CHICAGO — Respected out gay actor David Pevsner will be joined by former Saturday Night Live cast member and Second City veteran Tim Kazurinsky in the title roles of Scrooge and Marley in the new independent film being shot in Chicago this May. Pevsner and Kazurinsky are both native Chicagoans.
"Scrooge & Marley" is a modern-day variation on Charles Dickens' classic holiday story, "A Christmas Carol". Recounted from a gay sensibility with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens' timeless tale of a man's redemption at the holidays comes alive from a fresh perspective that will appeal to audiences of every persuasion.
Acclaimed actor Richard Ganoung, who starred in the groundbreaking gay films "Parting Glances" and "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss", has signed on to play Colin.
Two-time Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch will play Fezziwig in the film.
Rusty Schwimmer ( "North Country", "A Perfect Storm", "A Little Princess", "Drop Dead Diva", "Bones", "Louie" ) will portray Scrooge's niece Freda.
David Moretti, best known as Thom Etherton in here! TV's vampire series, "The Lair" and for "Dante's Cove", will play Bob Cratchit.
The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future will be played by Ronnie Kroell ( Bravo's "Make Me A Supermodel" and "Into the Lion's Den" ) , Megan Cavanagh ( "A League of their Own", "Robin Hood: Men In Tights", "Exes and Ohs" ) and Chicago club kid Jo Jo Baby, respectively.
Other principal cast members include the following acclaimed Chicago actors: Drew Anderson and Nicholas Bailey playing young Scrooge and Marley; Christopher Allen as Bill; TimeLine Theatre artistic director PJ Powers as Marley's ghostly acquaintance; About Face Theatre artistic associate Scott Duff as Drew; Windy City Queercast's Amy Matheny as Mary; Fawzia Mirza as Marshall; Peter Mohawk as Kyle; Allison Torem ( "The Wise Kids" ) as Scrooge's sister Franny; Michael Joseph Mitchell as Scrooge's Father; Becca Kaufman and Richard Knight, Jr. as a comedic cabaret duo; and Colin Sphar as Brent.
The child actors will be Liam Jones as Tiny Tim, with siblings played by real-life twin sisters Dixon and Delaney Kaufman and real-life brothers Elijah and Keante Pendleton.
Additional supporting cast includes Michael Termine, Rafael Torres, Tommy Beardmore, Tom Chiola, Sean Walton, Diana Simonzadeh, Alex Weisman, Steven McQuown, Ryan Lanning, Ellen Stoneking, and WBEZ reporter Alison Cuddy in a voice cameo as a radio announcer. David Cerda, artistic director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, and Ed Jones, Handbag ensemble member, and both of the rock band The Joans, will be among actors in a series of special Christmas vignettes.
Casting director for the film is Heather Schmucker.
"Scrooge & Marley" is based on an original script by Ellen Stoneking, Richard Knight, Jr. and the late Timothy Imse. It will be directed by Knight and Peter Neville.
Executive producers of the film are Tracy Baim ( "Hannah Free" ) and David Strzepek ( "Foodgasm" ) , who are joined by several co-producers ( Knight, Neville, Stoneking, Kroell, and Moretti ) and experienced crew. Line producer is Thavary Krouch, Assistant Director is Holli Hopkins, Director of Photography is Andrew Parrotte, and Production Designer is Rob Steffen. Additional crew will be announced soon.
Original songs and the film's music score are being written by Lisa McQueen, an ensemble member and musical director at Annoyance Theater for 21 years.
The film is being financed by investors and through an Indie GoGo campaign under the name of Scrooge & Marley Film. See www.indiegogo.com/Scrooge-Marley-film .
Legal counsel for the production is Joseph L. Voss from Clark Hill PLC. Companies donating food include J&L Catering and Ann Sather on Belmont.
The locations for the shoot include 3160 Bar on Clark Street and the old Bistro Too disco, in addition to private homes and a cemetery.
Full cast and production team bios at www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com .
www.indiegogo.com .
Twitter: twitter.com/ .
On Facebook see www.facebook.com/ScroogeAndMarley .
