Dec 14, 2023 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

A beloved production that has become a tradition for many returns to the historic Byham Theater located in the Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh.

This is the 32nd year for “A Musical Christmas Carol,” which is based on David Bell’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” The show is brought to life by Pittsburgh’s’ Civic Light Orchestra (CLO) and directed by Scott Evans.

Playing the role of the ever crotchety and always acerbic Ebenezer Scrooge is two-time Tony winner Michael Cerveris, whom audiences love to hate – that is until he is transformed by otherworldly events.

Once again, the CLO goes all out to usher in the Christmas cheer, starting with the moment guests walk through the door of the Byham, where they’ll be greeted by 78 musical-themed holiday trees of many shapes and sizes, ranging from two-foot shrubs to a soaring 18-foot Giving Tree where guests are encouraged to drop unwrapped toys for Charlie’s Best of the Batch Foundation. Loads of artificial snow complete the Instagram-worthy winter tableau which provides a beautiful backdrop for family photos.

Enter the Fezziwigs

Chris Laitta and Tim Hartman play the kind, generous, outgoing Fezziwigs, who act as a foil for Scrooge and his churlish miserliness.

Tim Hartman returns for the 31st time to play the role of Mr. Fezziwig. Over the years Hartman has acted in many stage productions. He has appeared on Broadway in “A Tale of Two Cities” and in the Tony-nominated “Finian’s Rainbow.”

Hartman discovered his love of performing at the age of 12 as a puppeteer. He later went on to work in a dinner theater north of Pittsburgh and then as a storyteller for the Carnegie Museum of Art and at Pittsburgh’s Shakespeare Festival.

Hartman also works at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as a political cartoonist and has 400 professional theater productions under his belt. In addition to his role as Mr. Fezziwig, he also plays the ghost of Christmas present, a businessman, social worker and narrator.

“We take the story very seriously. The music is beautiful, and the special effects include smoke, flying, snow and more. When it comes down to it, it’s an amazingly touchingly funny, scary show which runs the gamut of the human experience,” he said.

Laitta is a bit newer to the production and plays Mrs. Fezziwig and Miss Dilber, Scrooge’s long-suffering housekeeper.

“My interpretation of Mrs. Fezziwig is that she is the ultimate party giver. She enjoys the party as much as her guests,” said Laitta, who is taking over the role from Terry Wickline, who played Mrs. Fezziwig for 20 years.

“I’m excited because it’s a big honor to step into these iconic roles,” said Laitta, adding that the director has allowed her to put her spin on the characters to make them uniquely hers.

Laitta, like Hartman, discovered her love of performing at a young age.

“My mother, who was a schoolteacher, signed me up for a theater summer camp which is where I found my tribe and broke out of my incredibly shy shell to be wacky, silly and free,” she said.

The positive experience inspired her to pursue theater at Penn State. Like Hartman, Laitta also sings during “A Musical Christmas Carol” and joined the production as a caroler years ago.

“I’m excited to return and this time I’m what they call a ‘belter’,” she said, which describes the loud and dramatic sound singers adopt to give voice to strong emotions. Today Laitta is active in the theater community as a teacher, director, choreographer and actor.

A Sensory-friendly performance

The CLO is also offering a sensory-friendly performance to provide an opportunity for audiences of all ages to engage in and enjoy live musical theater together with family and friends. Working in partnership with the Autism Connection of PA and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the sensory-friendly performance includes slight production accommodations (lower sound levels, elimination of some special effects, etc.) to make a live performance more enjoyable for those with sensory sensitivities.

“A Musical Christmas Carol” will run from Dec. 15-23 at the Byham Theater at 101 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh, with a special sensory friendly performance on Dec. 23 at noon.

For dates, times, prices and tickets, visit: A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL (pittsburghclo.org)