About the Show
A Christmas Carol is the story of that fateful Christmas Eve when miserly curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by his old business partner Jacob Marley. Scrooge is told to expect three spirits to haunt him – spirits of the past, present, and future – intended to set Ebenezer on the unlikely path to redemption.
Content Guide
A Christmas Carol is family-friendly show with no profanity, nudity, or violence. There are ghosts and other spooky stage effects that could potentially frighten younger children. Cabaret policy is no child under 6 can be admitted to the theatre.
They have delivered a scrumptious holiday entertainment that will delight and engage adults and children alike. With this “Christmas Carol” (as well as a stellar production of “Cabaret” earlier in the season) Robinson and Rachelle are staking a heck of a claim; one that makes OCT an increasingly feasible alternative to that 800-pound gorilla down the street.
The stand-out performance of the evening, however (along with Leistner's), came from Scott Ford as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Ford is a delight. His porcine and ponderous performance conveyed to this critic the sly jocularity of a genial uncle. His costuming, as well as his character's propensity for food, wine and good-natured jostling, made him a most convivial spook. (Scott is pictured as Mr. Fezziwig)
John Leistner
Ebeneezer Scrooge
John is very happy to be playing Scrooge, and to be working with such a great cast - and particularly to be sporting muttonchops onstage with Jessica again! He's excited, and honored, to be part of a Val and Rick's new incarnation of the Cabaret - still his favorite place to work. Thanks for everything, Jimmy.
Vanessa Ballam
Belle/Ensemble
Vanessa Ballam is the Head of Acting at Idaho State University, and the Education Director for UFOMT. Credits include; Theatre Under the Stars, PCPA Theatrefest, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare, Anchorage Opera, Music Theatre West, UFOMT, & Old Lyric Repertory Company. B.A. & B.F.A.,Utah State University, M.F.A. in Acting, Indiana University. VanessaBallam.com
Stefan Espinosa
Scrooge's Clerk
Stefan Espinosa is thrilled to be making his Oregon Cabaret debut! Regional Theatre: Arizona Theatre Company, PCPA Theatrefest, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Old Lyric Repertory Theatre, The Great American Melodrama, Salt Lake Acting Company. BFA Musical Theatre (University of Arizona) MFA Acting (University of Houston). Stefan is the co-founder/director of the Utah Festival Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and is a member of the Theatre faculty at Idaho State University.
Jessica Blaszak
Mrs. Cratchit/Ensemble
Jessica was born and raised in Ashland and recently moved back from Portland, Oregon. Regional theatre credits include The Chelsea Playhouse, Boston Symphony Hall, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Phoenix Theatre, Childsplay, and The Great American Melodrama. Jessica trained at Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and The Boston Conservatory. Some OCT credits are: Dames at Sea, Smokey Joes Cafe, Tapestry and Suds. Favorite roles include: Eva Peron in Evita, Hester in Equus and Bianca in Kiss Me Kate. In addition to performing, Jessica is also the company manager for OCT and loves being a part of such an incredible theatre company.
Stephen Kline
Marley's Ghost/Ensemble
Stephen is glad to return after he performed as Clown Two in (The 39 Steps). Stephen was a Theatre Professor and Director of children's theatre productions. He also had the opportunity to play Lee and Austin from two different productions of (True West). Other credits include; Alan (God of Carnage), Jean (Miss Julie), Ben Braddock (The Graduate), and Hamlet (Hamlet). Some musical theatre credits include; Jamie (The Last Five Years), Eddie (Blood Brothers), and Tony (West Side Story). He would like to thank his wife Madison and his family for their support.
Scott Ford
Present/Ensemble
Scott Ford is a native of Louisville, Kentucky but now calls Ashland home. He loves to perform both in front of the camera and on stage. He is excited to be in his 5th show at the Oregon Cabaret Theater. When not on stage he can be found in high schools working as a speaker, helping seniors plan for their future.
Patrick St. John
Fred/Ensemble
Beth St. John
Past/Ensemble
Beth St. John is excited to join the Cabaret family in their production of A Christmas Carol alongside her husband, Patrick. She recently graduated from Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Performance and plans to move to New York to continue pursuing a career in the arts.
Will Ransom
Peter/Ensemble
Will is 14 and in the 8th grade. He first performed in Tomatoes with Ashland Community Theater and with the Camelot Theatre company in their main stage productions of Gypsy, Evita and their Conservatory productions of Any Thing Goes and Cats. In 2014 Will performed as Miles in the Brava! Opera Theatre’s chamber production Turn of The Screw. Will enjoys studying voice, acting, dance and music.
Brynn Traynor
Fanny/Ensemble
Brynn is thrilled to be performing in her first production. She’s a fourth grader at Willow Wind, where her favorite subjects are math and art. When she’s not singing her heart out, she enjoys softball, volleyball, and skiing. Brynn would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her. Brynn performs as Fanny/Ensemble on 11/19, 11/21 (1pm), 11/22 (8pm), 11/24, 11/27, 11/28 (1pm), 11/29 (1pm), 12/2, 12/4, 12/5 (1pm), 12/6 (8pm), 12/10, 12/12 (1pm), 12/13 (1pm), 12/16, 12/19 (1pm), 12/20 (8pm), 12/22, 12/23, 12/26 (1pm), 12/27 (8pm), & 12/30.
Ella Robinson
Fanny/Ensemble
Ella is the daughter of Valerie Rachelle and Rick Robinson, the Artistic and Managing Directors of the Cabaret and has studied acting and improv with Eve Smyth and Kate Sullivan at Ashland Children’s Theatre. Ella performs as Fanny/Ensemble on 11/20, 11/21 (8pm), 11/22 (1pm), 11/25, 11/27, 11/28 (8pm), 11/29 (8pm), 12/3, 12/5 (8pm), 12/6 (1pm), 12/9, 12/11, 12/12 (8pm), 12/13 (8pm), 12/17, 12/18, 12/19 (8pm), 12/20 (1pm), 12/24, 12/26 (8pm), 12/27 (1pm), 12/29, & 12/31.
Nico Moore
Tiny Tim/Ensemble
A fourth grader at John Muir, Nico makes his Cabaret debut in A Christmas Carol. Nico performs as Tiny Tim/Ensemble on 11/20, 11/21 (8pm), 11/22 (8pm), 11/24, 11/28 (1pm), 11/29 (8pm), 12/2, 12/4 (1pm), 12/6 (8pm), 12/10, 12/11, 12/12 (8pm), 12/13 (1pm), 12/16, 12/18, 12/19 (8pm), 12/20 (8pm), 12/23, 12/26 (8pm), 12/27 (1pm), 12/29, & 12/30.
Sebastian Espinosa
Tiny Tim/Ensemble
Sebastian hails from Pocatello, ID, is four years old, and is making his professional debut at The Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Sebastian's first stage appearance was at age two as John in A Doll's House. Sebastian's favorite holiday is Halloween, he loves libraries, aliens, and jumping in puddles. He performs as Tiny Tim/Ensemble on 11/19, 11/21 (1pm), 11/22 (1pm), 11/25, 11/27, 11/28 (8pm), 11/29 (1pm), 12/3, 12/5 (1pm), 12/6 (1pm), 12/9, 12/12 (8pm), 12/13 (8pm), 12/17, 12/19 (1pm), 12/20 (1pm), 12/24, 12/26 (1pm), 12/27 (8pm), & 12/31.