Culver City Observer -

Center Theatre Group and The Second City are assembling an eclectic collection of stars from the worlds of stage, screen, radio, politics, music, food, fitness, spirituality and interplanetary transport who will drop in, one by one, for a special cameo performance in the world premiere of The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

The partial list of guest stars includes musicians Lance Bass and Henry Rollins; actors Rose Abdoo, Jason Alexander, Ed Begley, Jr., Barry Bostwick, Neil Flynn, Keegan-Michael Key, Sharon Lawrence, John Lehr, Ben McKenzie, Lamorne Morris, Danny Pudi, Shoshannah Stern, George Takei and Fred Willard; radio personalities Lisa May and Sandra Tsing Loh; writer Bruce Vilanch; performer Miss Coco Peru; scientists Bobak Ferdowsi and Bill Nye; chefs Susan Feniger and Valerie Gordon; professional wrestler John Hennigan (formerly known as WWE superstar John Morrison); child actress turned politician Sheila Kuehl;and LA treasures Father Gregory Boyle and Richard Simmons. More guests will be announced in the coming weeks. All guests are subject to change.

Written bySecond City alums,Peter Gwinn (formerly of “The Colbert Report”) and Bobby Mort (currently of “The Colbert Report”), The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” opens November 29. Previews begin November 24 and performances will run through December 30.

Directed by Marc Warzecha (Resident Director, The Second City) the permanent cast features Second City alums Frank Caeti (“MADtv”), Larry Joe Campbell (“According to Jim”), Dan Castellaneta (“The Simpsons”), Amanda Blake Davis (“Second City Does Dallas” at the Dallas Theatre Center), Brian Stepanek (“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”), Jean Villepique (“Up All Night”) and Ron West (“3^rd Rock from the Sun”).

The scenic design is by Tom Buderwitz, costume design by Leah Piehl, lighting design by Brandon Baruch and sound design by Cricket S. Myers. The production stage manager is Kirsten Parker.

With its trademark humor, irreverence and originality, The Second City, in a creative collaboration with CTG, is taking the classic Charles Dickens’ Christmas tale and giving it a hearty twist. In addition to Scrooge (played by Ron West), the ever-morphing ensemble will bring the famous Victorian streets to frenzied life with Tiny Tim, that fat, plucked goose, all those know-it-all ghosts, a host of anachronistic characters and hilarious improvs which will have Dickens guffawing in his grave.

Tickets are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at http://www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office.November 21, 2012