HartBeat Ensemble, twice winner of the Hartford Advocate Reader’s poll for best professional theater, will perform Ebeneeza-A Hartford Holiday Carol at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, from December 1 to December 30. Set in present day Greater Hartford, Ebeneeza brings a new twist to the Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. 

“It’s a wild ride through our common history and current reality,” says Ensemble member Julia Rosenblatt. “Ebeneeza combines the issues facing our community with the traditional holiday morality play.”

Ebeneeza is HartBeat’s third original mainstage play, and first holiday play.  “In keeping with HartBeat tradition, the words and concepts of Ebeneeza come from interviews with citizens of Greater Hartford,” says Greg Tate of HartBeat Ensemble. “The audience will get to experience the diverse make-up or our region through Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa celebrations.” 

Ebeneeza, is a 75-year-old woman who has made her money from Hartford real estate.  The story takes us from Ebeneeza’s childhood home on Front Street during the Depression, through the civil upheavals of the 60’s in Hartford’s North End, to the Greater Hartford suburbs of the 80’s, and finally into one frightening possible future.  As Dickens’ would have it, Ebeneeza wakes up from her horrible night and realizes she still has a chance to change not only her ways but also the course of her community. “The humanity of Ebeneeza is something that all audiences will relate to,” says Ensemble member Steve Ginsburg.  “We hope people will leave the play feeling a new reverence toward the holiday and their relationships within the community all year round.”

HartBeat Ensemble and the Hartford Stage Company have formed a new partnership during this holiday season. Patrons will receive 25% off an Ebeneeza – A Hartford Holiday Carol ticket with a Hartford Stage stub and a $25 ticket to A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas with a HartBeat stub.  This offering gives theatergoers the opportunity to enjoy two versions of holiday story.

Ebeneeza- A Hartford Holiday Carol is directed by Brian Jennings.  The title character is played by Debra Walsh. HartBeat Ensemble members Steve Ginsburg, Julia B. Rosenblatt, Gregory R. Tate along with Taniesha Duggan, Nicholas Meadows and Ellen Sena will fill out the cast. To purchase tickets for Ebeneeza visit the Charter Oak Center box office at 21 Charter Oak Ave. between 9am -5pm Monday through Friday or call Charter Oak at 860-249-1207.  For group sales call HartBeat Ensemble at 548-9144.  Ebeneeza – A Hartford Holiday Carol will run Thursday’s at 7:30PM,  Friday’s and Saturday’s at 8PM, for the month of December.