Dickensblog

Casting announced for Encores' 'Oliver!'

The upcoming Encores! production, which will run May 3-14 at New York City Center, will star Lilli Cooper as Nancy, Raúl Esparza as Fagin, Tam Mutu as Bill Sikes, Brad Oscar as Mr. Bumble, Benjamin Pajak as Oliver Twist, and Mary Testa as Widow Corney. More information on the production and on where to purchase tickets is available here. Thanks to Rachel McMillan for the tip!

Dickens on British TV

Acclaimed actress Miriam Margolyes is not a fan of Christmas, but she is famously a fan of Dickens. So she "has agreed to see if she can warm to the season through her love of Charles Dickens," in a Channel 4 special called "Miriam's Dickensian Christmas." The special airs Tuesday night, and Margolyes talks about it here. Lucinda Dickens Hawksley also worked on the special, and she discusses it here.

In other British television news, Mark Gatiss's filmed stage production of A Christmas Carol, which was recently in cinemas, will air on BBC Four (and BBC iPlayer) on Christmas Day.

Virtual live performance of 'The Haunted Man'

Today at 7:30 p.m. GMT (2:30 p.m. Eastern), the Dickens Museum will stream a live performance of The Haunted Man by actor James Swanton. There's still time to buy a ticket! (If you can't watch live, you can request a recorded link when you purchase your ticket.)

'Oliver Twist' audio drama released

Sam Mendes's new audio drama Oliver Twist is now available on Audible, and if you have a membership, it's free! The cast includes Brian Cox as Fagin, Daniel Kaluuya as Bill Sikes, Nicola Coughlan as Nancy, Emilio Villa Muhammad as Oliver, and Elijah Wolf as the Artful Dodger. Go here to read more about the production, which includes sound effects recorded at Dickens's own home, now the Dickens Museum. And go here to listen!

Mark Gatiss's 'Christmas Carol' comes to movie theaters

A filmed version of last year's London production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Mark Gatiss and starring Gatiss and Nicholas Farrell, is coming to movie theaters tomorrow! Go here to find out if this international limited run will be anywhere near you!

'Great Expectations' off-Broadway

British actor and comedian Eddie Izzard, who has been performing in a solo version of Great Expectations at various venues in the U.K., will bring the show to New York's Greenwich House Theater this winter. Previews begin December 9, the official opening is December 15, and the show will close January 22. More information is available here, and tickets are available here.

Jefferson Mays's 'Christmas Carol' comes to Broadway

Got another teaser trailer for you today! This one is for Jefferson Mays's one-man version of A Christmas Carol, which opens at Broadway's Nederlander Theater on November 8. Go here for tickets! 

'Oliver!' comes to New York

Lionel Bart's beloved musical version of Oliver Twist will have a week-and-a-half run in May 2023 as part of New York City Center's Encores! season. Go here and here for more information.

Mr. Dickens comes to the museum

The Dickens Museum is hosting a virtual filmed version of Gerald Dickens's one-man show Mr. Dickens Is Coming!, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern on February 6. Go here to learn more and to buy tickets! 

A virtual 'Chimes'

Tomorrow (Friday) at 5 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. Eastern, the Dickens Museum will host a Zoom performance of The Chimes by actor Dominic Gerrard. Gerrard and Lucinda Dickens Hawksley will take questions after the performance. Go here to learn more and to buy tickets!