Franklin Performing Arts Presents HUMBUG! A BEGGAR'S OPERA, 12/15 & 16

This holiday season, the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents Humbug! A Beggar's Opera, an original musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. FPAC's contemporary retelling of the Dickens holiday classic was conceived and written by Franklin's Nick Paone, who also co-directs the production and portrays the lead character of Scrooge.

From 16 area communities, a talented ensemble cast of 150 professional artists, amateur performers, families and students of the arts will bring Paone's fresh interpretation of Dickens' work to the stage. Paone's script features Dickens' familiar characters and storyline, but re-imagines the allegorical tale in contemporary America. The production features musical hits of many genres with live accompaniment by a 10-piece band of professional musicians.

Humbug! will be performed today, December 15 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at the Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium, 224 Oak Street, in Franklin.

A family favorite since debuting as part of FPAC's 2008-09 season, Humbug! returns with updated references to current events and pop culture so it retains an unpredictable timeliness and freshness. Paone has reinvented the Dickens' story for a modern audience, producing satire so current it reflects the news of the day, right up through the week of production. As Scrooge embarks on his transformative journey of self-redemption, he faces his nighttime visitors with unexpected twists and hilarious turns along the way. The plotline is supported by an entertaining and accessible score that includes creative treatments of Broadway and pop hits ranging from Duke Ellington and The Beatles to Michael Jackson and Adele. Paone notes, "We were able to look at the entire canon of music history and pick songs suited to each moment of the show. Every person in the audience, whether they're 5 years old or 105, will recognize at least one song."

A distinctive suburban non-profit arts organization founded in 1991, FPAC presents quality performances while offering opportunities for professional artists, amateur performers, families and students of the arts to work together in a collaborative and creative environment. FPAC Executive Director Raye Lynn Mercer co-directs the production, with musical direction by Hallie Wetzell, choreography by Kellie Stamp, Mercer and Paone, and costuming and production coordination by Tracy Lane.

Tickets for FPAC's Humbug! cost $30, $28, and $26 and may be purchased at the FPAC Box Office (34 Main Street, Franklin), through online ticketing at www.fpaconline.com, or by phone at 508-528-8668.