24 October 2005 ... New York, NY ... Fresh off a 2005 AUDELCO Best Actor Award Nomination, Firebrand Theory Theater Company mounts a holiday Western comedy, THE DICKENS opening December 1 at Altered Stages. THE DICKENS is directed by Classical Theater of Harlem company member Jaime Robert Carrillo and written by Michael Scott-Price, literary manager at Theater for the New City. Set against the backdrop of a lawless Western town in the 1880's, THE DICKENS is the comic holiday tale of the Devil's secret arrangement with God. Unbeknownst to Mankind, every year on Christmas Eve the Devil offers God a Christmas present. In an abandoned saloon, Lucifer rounds up the most criminal and unredeemable souls in order to change their ways. This unsavoury motley crew - including a wayward priest, a greedy undertaker, a Black cowboy, a prostitute named Carnation - reacts with ridicule and disbelief upon learning the true purpose of the secret meeting.

"In this era of rampant commercialism, THE DICKENS reveals the true meaning of the holiday spirit," says director Jaime Carrillo. "The Old West was an era of disillusionment and despair, sentiments which resonate in today's climate. Like all good holiday stories, this absurdist piece portrays humanity finding hope in the most unexpected of settings."

Firebrand Theory Theater Company has been called "always impassioned and always authentic" by the Irish Times. The company has produced in various cities throughout the U.S. and abroad, including: Dublin, Winnipeg, and Minneapolis, in addition to its New York City home seasons.

Opening Night is Thursday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. The production schedule is December 1 - December 17 and the show times are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at the Altered Stages, located at 212 W. 29th Street, 2nd Floor. Tickets are $20, with discounts for seniors and students. For reservations, call the box office at 212-868-4444 or visit http://www.smarttix.com