The 2022 version of A Christmas Carol poster for the Orlando Shakespeare Theater (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL) was built around the vision of Christmas past with the whole cast having a grand time dancing at the Fezziwig Christmas party. Fezziwig was Ebenezer Scrooge‘s jovial, generous first employer. He was a “foppish” and jolly, stout man, and he hosted a lavish Christmas Eve party every year for his employee. He stands as a stark contrast to Scrooge’s stinginess.
Scrooge and Christmas past are far back in the crowded room near the torch at the windows. I put the focus on Fezziwig and his wife dancing.
My decision to leave Scrooge in the background would have to be changed, so this was not the final version of the poster. A number of faces of members of the cast were changes and Scrooge an Christmas past took center stage to replace Fezziwig and his wife.
I painted Scrooge and Christmas past with blue tones to separate them from the crowd. In the play no one ever sees scrooge of Christmas past, so if they danced then perhaps others at the party would have danced right through their holographic visages.
With so much intricate detail this poster was a joy to work on while the changes kept me adjusting the composition throughout the process. Tiny Tim had to be added and brought to the foreground. The woman that Scrooge loved and lost is dressed in blue and dancing in the mid ground. She has her back to the audience and is facing scrooge but does not see him. That is how many relationships erode. Someone you once trusted becomes a passing acquaintance.
I like the chaotic flavor of this poster. The Shakes had sent me photos of the cast dancing from past productions, so I had plenty of reference to add people dancing, drinking and having a great time.