“Cabus delivers a tour de force, acting out all the parts in Charles Dickens’ Holiday classic and making it seem as if that’s the only way it should be done … This CHRISTMAS CAROL is one of the smallest yet most sensational shows of the year. Don’t miss it. ” THE TENNESSEAN

“Destined to be a cult classic.” NASHVILLE SCENE

Mark Cabus brings his critically acclaimed one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL back to Nashville this holiday season for the first time since 2002. He’ll give three performances of the piece as a benefit for Naked Stages, the professional theater wing of Green Room Projects, Dec. 20-22 at Belmont’s Black Box Theater (2100 Belmont Boulevard). Cabus’ interpretation avoids sugary sentimentality as he portrays all 34 characters from Ebenezer Scrooge to Tiny Tim. The fundraiser also features live music and food which will make this the newest of Nashville’s family Yuletide traditions.

Former TENNESSEAN critic Kevin Nance was effusive in his praise of Cabus’ work on this holiday classic:

“The specificity and calm commitment Cabus brings to the characters – in particular Ebenezer Scrooge, a misanthrope who rediscovers his humanity after a series of ghostly visitors – makes him utterly convincing. Grounding everything is Cabus’ command of his rich and versatile voice, which alternately booms, whispers, commands, pleads, coos, cackles, belly-laughs and wheedles in a variety of accents as the characters require, often within the same scene.

“And his manipulation of Dickens’ delicious text exploits its sonic properties in ways and perhaps not even its author could have conceived. Releasing him from this promise of marriage, the middle-aged Scrooge’s bride-to-be pronounces the word ‘contract’ in a sort of crushingly conscience way that brings out its levels of meaning with shocking precision.

“But if Cabus’ vocal powers are awesome, his physical control is even more impressive. His contorted, foot-dragging entrance as the anguished Marley is more ghastly, more spectral and more evocative than anything you’ll ever see on a stage full of expensive special effects. When Marley settles on an invisible chair, you’ll swear its really there.”

“I’m excited about bringing CHRISTMAS CAROL back to Nashville,” Cabus, the company’s artistic director, said. “I’m curious to see how the intervening years have changed my approach to these characters. Hopefully audiences will be just as inquisitive.”

Tickets are $40 in advance through the TicketNashville link at www.greenroomprojects.org or $50 at the door (cash or check only). Because this is a fundraiser, 50% of your ticket/donation is tax deductible.

All performances start at 6:30 PM.