassins). A big thanks to Peyton, Elissa and Maureen for their dedication to this joyous project.
Francie King (Jacob Marley, Ghost of Christmas Present, Businessman) is thrilled to be part of A Christmas Carol again this year, her fourth foray. She happily remembers summers with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society in Ann Arbor, MI, theater productions in New London, NH, and summer Shakespeare here in Marblehead. She is truly delighted to be working again with director Peyton Pugmire and a wonderful ensemble cast. Francie is a Marblehead-based writer who specializes in personal biographies and family histories. She wishes you a Merry Holiday!
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Nathan Lamont (Scrooge) is deeply grateful to reprise his role, and will next appear as Poirot in Milton Players’ Murder on the Orient Express. Other loved roles through the years include Mr Banks from Needham Community Theatre’s 2019 Mary Poppins, a different, singing Scrooge from Riverside Theatre Works’ 2010 Scrooge, and Fagin from Bay Colony Productions’ 2005 Oliver! Nathan thanks his wife, Chrissy, for her hard work and support, and his boys, Oscar and Simon, for their Christmas cheer.
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Mary O’Donnell (Mrs. Cratchit/Ghost of Christmas Past/Sara): Mary is happy to be back onstage with some old friends. Metro Stage Company - A Little Night Music, A New Brain, Cabaret, Chicago, Closer Than Ever, Ruthless, Songs for a New World; Bad Habit Productions – A Man of No Importance; The Footlight Club - Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Pippin, Steel Magnolias, Lettice and Lovage, Dearly Departed, An Ideal Husband, Pride and Prejudice; Hovey Players – The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Kimberly Akimbo, The Porch; The Concord Players – Into the Woods, Company.
Peyton Pugmire (Director) holds a BA degree in theatre performance from the College of Charleston and an MA degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College. He is a proud adjunct professor in the theatre department at Salem State University. Favorite directing credits: La Cage aux Folles, And Then There Were None, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Father of the Bride, and BENT. Favorite acting credits: Prior Walter (Angels in America 1 & 11), Frankie (Forever Plaid), Brick (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Gloria (Casa Valentina), Miss Lynch (Grease), and Cliff (Cabaret).
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