The Arts Club Theatre Company is busy preparing to welcome audience back with its 2021–2022 season opener Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol. Opening November 18th at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Dolly Parton’s music and lyrics put a heartwarming country twist on a Christmas classic.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol sets its stage in 1930s East Tennessee, reimagining Ebenezer Scrooge (David Adams) as the owner of a mining company town nestled neatly in the Smoky Mountains. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm rages throughout the night, Scrooge must revisit his past, present, and future—with the help of his deceased business partner’s spirit and three ghosts—to understand the true meaning of Christmas: empathy and community. The musical combines Dickens’ timeless characters of Charles Dickens with Dolly Parton’s iconic songwriting creating a musical, that will help audiences rediscover joy and compassion through understanding the true wealth that comes from connection.
The musical debuted in Boston in 2019, and the Arts Club’s production marks its Canadian premiere, directed by Bobby Garcia. He said, “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is a heartwarming mash-up of two icons. The combination of Dolly Parton’s honest, authentic, and joyful music along with Charles Dickens’s timeless Christmas ghost story of redemption really makes for a wonderful night of musical theatre for the entire family. At its core, the show is a poignant reminder of the importance of community and of the sparkling magic that musicals can bring into our lives. Nobody does Christmas quite like Dolly and Dickens!”
The Arts Club’s Executive Director Peter Cathie White added, “The news this week that we can bring our audience together again without capacity restrictions certainly has added more joy to this already joyous holiday celebration. The show has sparkle, wit, and great tunes—and I am certain our audience will love the mash-up of Christmas tradition with Smoky Mountain atmosphere. Dolly is truly the great uniter—someone who is universally beloved. The show’s theatrical storytelling alongside Dolly’s music makes this the right way to welcome back audiences to the Stanley, after almost 20 months of that venue being dark.”
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol runs at The Arts Club Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, November 18, 2021 to January 2, 2022. Tickets are on sale now at artsclub.com
Covid-19 safety protocols will be in place, including required proof of vaccine and masks.