A (Virtual) Christmas Carol from Newtown - A Benefit Performance

Newtown, CT – NewArts, a nonprofit organization based in Newtown, CT that was created in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy is proud to present A (Virtual) Christmas Carol, streaming online from December 23-27. This production is dedicated to the memory of Mary Socci, a 14-year-old frequent NewArts member who lost a valiant battle to brain cancer on November 14th. Proceeds from this benefit performance will go towards future NewArts productions.

The virtual performances are offered at no cost, but there is a suggested donation to help support the non-profit organization.

Because of the pandemic, A Christmas Carol, which was fully-produced by NewArts in December of 2016 and 2017, will be entirely virtual this year – with all performers (30 local youth and nine Broadway professionals) being recorded in their separate homes.

The NewArts production of A Christmas Carol was originally created by a team that included six Tony Award-winners at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ in 2000, and was directed by NewArts Producing Artistic Director, Michael Unger. This virtual production features nine Broadway and Regional professionals who appeared in the original McCarter Theatre production, including Graeme Malcolm (Equus, Aida, narrator of over 400 Audio Books) as Ebenezer Scrooge, and James Ludwig (Little Shop of Horrors, Blue Man Group) as Fred, – both of whom appeared in the previous NewArts presentations of the show. Other professional performers include John Ahlin, Billy Finn, Janet Metz, Annie O’Sullivan, Michele Tauber, and Price Waldman. The 30 youth performers make up two casts, each of which will have their own streaming performance.

A (Virtual) Christmas Carol is directed, produced, and edited by Michael Unger, who directed McCarter Theatre’s production for 16 years before introducing it to the Newtown area. Dr. Michael Baroody is the Executive Producer, Maryrose Kristopik, longtime music teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, is the Music Director. Cheryl Mintz, who production stage managed the McCarter production will be the Associate Director; Alison Cote is the Production Stage Manager, both founders of princetonVIRTUAL.

The script to A (Virtual) Christmas Carol was adapted by David Thompson (Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier, Prince of Broadway) from the novella by Charles Dickens. Music and lyrics are by Michael Starobin (two-time Tony Award-winning orchestrator) with sound effects by Brian Ronan (two-time Tony Award-winning Sound Designer).

Steaming performances will be available for unlimited viewing from Wednesday December 23rd at 7PM through Sunday December 27th at 7PM. These performances are offered free of charge, but there is a suggested donation of $15 for individuals and $30 for families. All proceeds go towards future NewArts programming. For more information and to make a donation, please visit: https://1214foundation.org/a-christmas-carol/.

The 1214 Foundation and NewArts will also be holding their first-ever virtual auction which will be live from December 20 through December 31! Featured are a wide variety of terrific products, experiences, and services from individuals, vendors, and companies located throughout Connecticut and beyond. Information is available on the website.

NewArts (www.newarts.org), was founded by Newtown parent, Michael Baroody, MD and theatre director, Michael Unger, in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. NewArts is the theatrical division of The 12.14 Foundation, and normally collaborates with teams of nearly 20 theatre professionals, including Broadway-level directors, performers, choreographers, music directors, designers, producers, and technicians, to guide local children in artistic endeavors celebrating collaboration, creativity and community. NewArts has presented twelve, large-scale musicals involving over 600 local youth onstage, backstage, and in the orchestra. Their world-premiere production of A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream was featured in the award-winning documentary film, Midsummer in Newtown, which was selected for the prestigious Spotlight Section of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The 1214 Foundation, is a non-profit organization formed by local parent Michael Baroody, M.D. following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 to encourage personal development through high-level performing arts programs. The Foundation provides experiences that produce a long-lasting, positive effect on the way children see themselves and the world around them. The 1214 Foundaion also provides character development through its ARC Program - an effective model for teaching children life skills developed in collaboration with members of the Yale School of Management, The University of Pennsylvania’s School for Applied Positive Psychology, and Inspire Corps. The program provides opportunities for children to cognitively understand their experiences during the rehearsal and performance process and then translate those skills to everyday life.

This production is dedicated to the memory of Mary Socci whose father had this to say about Mary’s experiences with NewArts:

“New Arts and ARC are loved by everyone in the Socci Family. All three Socci girls, Susan, Mary, and Jennifer came to New Arts in their own time at their own pace. One thing that was clearly evident about their participation was that each child grew in an exponential way. But Mary, my middle child, quickly and quietly became the embodiment of the values taught by the foundation. She stood out. Her power pose and power statement were clearly present in her daily life. Her concern for the greater good and desire to elevate those around her was heartfelt and visible. You see Mary got it! Dr. Baroody's vision, and now it was her vision too. It governed her life. Mary defined Mary, She knew her passions and pushed out her comfort zone. The grit she would show in her life was epic. New Arts is producing more than high quality theater. New Arts and The ARC program are producing resilient, passionate, children that embrace challenges.

In Mary's last show (Newsies) I wrote her a note before the show. It read: ‘Mary, You are my hero. I love you so much! Rise above, Go Beyond. It is what you do.’

Love, Dad

There are numerous stories of how the program is impacting the Newtown area children. One powerful example follows:

Nicole Kolitsas, age 17, played Sophie in School of Rock, Puck in A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ms. Salt in Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, Jojo in Seussical, Zazu in The Lion King, Jr., Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda and will play Charlotte Fezziwig in A (Virtual) Christmas Carol. She recently blogged about her experience saying, “After the Newtown tragedy, I lived a life ruled by Fear. I didn't want to go to school; really I didn't want to go anywhere.... My mother had worked at Sandy Hook Elementary at the time and I didn't want her to go to work, afraid that it wasn't over... My fear tightened its grip when my mother and father were both diagnosed with cancer only months after the tragedy. I went to therapy session after therapy session, but I was too well acquainted with this cruel world that we lived in to go back to being myself.

I came out of Seussical, NewArts’ first production in the Summer of 2013, as a new person; a person that grows every summer. I still get scared. Fear still whispers in my ear and grabs my hand. But I now have the skills to tell Fear that I'm okay, and that I can handle whatever comes my way. Because of NewArts, I can do anything. I can perform in front of thousands of people, I can solve my own problems, I can evaluate myself and find my strengths, and I can tell Fear goodbye.”

For more information and to donate, please visit www.newarts.org.

MICHAEL BAROODY, Founder and Executive Producer of the 12.14 Foundation and NewArts, is a plastic surgeon living in Newtown, CT, with his wife and two young daughters. "The Foundation's vision was born from a need to not only heal, but to enrich and strengthen the lives of those affected by the events of 12/14. We instill life skills through an innovative combination of character development and high-level performing arts projects. We continue to provide our children, our community and eventually people throughout the world with powerful tools upon which to build successful lives."

MICHAEL UNGER, NewArts Producing Artistic Director, has directed all twelve musicals for NewArts over the past eight years. He is also the Artistic Director of Milwaukee’s Skylight Music Theatre. At Off-Broadway’s York Theatre Company where he was Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education, he directed Big, Milk and Honey and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. He first became acquainted with the resilient community of Newtown, CT when he directed the concert, From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook. Other directing credits include A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre – 1998-2015), Two Point Oh (Off-Broadway – NY Times Critics Pick – 59 E 59th), The Happy Time, The Rink, My Sister in this House, Grease, Crimes of the Heart, Pippin and a dozen operas, one of which, Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, has just been released on DVD. World premieres include Caligula, A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Retribution (Off-Broadway). www.ungerdirect.com