Los Angeles Times
Ben McKenzie, Fred Willard among guest stars for ‘Carol’ comedy
By David Ng
November 21, 2012, 10:46 a.m
The upcoming Second City production of “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre will feature a changing roster of guest stars. Among the names confirmed to make guest appearances in the comedy production are “Southland” star Ben McKenzie, actor Fred Willard, rocker Henry Rollins, singer Lance Bass and comedian Bruce Vilanch.
“Twist Your Dickens!” is set to open on Nov. 29, with previews beginning on Nov. 24. The comedy’s regular cast will include “The Simpsons” star Dan Castellaneta, “MADtv” veteran Frank Caeti, Larry Joe Campbell, Amanda Blake Davis, Brian Stepanek, Jean Villepique and Ron West.
A Center Theatre Group spokesman said that each actor will play multiple roles in the production, except West, who will play Scrooge. Castellaneta will play Jacob Marley and other characters. West replaced Joe Flaherty, who left the production for “personal reasons,” according to CTG.
The show, a comical take on the Dickens classic, is written by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, both of whom are alums of Second City and have written for “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.
Other confirmed guest stars include former “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander, Father Greg Boyle, Ed Begley Jr. and Keegan-Michael Key.
CTG said that guest stars will “will drop in, one by one, for a special cameo performance,” in the production.
