When:December 4, 2012, 7:00 PM

Where:Dickinson Hall, Wilson Auditorium , 140 University Plaza Drive, Hackensack NJ 07601

Contact:     Continuing Education Dept.   ||   201.692.6500    ||  (ceinfo@fdu.edu)          

This is a special year for Charles John Huffam Dickens enthusiasts worldwide as 2012 marks the bi-centenary of his birthday. In celebration of his life and work, Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens, will be returning to FDU to perform the beloved story A Christmas Carol during his U.S. tour. Program Flyer Video Interview

On Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Continuing Education Department, will present A Christmas Carol at Dickinson Hall in Wilson Auditorium.This heartwarming show-of-the-season is performed by Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of literary master, Charles Dickens.Gerald, an actor and producer hailing from Oxford, England, will be performing his captivating rendition of this timeless holiday classic.

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 and on what would have been Charles' 200th birthday, Gerald attended a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Charles' burial site at Westminster Abbey, followed by a grand banquet at The Mansion House, where the Lord Mayor of the City of London resides. Then, on Valentine's Day, Gerald was invited to a special reception being given by none only than The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace!

Gerald bears more than a passing resemblance to his famous ancestor, who originally toured the U.S. in 1867 reading his literary works before spellbound audiences.  According to Gerald, his great-great grandfather adored theater and initially wanted to be an actor but pursued writing as a career for practical purposes.  For many years Gerald says that he himself “avoided anything to do with Dickens like the plague.”  But in 1993 when a friend asked him to do a reading of A Christmas Carol on its 150^th anniversary of publication to help raise money for a historical restoration project, he couldn’t turn him down.  To his surprise, he enjoyed doing it and has been delighting audiences around the world with his rendition ever since.

During his energetic one-man show, Dickens brings A Christmas Carol to life. He leaps, he sobs, he laughs…as he entertains…depicting 26 characters of the classic tale, with just a table, wing chair, and hat rack accompanying him on stage.   He has created different postures and voices for each character, achieving this so adeptly that the audience has no doubt about “who is who,” so to speak.  Gerald’s agent, Bob Byers, President of Byers’ Choice Ltd., said: “It’s a wonderful show--a great family tradition--the best way I know of to kick off the holiday season.”

Mr. Dickens returns to the U.S. for his 2012 tour that will take him to twelve states across the country.   He will transform manufacturing facilities, churches, hotel ballrooms and lobbies into scenes straight out of the classic holiday tale, much as Scrooge was transformed from a dispirited miser to a joyous soul after his Christmas Eve encounter with ghosts from the past, present and future.  His performance is produced by Byers’ Choice Ltd., makers of the nationally-known Carolers® and Kindles® figurines, located in Chalfont, PA.  For more information on Mr. Dickens’ 2012 tour calendar, visit www.byerschoice.com or phone 215-822-6700.

Mr. Dickens will be available to sign your program or a special book and posters during a signing reception in Dickinson Hall lobby shortly after the performance.  A limited number of books will be available for sale at the show.

All photographs, audio and video recordings are prohibited during Mr. Dickens’ performance.  However, at the signing reception after the performance, photos are encouraged.  Anyone unable to get performance tickets before they have sold out can still attend the book and program signing.