CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Nov. 27, 2023) — One of the first projects Phillip Webster, Thomas More University’s new theater director, took on upon arriving on campus was to commission an original Christmas play. Renowned Northern Kentucky playwrights Alexx (Rouse) Robinson and Zach Robinson jumped on board to write the piece. The final product, “Christmas Carol Untold,” is set to debut at the University’s theater on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

The play focuses on a local theater troupe that stumbles upon Charles Dickens’ lost diary. They accidentally summon his restless spirit from the afterlife and holiday hijinks ensue. Dickens proceeds to hijack their production of “A Christmas Carol,” in an attempt to restore his outlandish original version. “Think of Charles Dickens as George Lucas making the Star Wars prequels,” explains Alexx. “He’s got some okay ideas, but no one should have ever let him be in charge of anything. Thus, chaos ensues.”

“We love ‘A Christmas Carol’ and we’ve always toyed with the idea of writing a holiday-themed show,” adds Zach. “When Phil asked us to write one, we thought for a long time about which direction to go. Eventually, after thinking about our favorite Christmas stories, we landed on the idea of parodying ‘A Christmas Carol’ and the ideas just started taking off from there.” The Robinsons have been writing plays together for eight years, with productions popping up throughout the tristate area, including at the Carnegie, the Know Theatre, and Madcap Puppets. They have also had their work featured at theaters in Indianapolis, Indiana, and as far as Sri Lanka.

Webster shares his excitement of having a production created specifically for the University’s students, “Thomas More has a strong group of actors who are good at really broad, outrageous comedy, and I thought that would fit well with the kind of work Alexx and Zach are known for.” Bringing in theater professionals offers students the opportunity to network, gain perspective, and see the many possibilities available to them after graduation. “I want to bring in more local talent as we begin to offer more playwriting classes and workshops,” adds Webster. “I want to feature some Thomas More students’ work as well.” 

Performances of “Christmas Carol Untold” take place Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Thomas More theater. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

For a full interview with the playwrights and Webster, visit more.thomasmore.edu/uncategorized/qa-with-christmas-carol-untold/.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit www.thomasmore.edu.

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About Thomas More University

Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. To find out more, visit thomasmore.edu.

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