Home Show A Christmas Carol

Greetings, Empire member, and or members.
If you're hearing the sound of my voice, it means you are so greatly appreciated for
being a part of the Empire of the Clubhouse Podcast. Live every Sunday night,
7 Eastern 4 Pacific on the VocalNow Network. Download the VocalNow.app,
VocalNowapp, bookmark VocalNow.com on your favorite browser and even your
non-favorite browser. Put them all in there. Have us with you wherever you go.
Welcome, because it's time for another home show. Number 449. We are right there
at the doorway kids. Welcome. My name is Rob. I am the executive producer in the
Clubhouse Podcast and it is my favorite time of year. Fall winter, the holidays,
hot chocolate, fireplace, Christmas, all of it. Love all of it. But I'm not
alone for this episode. Sitting across the desk for me in the co-host chair is my
co-host and a man that is never in his life said Baha'am bug because he
agrees with me about this time of year. He is chat. Welcome, sir. You would be
wrong, sir. Really? I actually played this role. But not like in your eyes. I'm not in your real life.
You could have played the role. That's fine, but you've never said it in real life.
Okay, okay. I'll give you that. Running out the day is the official fact checker of
this show and a man that's visited by ghosts all the time, but they're just in his
head. You may know him as Fondongore. But his mama named him Don Ford. I'm a
column Don Ford. Except sir. Actually, they're not ghosts. They're my friends. Okay. Yeah.
Me, myself, and I, and then also the those are my personalities. And then also what
got my imaginary friend Rufus, who only I could see, who only talks to me. Well,
if he's your imaginary friend, wouldn't he be the only one he could see? Is
the kind of the way that works. Been just Billy Bob too. Okay, moving on. I apologize.
Yes. I blame you. I agree, boy. No, you're not. Whatever we do, one of these things, it is to
review something. And this is no exception. But it is an exception because for the first
time ever, we're reviewing something for the fourth time. Yeah. And this thing's going
to continue to break its own records because it's the only thing that we see. This is
four. We talked about this in pre-show. This is four. Okay. Because it's time to talk
about the widely theaters annual presentation of a Christmas Carol. Presented whole thing.
Yes, sir. We got the Kaylee and everybody at the Wiley and Dallas Theater Center. All
those great folks. The agency performing arts center, the Wiley Theater Center. We love
our vendors. They take care of us. And boy, they took care of us at this thing. Yes,
they did. I am always, I love the Wiley Theater Center. That big room. How they configure
it 990 different ways and there's not a bad seat in the entire place. There's no bad
sight line. I mean, I, all right. I just got one question. The whole thing. Was it
the same basic set? The set's always the same. Yes. Yeah. Like that big thing stuck on
the stage. Okay. The set piece is always the same. It's the factory, basically. But
the thing is the Wiley does something a little bit different every year. Yes. The first
year, the first year we saw it, Scrooge was played by a man of color. The second year
we saw it, Scrooge was played by a woman who's phenomenal. Last year, I can't remember
what they tweaked last year. Well, they have the guy from Friday night lights on their
place. Yeah, they had more of a celebrity. If you could say this year, we got to see
Scrooge played by Alex Oregon. And they, they, they've got their own set of, of theater
company people. And they're all involved in this thing. This is the big thing because
they tie this in as a fundraiser for the North Texas food bank. And I'm just going
to put this out there on front street. If you donate this year, they made an announcement
last night when we were there that they, they have a donor that is matching dollar for
dollar every dollar donated to the North Texas food bank this year. This is the 11th time
they've done it. And in 11 years, they have raved over a half a million dollars for the
North Texas food bank. So we want to make sure we send a special shout out to the Wiley
for that from that show alone. Yep, that's. And for those people that are not in the
Dallas Fort Worth area, the North Texas food bank helps feed needy families year round.
One a $1 donation creates three meals. I actually did volunteer work at. I was having myself
as have I. So it's a very worthy cause. We want you to go help them out too. What I love
about this production, because when you see something four times, especially when it comes
to which stage show, we always forget that this one doesn't have an intermission. Every
year, we're like, Oh, this doesn't have an intermission. It never does it. We never
remember. It's about an hour and a half long. It is the full story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
If you don't know the story, just look it up. I mean, come on. It's a story of one man's
journey from Baha humbug to redemption in the Christmas season as he is visited by the
three ghosts. One of the things that we can rely on with this production, ghost of Christmas
past, ghost of Christmas to come pretty consistent. We are not going to spoil this. No. And
Don, you can ask us off air. Okay. Because ghost of Christmas present is always the one
we look forward to. Yes. Because they do. It's that that happy spirit. This years. Pretty
awesome. Yeah, it is. It is. And cause it's always the comedic relief you need. Yes. Right
in the middle. That's the levity. This one. Was a reptailer. No. Because you say happy
me. I can see him doing well. Just again, ask us off air because I don't want to ruin
this because this I this is going to be hard for me to say, but this might be my favorite
version. I think I'm I have to agree with you. And there's a lot more music involved this
year. Yeah, it was it was a borderline musical. And it's used brilliantly. Very, very well
put together. This cast top to bottom rock. So they had some kids from SNU involved here.
A lot of kids this year. Right. Ace Anderson, who is their another one of their players plays
the young Ebenezer Scrooge. He's really, really good. I mean, he's always, I mean, he's
in everything they do. And this, this guy always impresses me. I know he played young
Ebeneers to the first go around. Yes. So there's also some, some of their newer cast members
that are involved. Tiana K. Blair, who's always great. She played the Julia Roberts role
in steel magnolia. I didn't see that she was excellent in that. And she's excellent in
this as Bob Cratchett's wife. You've got a lot of their newer players in this. So Anna
Haga Dorn, who played the Darrell, I was the last one you asked, I she played the Darrell
Hannah role in steel magnolias. Okay. All right. She's very, very good in this. This
is just a rock solid cast. There's nobody in this from chorus players to main players
that just didn't just knock my socks off in this. And I'm glad we were in the second
row because then my socks would have been on the stage. But every year we see this production
I go, man, they're going to have to do work. And you know what they do? They do work because
every year this thing gets better. And this year is probably the best one they've done
so far since we've been going. I absolutely, my, my standout God. Good luck. Yeah. Well,
it did my heart good to see Alex Organ, who pretty much stole it. The first go around
with his portrayal of Marley's ghost. And he destroys it here. And now he's been promoted
to the lead role. Bravo to that guy. And I like the, the, the main, the very, very conscious
choice that was made here. And I got to go back to my other page. Kevin Moriarty, who does a lot
of adaptations for them. But I want to send a special shout out to Tiffany Nicole Green, who directed
this. She made a choice. Nobody's doing accents. Yes. Nobody. And it didn't bother me in any way.
No, it didn't. Because to me it gave even the younger actors an opportunity to really sink
their teeth into the roles without having to worry about the accent. I thought that was a very
smart choice. And I'm on board with it. But seeing as how Marley, the character of Marley's
ghost kind of became the, the role that drew our attention the first go around it did it again.
Because drew wall. Oh, dear God. My Lord. That man's cuts mad skill. Creepy. Yeah. I mean, and
most of these, most of these supporting actors play multiple roles. I mean, you see them in two
seconds later, you'll see them in another scene that just a slight costume change. But it all works
that. Yeah. Just what was his name, old Joe, the guy that was pretty much pilfering the the
ring. Oh, at the end. Yeah. And I was like, yeah, that's him. But put the same kind of, you know,
sleaze baggy, you know, bravado that he had with with Marley's go, it's just you couldn't take
your eyes off the guy. There's a there's it. The ending was a little bit more extended than I
remember it being in the last couple of years. But powerful. Very, very, very powerful.
I can't talk. I can't say anything bad about this production. I can't. No, it's, you know,
organ mentioned something as the as the production was wrapping last night about how people have
started to make this because because they've made it an annual tradition families that have come
to see it have made it an annual tradition. I'm hooked. You and me both. I was like, I can't,
well, I said in my current review currently located at www dot the clubhouse podcast dot com. That's our
website. That this is officially the tradition now because we've done this four times now. Yeah.
I mean, that's officially a pattern. And the fact that they make this a pay which you can perform
as I think is really, really cool. Well, and I also like again, the fact that that the
Wiley lets us keep coming back because they can be like, you guys have done this already. But
they're like, no, y'all come on in because they really is a new way to experience it every time.
They care of us so well. And give us the chance to really, really experience this production
because this is an experience. I mean, it's very immersive. It's completely immersive.
There's only I would say there's only one production that we've ever seen at the Wiley that's
more immersive than this. And I'm the only one in this room that was there. And it was for hair.
Because it's going to be tough to beat that from an immersion standpoint. I really wanted to see
that. But this one, I mean, it's a, it's, it's sensory overload at some points. Be advised for
those of you that are that are in the Dallas Fort Worth and are considering going to advise that
there are some strobe effects. So if those things affect you, be aware that it is a player in this
in the biggest of ways. Yes, it is. From a tech standpoint, they are Tony award-winning for a reason.
Yes. Things of technical marvel. Absolutely brilliantly done.
So where would you rank this on what you've seen so far before?
I can't tell you on my list where it's this, but I can tell you it's my favorite version of
a Christmas carol we've seen. Of the four so far. Of the four. Yeah. It's the best one. And it
just keeps getting better every year. Guys, that first one we saw with the guy who played Scrooge
plus the lady flying through the air. Oh, yeah. That was Ghost Christmas present. Yeah. I mean, it's
and Chad found out she's now playing Miss Saigon on Broadway. Yep.
How about that? That's the top for her. How about that? Yeah. Yeah. I got an interviewer.
And we talked about her. You did. You did. You did. You did. We're more at its own.
She, this, you know, we saw that and we were like, dude, that's pretty awesome. And then we
went back to the second year and we're like, dude, that's even more, more pretty awesome. And it
just keeps getting better every year when you think like, this is the bar. And then they're just
like, hold my beer. You know, it's insane. It really is. How they continue because I could watch
almost any version of a Christmas carol. I love this story. I love everything about this story.
As do I. You know, I don't care if it's live action. I don't care if it's the muppets.
I don't care what it is. This is a great story. I don't care if it's Michael Cain, if it's Bill Murray,
if it's Patrick Stewart, Patrick Stewart, right. I should forget about it, too. If it's George C Scott,
right. But the Wiley just, they're just next level, bro. And I don't know if I would enjoy it as
much if it were in any other venue. I agree. I'm telling you that big room with the Wiley. There's
something about that room that just makes it. I mean, with when you look around the room and you
see Christmas lights everywhere, lining every layer of the theater. But they're not always on.
Right. They're on a just the right time. Uh-huh. It's, it's just, and how quickly, especially as you
get towards the end and Scrooge is having the big party, how quickly the whole vibe in the stage
changes as they're hanging the reefs. Like, yeah. And we're back. Yeah. Like, it's just,
this production is flawless. I can't say it any other way. This production is flawless.
Absolutely agree with you. And Don, I was bummed you couldn't be there with us. But I will tell you,
when we get done with this episode, get your butt online and get tickets for you and your wife.
Oh, really? Okay. Please. Please. Because I'm telling you, if you miss this,
you're going to be kicking yourself. Okay. Because like Chad said, it's a pay what you want,
kind of a deal. Really? So it's not like it's going to cost you a bazillion dollars to sit
down low. If the tickets are available, you pay what you can. Is that for every performance?
I believe it is. I believe it is. I don't think it was just for what for when we saw it.
Double check it and be sure. You know, go to ATTPAC.org. Is it org? Oh, wait a minute. That
might have just been the opening. Oh, was it? Yeah. Okay. I'm looking at the press release.
All right. Begins on November 21st with a pay what you can't perform. It is ATTPAC.org.
But even it would not pay what you can. It goes until November 30th. No, December 30th. I'm
sorry, December 30th. I can't read. But it's got, you know, the weekend performance is there's
Matt and Ace. So if you want to go early, go to two o'clock. You know, I mean, I'm just going to
look at the tickets right now as I'm clicking around here. And I love. Yeah, I mean,
you can sit in the level three orchestra as low as $15. That's that's a no brainer. Yeah,
it's really a no brainer. You know, on this, on the, the first balcony, which is all beautiful
view from that first balcony, you can get those as low as $39. This is not going to break the bank.
Now, now you can open your checkbook if you want to and, you know, sit down low. But 15 bucks,
come on, man. Yeah. Just getting the room. Just getting the room. Spoiler alert. Anything else
you need to know, Don, before we get to the final, the room. No, there's no references to the room
in this. Oh, I'm just thinking you say happy. No, no, what Chad said was kind of a spoiler to the
final analysis. Okay. Okay. Okay. Let's get to the final analysis. The way we do the final
analysis on the show, we're not going to give you thumbs up, thumbs down. We're not going to give you
a letter of grades, numbers, Christmas, D's, anything like that. Thank you. I knew that's where you
were going with this. That's how I roll. Two questions. Question number one is, would we see this
again? If the answers know, then we're done here. But if the answers, yes, this is a stage production.
It's a little bit different. It's going to be, it's going to talk about where we're going to sit.
It's going to tell you how much we enjoy this. Don, would you do the honors, please?
Okay. Garbering minds want to know who you asking first? Chad. Okay. Would you see this again?
God, yes. And at what level would you be willing to see it?
Prop dollar. Rob? Yes, there are inquiring minds also. I know. Would you see this again?
Absolutely. What a shocker. And secondly, at what level?
So let's say you don't recommend it. That was not a Gatlin gun. You don't recommend it.
I'm telling you, when we, I'm telling you, we get off air, get online. Okay. Especially, I mean,
for 15 bucks, and you can sit down low, because there's not a bad seat in this entire place.
Yeah. Yeah. That's what I love about the Y. I love about all the venues we get to see shows out
here in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. You know, and, and I say in my written review that,
where's that at? Oh, it's at www dot the clubhousepodcast.com. That's our website.
This, this could, I mean, this could easily be the holiday tradition for you and your family.
Easily. Absolutely. Because it's different every year. And if you don't have one, what a great
way to start. So go see this production at play street, December the 30th. So you could even go
when the kids are out on Christmas break. You could go, I don't know, maybe you go Christmas weekend.
Probably not Christmas night. I'm thinking, God, but go see this production. It's so well done.
It's, it's the 2018 presentation by the Wiley Theatre Center's
A Christmas Carol for solving the hazard. We got to think everybody at the Wiley in the
Dallas Theatre Center. Kaley and everybody there. We love them. The ATT Performing Arts Center.
We love our vendors. They're so good to us. And we could not be more thankful for them.
Go see this production. That being said, let's do the plugs. Visit our website, the aforementioned
www.theclubhousepodcast.com. You'll find Chad and I are my written reviews there. So much more.
Make sure you follow us on social media. Twitter is at Clubhouse Show.
Everything else is the Clubhouse Podcast. All three words in that order. Or you will wind up
somewhere else. You can follow me on Twitter if you would like and everything else. Everything
else is, I mean, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, all that. Everything's yes. That robber.
And that's built ERVIN. I am Matt Chad, NPG69. And on Twitter, I'm at Iqbonu, IGBUN, you, you, you.
And also email me, don at theclubhousepodcast.com. Email Don for information. How we can come do a
live show for you. We love doing live show and hanging out with the Empire with our live
remotes. You can email me questions, comments, concerns, tell me to go pound sand. I am
Rob at theclubhousepodcast.com. I am Chad at theclubhousepodcast.com.
Charlotte Parker is on Pinterest because we're morally obligated to say that.
Make sure you download the Vocal Now app on your favorite
mobile device, VOKAL, bookmarkvocalnow.com. So you can catch our live show every Sunday night,
7 Eastern 4 Pacific, your one-stop shop for all things pop culture. So until next time,
for Don, for Chad and the Empire, I'm Rob. Clubhouse is closed. And if we don't get to talk to you
before, then happy holidays, everybody.