Andrew Levitt aka Nina West as Marley

Carmen Cusack as Guardian Angel

THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS

By Bryan Blaskie, Manny Hagopian, and Kat Radley

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future star in their own musical comedy tale by Emmy nominee Kat Radley (The Daily Show) and the Off-Broadway writing team of Bryan Blaskie and Manny Hagopian (Assistants). The Christmas Carols is the origin story to the characters of the Dickens classic—oh, and they’re all named Carol.

LOGLINE | Three new ghosts are ready to become angels, but first they need to lay to rest their pasts, presents, and futures.

PLOT | Carol, Carole, and Karroll desperately need to become angels before being damned for eternity. After failing to perform a selfless act of kindness on Earth, they escape the watchful eye of Purgatory Gate Keeper Jacob Marley for one last chance: they must each resolve the personal issues they left unfinished before the clock strikes midnight on Christmas. The Carols embark on a journey and find that the only way to save themselves is to work together.

Lucie Pohl, Tari Kelly, and Brandi Chavonne Massey at The Christmas Carols at 54 Below in New York City

Asa Somers and Tari Kelly at The Christmas Carols at 54 Below in New York City

The cast of The Christmas Carols at 54 Below in New York City

Cast Size: 8 Principal + Ensemble
Run time: 90 minutes

John Smith

It’s Christmas Eve, the time of year when all the new Ghosts become Angels, and it’s time for one Heaven of a Party. Jacob Marley, the Gatekeeper of Purgatory, welcomes everyone to the party (“Carols of the Bell”). Ghosts are admitted if they lead good lives. If not, they go somewhere else (“Good Christmas”).

Carol, Carole, and Karroll don’t get in. Marley has the list, and checked it twice, but there are no Carols…especially Karroll with a “K”. As the party continues, the Carols scheme of a way to get in by saving the loved ones they left on Earth (“A Spot Atop The List”).

When they arrive back at Marley’s gate, he tells the Carols that there is nothing left they can do. Once the clock hits midnight in one hour and Christmas begins, the Carols will be damned for eternity to watch their loved ones suffer eternally. He chains the Carols together and forces them to wait outside the party (“Marley’s Decree”).

The Carols are visited by a Guardian Angel who sends them back to Earth with their mission (“Another Gift”). When they arrive, they see all the souls of the damned wandering with their chains (“Christmas is the Worst”). Desperate to avoid that fate, the Carols head to Carol’s ex-husband Jerry.

While decorating his empty house with Christmas memorabilia, Jerry waxes nostalgically about the life he used to have with Carol (“Savin’ The Star For Last”). Carol tries to make contact with him but is unable. Jerry’s phone rings, and the Carols hear a dinner invitation from a new love interest. Carol forgets that she’s a ghost, and while trying to hug Jerry, her chains pull the other Carols along. They knock Jerry over and realize that they are strong enough to break through to the living if they work together (“Spark A Fire”). The Carols use their power to connect Jerry with his new love.

Carol’s chains come off, and her names appears on Marley’s list. He vows to stop the other two. Carol decides that she would rather help the others than go to the party. They visit Carole’s daughter, Belle, who is hosting family Christmas (“All I Want For Christmas is You (To Leave)”). Carole hears that Belle’s husband, Fred, doesn’t have a gift to give, so the Carols decide to prevent him from finding one. All Fred can give Belle is his true love (“All I Have”).

Carole realizes that Belle and Fred are meant to be, and with the help of Carol and Karroll, they type a letter (“The Letter”). Belle can now forgive her mother, and the Carols summon the strength to give Belle a hug (“One More Minute”).

Carole’s chains come off, and Marley reappears. Marley takes joy in telling the Carols that they won’t be able to save Karroll (“Out Of Time”). He brings them to Karroll’s tombstone which lays unattended and flower-less. Karroll confesses that she has no one to save because she never loved anyone. Carol and Carole tell her that she did in fact make a difference with her life—she saved Carol and Carole and Jerry and Belle. Karroll’s chains come off (“Someone from a Somewhen”).

The Carols arrive back at Purgatory ready to enter the party, but the chime of midnight rings (“Our Happy Holiday”). Incredulous, Marley tells them they’re too late. Marley sends the Carols to Hell, but suddenly Santa appears. He reminds Marley to check the list, because three new names are on it. Santa invites the Carols into the party.

Marley mopes. For seven years he has tried to do exactly what the Carols did—save a loved one he left behind. The Guardian Angel appears and reminds Marley to never give up (“Another Gift (Reprise)”). The Carols decide to go to Earth one more time. Marley tells them to go save his partner Ebeneezer (“Good For You (Reprise)”).

Dance requirement: Standard
Rated: PG-13

John Smith

The Christmas Carols is orchestrated for a chamber ensemble.

Piano
Drum
Bass
Guitar
Violin
Cello
Reed (Alto Saxophone, Clarinet)
Auxilliary Percussion (Glockenspiel, Sleigh bells)

The Christmas Carols premiered at 54 Below in New York City and has featured Tony Nominee Carmen Cusack (Bright Star), and RuPaul’s Drag Race Miss Congeniality winner Nina West. Watch the performance on Youtube.

The Christmas Carols on BroadwayWorld: 54 Below to Present THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS This Holiday Season

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

CAROL (THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST) - F, 60s. Soprano. Former veterinarian whose failed marriage turned her into a recluse. She tends to lie or downplay her needs and emotions. She was so heartbroken by her husband leaving her that she was unable to remember any of the positivity from her life. Think Rose from Golden Girls telling you “life is meaningless” but with a smile. By helping her ex find a new start in romance, she learns to love the people in her life even when they change and grow.

CAROLE (THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT) - F, 40s. Mezzo Soprano. Former human rights lawyer, focusing on women’s rights, who grew resentful of her own daughter, Belle, for choosing to get married and have a family. Unfortunately, Carole died before she could mend that relationship, but with a second chance, Carole is forced to listen instead of argue. In this moment, she learns that her daughter never stopped looking up to her mother and still needs her help more than ever in the present day—if only they had one more minute.

KARROLL (THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE) - F, 20s. Belter. Former party girl. She made money here and there from random gigs like modeling, cryptocurrency, and always being the life of the party. She is the youngest of the Carols and constantly brags about how she lived her life to the fullest, but deep down she knows the truth. When she comes face-to-face with her flower-less tombstone, she is forced to confront the lonely future she desperately tried to avoid—but she isn't alone. With the other Carols beside her, Karroll (with a K), discovers her own self-worth and finally makes some real friends.

MARLEY - M, 40s. Tenor. The Emcee and narrator of The Christmas Carols was once a greedy and evil businessman who now works the door at the Purgatory Gates. This loud and dominant Spirit lays out the rules of our world and chains the Carols together after they attempt to find loopholes, which is impossible. Marley would know. For seven years, he himself has attempted to make a change on Earth, but to no avail. Now he spends eternity watching his partner Scrooge suffer eternally. That is, until the Carols find a way…

JERRY - M, 60s. Baritone. Carol’s former husband. He is very nostalgic and loves the warmth, decorations, and Eggnog of the holiday season.

BELLE - F, 20s. Belter. Carole’s daughter who is expecting a child of her own. The unknown responsibilities of being a new mother makes Belle wish her own mother were still around to give advice.

FRED - M, 20s. Tenor. Belle’s aloof and charming husband.

MOTHER-IN-LAW - F, 40s. Any vocal. Fred's mother, Fan, who isn't the biggest fan of Belle.

SANTA - M, Ageless. Non-singing. The Big Man Upstairs. Can double with Jerry.

GUARDIAN ANGEL - F, Ageless. Mezzo. A guardian angel. But hotter than that Clarence guy. Can double with Mother-In-Law.

GHOSTS & GUESTS - The other ghosts & guests (and Demons) of Heaven, Purgatory, and Earth. Can include supporting character tracks.

THE CREATIVES

KAT RADLEY

BRYAN BLASKIE

MANNY HAGOPIAN

KAT RADLEY is a multiple EMMY nominated staff writer on The Daily Show on Comedy Central, and has been featured in Glamour Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top female writers in late night. Kat has performed stand-up on FOX’s Laughs, and her jokes can be heard on Sirius XM Radio, Pandora, Spotify, and her debut album on iTunes entitled The Important Thing Is That I’m Pretty. She has opened for Maria Bamford and headlined SF Sketchfest and the Women in Comedy Festival in Boston. She also toured Europe performing at clubs like The Comedy Store in London as well as the premiere Berlin Comedy Festival.

BRYAN BLASKIE is a composer, music director, and theatre educator from Columbus, Ohio. His music has been performed from LA to New York in collaboration with organizations such as Lincoln Center, American Opera Projects, and the Brooklyn Museum. His musical Assistants (with APEX Legends’ Manny Hagopian) ran Off Broadway in 2019. Other musicals and operas include Nothing to See Here (Rubber City Theatre, New York Theatre Barn), Ghost Girls (Hussian College in Studio), Victorian Courting & Zombies (New York Film Academy), Outside (Stonewall Inn). Winner of the ASCAP Max Dreyfus Scholarship, Arthur Judson Prize in music, and multiple music direction awards. Bryan is a graduate of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

MANNY HAGOPIAN is known for his writing in the award-winning AAA video games from Respawn Entertainment and EA: Titanfall, Titanfall 2, the hit Battle Royale APEX Legends, and the Star Wars game Jedi: Fallen Order. After forcing Bryan to help with his first musical back in 2013, the two have since worked together on five musicals including Assistants (Off-Broadway), Earhart: A Musical Flight, and Tonya Harding: The Musical (E! Entertainment, New York Times).