Photo Flash: First Look at Benjamin Lovell and More in Walnut Street's A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Families across the Delaware Valley have made Walnut Street Theatre for Kids' production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol a Philadelphia tradition. This delightful musical adaptation of Dickens' classic novel is a wonderful and fun way for kids in grades K through 9th and their adult friends to celebrate the joys and warmth of the holiday season. A Christmas Carol runs from December 1 – December 22 on the Walnut Street Theatre's Mainstage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Van Horn, who was previously commissioned to adapt the story for the Walnut, also directed A Christmas Carol in 2009 and 2010. He collaborated with Michael Borton to write the book and music. He has appeared onstage in several WST productions, including: Curtains and Fiddler on the Roof (among others). Backstage, he has directed productions for all three Walnut series, including The Dishwashers, Forrest: A Riot of Dreams and 2008's hit production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. He also wrote and starred in our acclaimed Studio 3 productions of O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln in 2009 and the world premiere of The Prince in 2010 (co-written with Armen Pandola).

Walnut Street Theatre welcomes back Music and Vocal Director Mark Yurkanin. Most recently, Yurkanin provided music and vocal direction for WST for Kids hit productions Miss Nelson is Missing! and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. Additional members of the creative team include returning artists: Samuel Reyes (Choreographer), Glen Sears (Set Design), Mark Grady (Lighting Design) and Ryan Peavey (Sound Design). Jennifer Lanyon and Anya Loverdi, this season's costume apprentices, will design period costumes for the production.

Benjamin Lovell fulfills the tradition, returning to the Walnut stage as Ebenezer Scrooge. Audiences may remember Lovell, who played Cogsworth in the National Tour of Broadway's Beauty and the Beast. He has performed locally at the Media Theatre, the Ritz and the Shawnee Playhouse, and is also known for the locally renowned high-end retail shoe stores that bear his name.

The cast includes local talents Johnny Smith, Will Harrell, Matthew Mastronardi, Joseph Mancini and Ramir Davis of Philadelphia, PA; Gabriela Barrett of Wynnewood, PA; Gregory Bradbury of Ardmore, PA; Gianna Ernst of Hainesport, PA; Lauren Grajewski of Newtown Square, PA; Janet McWilliams of Havertown, PA; Justin Accardi and Jordi Wallen of Cherry Hill, NJ. Also joining the cast will be WST Acting Apprentices Mike Dorsey of Galax, VA; Marissa Barnathan of Havertown, PA; Jessica Johnson of Richmond, VA; and Jesse Kirkland of Upper Marlboro, MD.

A Christmas Carol has matinee performances on December 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 22. The Wednesday, December 12th performance will be ASL interpreted and Audio Described. Tickets are only $10 - $16. For tickets and information, please call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster or by visiting the Walnut's website at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Mark Garvin