The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is announcing its first tour of local elementary schools with a new adaptation of the Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.”

Directed by Ezra Weisz and co-adapted with David Stears, this new interpretation is geared directly to elementary school, connecting to California Standards in history, social science and the performing arts.

“This really is a universal story,” said Stears, the executive director of the company.  “It is a wonderful tale of a person’s transformation from selfishness and indifference into someone filled with joy and charity.”

With a four-actor ensemble, the 40-minute adaptation promises to bring to life the complete story, with all the characters and theatre magic of the original tale.

Stears and Weisz are awarding-winning theatre artists with years of experience developing dynamic performances and programs for the educational environment. Ezra Wiesz is the Director of the Conservatory at Bang Comedy Institute, one of the creators of the critically acclaimed The Doubtful Guests, and teaches improv and theatre throughout CA.  David Stears has over 20 years in professional & educational theatre, has a professional Designation in Arts Education from LA Country and LA Music Center, has studied at the Young Audiences Institute for Arts Education, and has received the LA Times Community Partnership award in Cutrual Arts.

The tour of A Christmas Carol marks the first production to visit the schools under the company’s new Educational Outreach program.  The program is dedicated to keeping the classics alive in the schools with in-school performance, artist in residence programs, and special enrichment classes for all aspects of theatre.  With support from Target Stores, Southern California Edison, the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation, and the supporters of the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival, the tour of A Christmas Carol is offered at a half the cost of other school programs. Performances begin in November and run through December.

The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is a local nonprofit organization. For more information about the performances or to arrange a presentation at your school, contact SCSF at outreach@scshakespearefest or call 661-799-3378.