The first-ever animated special produced for television is being turned into a concert for one night only. Is it Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Maybe, A Charlie Brown Christmas? Nope! It’s Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, a faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous 1843 novella.
The Actors Fund announced earlier this year that it will be producing a one-night-only benefit concert presentation of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, which first debuted on NBC on December 18, 1962. The original animated show featured a score from Broadway vets Jule Styne and Bob Merrill so show tune fans will love this holiday event. Producer and Playwright Timothy Pinckney recently spoke to the Huffington Post about the classic production.
“In fact, the [Styne] estate actually approached us about putting together a concert presentation of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol because this animated TV special is a great telling of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. And they were thinking that this project might have legs as a show beyond the animated special if for no other reason than this TV show's score is beautiful and was written just about the same time that Bob & Jule were working on Funny Girl.”
Pinckney says that Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is going to sound absolutely amazing with a 28-piece orchestra playing the score at the concert presentation. All of the musicians have volunteered their time and talents because of their relationship with The Actors Fund and their love of the music.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol will be presented as the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College on Dec. 15 at 7:30 pm. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the programs and services of The Actors Fund, the national human services organization that helps everyone in performing arts and entertainment. You can purchase tickets to this event here.
Watch the animated version of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol below.
