2009-11-15 09:58:27 - The Christmas Carol opens December 22, 2009 at Warner Grand Theatre. Make sure to get your tickets early for this popular show! Buy tickets from Brown Paper Tickets at

The Christmas Carol, based on the story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens will be presented at Warner Grand Theatre at 478 West 6th Street in San Pedro, CA 90731 on Performances 12/22, 12/23, 12/26, 01/02 at 8PM; 12/24, 12/27, & 01/03 at 2:30 PM. A special free private performance for Senior Citizens in Assisted Living facilities and other special groups will be offered on Monday, December 21 at 12 Noon. Leading into the performances will be a few special events.

On Friday, December 4, 2009 Carolers from The Christmas Carol will perform for The Port of Los Angeles Fountain Festivities in the evening at the Harbor at San Pedro’s historic waterfront. Those who attend the fountain festivities will have

the opportunity to receive free tickets to the opening night performance of The Christmas Carol at Warner Grand Theatre.

On Saturday, December 5, 2009 Carolers from The Christmas Carol will perform at a special afternoon tea held by Maritime Research Center and Nautical Shop.

On Sunday, December 6, 2009 the cast of The Christmas Carol will march and perform at the Downtown San Pedro Christmas Parade, beginning in the early afternoon. Those who attend the parade will have the opportunity to receive free tickets to the opening night performance of The Christmas Carol at Warner Grand Theatre. Off The Vine – Fine Wines will be offering a parade package for those seeking refreshment and nourishment during the all day event. Tickets sold will include two drinks and a continuous meal with some proceeds to benefit The Relevant Stage Theatre Company.

The Christmas Carol is an adaptation of Dickens original tale, by Ray Buffer and Robert Gross. Buffer & Gross created new arrangements of 18th and 19th century European carols, as well as penning one new carol aptly titled “The Christmas Carol”. The cast is made up of over 30 actors and actresses of all ages, many from San Pedro, but some from Burbank, Hollywood, Pasadena, Culver City and Orange County.

Tickets for the shows will be $20 for adults, $15 for Seniors (55+) and $5 for 18 & under. Dinner packages are also available for $40 from Whale & Ale, 6th Street Bistro, Ports O’Call, and 7th Street Chophouse. A Special Wine Tasting package is available for just $25 from Off The Vine and includes samplings of at least 6 wines. All packages also include your show ticket to The Christmas Carol.
Learn more at www.therelevatstage.com or call and order tickets now at Brown Paper Tickets: 1-800-838-3006.

Robert Gross (Composer/Arranger) is an Atlanta-based composer of contemporary classical, theater and film music. After growing up in Buchanan, Michigan, Robert Gross completed his undergraduate studies at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, with a BM in music composition. He received his MM in music composition at Rice University, and his MA in music for film, television and theatre at the University of Bristol in England. He completed both his DMA in music composition and a graduate certificate in scoring for motion pictures and television from the University of Southern California in 2008, and was the first student in the history of USC's Thornton School of Music to graduate from two graduate-level programs simultaneously. He has studied with as wide and diverse teachers as Samuel Adler, Randolph Coleman, Richard Danielpour, Arthur Gottschalk, Stephen Hartke, Samuel Jones, Richard Lavenda, Edward Miller, and Frank Ticheli, and studied orchestration and electronic music with Frederick Lesemann. His performances, readings or commissions include American Composers Orchestra, Plymouth Music Series Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Seattle Creative Orchestra, Shepherd Symphony, Oberlin Orchestra, University of Michigan Contemporary Directions, University of Bristol New Music Ensemble, the University of Southern California Chamber Opera, Penderecki String Quartet, Renaissance Arts Academy, and Ensemble Green. His awards and honors include two grants from American Music Center; Arts Initiative Grant from USC; two ASCAP/Victor Herbert awards from National Federation of Music; winner in Whitaker New Music competition, American Composers Orchestra; special recognition award, New York Youth Symphony First Music Competition; finalist, First Reading Competition, Chicago Civic Orchestra; twice Honorable Mention and twice finalist, ASCAP Grants to Young Composers competition. Gross was also the winner of the 2003 tri-annual Inter-American Music Awards Competition, with the winning work, Sonata for Solo Unaccompanied Violin published by C.F. Peters. He is currently composer-in-residence of The Relevant Stage Theatre Company of San Pedro where he has penned music for SINGING JAILBIRDS: THE MUSICAL, and THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. Previous theatrical works include YEEHAD!, a critical hit at its month-long run in the Edinburgh Fringe. YEEHAD! also played at the Eclectic Company Theatre of North Hollywood (under the name American Dreams), where it was recommended by L.A. Weekly. His dissertation was an operatic setting of two scenes from Hamlet, which he plans on developing into a full opera. Other theatrical works include Sakura, a one-act chamber opera premiered at Rice University; Lotus Eaters, a Homerian ballet commissioned by Renaissance Arts Academy; and Charon, which was written and produced for the Buchanan Fine Arts Council in his hometown when he was a teen. Film scores include Michelle Osario's Safety With Scissors, featured at the 2002 Tromadance Film Festival; British independent filmmaker Tom Harberd's Lodge; University of Bristol documentary Pride of Pittulie, featured at the 2003 Warsaw Film Festival; and University of Southern California films Interception by Steven Wasserman, Girth by Ali Mansui, Check by Brittney Liddington and Littleblood by Jodie Baltazar and Ryan Lovelace, and Wildman by Jodie Baltazar, featured at the Auburn International Festival For Children and Young Adults and San Diego International Children’s Film Festival. Robert Gross is currently splitting his time between Los Angeles and Atlanta. He is also pursuing theoretical work on prolongational analysis in post-functional music. He recently completed a piece for bass clarinet and electronics called Epitaph II in conjunction with Houston clarinetist Benjamin Mitchell and Pasadena Conservatory clarinetist James Sullivan. Robert is an adjunct professor of music at Rice University.

Ray Buffer (Writer) is the Founder, Artistic and Managing Director of The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California. He is an actor, director, vocalist, composer, filmmaker and producer residing in Huntington Beach, CA. Ray spent the first 30 years of his life in Florida, where he studied musical theatre and music, gaining his BFA before moving to Southern California in 1999. He has worked for various professional theatres and entertainment attractions as an actor, director and stage manager. Credits include, Man in I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE; Jamie Wellerstein in THE LAST FIVE YEARS; Uncle Chris in I REMEMBER MAMA; Jud Fry in OKLAHOMA!; Tevye and Lazar Wolf in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; Bill Sikes in OLIVER!; Stanley Sanders in SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN; Lank Hawkins in CRAZY FOR YOU; and Fudge in TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING. Directing credits include but are not limited to: NOISES OFF!, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, URINETOWN THE MUSICAL, THE CHRISTMAS CAROL, OVER THERE/OVER HERE, and PAJAMA GAME. As an Equity stage manager of over 350 performances, he has worked with such greats as Phyllis Diller, Jayne Meadows and the late, Steve Allen. He is also a keyboardist and has composed music for the film, DANGEROUS PERSPECTIVES and for the theatre productions, PARADE OF FAIRYTALES,THE CHRISTMAS CAROL and COFFEE & CABARET. He has appeared on various television shows and in films, such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Hulk, Surviving Christmas and She Spies and Eyes, to name a few. In 2004, Ray produced the documentary film Rats & Bullies: The Dawn Marie Wesley Story He has also worked in Marketing and Development for non-profit theatres such as Spotlite Players, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Jan McArt's Royal Palm Dinner Theatre and The Laguna Playhouse. Ray also served as General Manager for the Long Beach Opera. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Modjeska Playhouse in Mission Viejo, CA. He is the Chorus Master for a series of concerts called Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra and Singers. He continues to travel to schools and cinemas through R&R Media Production's Filmmaker Appearance Series. This program, which includes a post screening discussion with the filmmakers, brings Rats & Bullies: The Dawn-Marie Wesley Story to students, parents and teachers at schools and youth groups around the world. Ray can also be seen and heard strolling Los Angeles venues as a member of the Grammy listed variety artist group, The Caroling Company.

Shaina Zalma (Director) absolutely loves theatre and musicals and is honored to direct THE CHRISTMAS CAROL for The Relevant Stage Theatre Company. She recently performed in I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE and directed THE CHRISTMAS CAROL at TRS. In 2008 she appeared in AMERICA REFLECTIONS a Broadway musical revue presented to theatre students in China. Other recent roles include Claire in RUMORS, Glinda in THE WIZARD OF OZ, Mrs. Clandon in YOU NEVER CAN TELL and Lucia in an original production of CAMILLA. She also works as a senior account executive at a public relations firm. Coming in July for a stage reading, Shaina can be seen originating the role of Jen-Claire a 15-year-old girl with Cyclopsia (one eye) in the brand new musical by Buffer & Gross titled, THE ONE & ONLY.