Los Angeles, Chicago week runs plus NYC, Philly, San Francisco and more

CHICAGO -Sam I Am Films, producers of "Scrooge & Marley," a modern-day variation on Charles Dickens' classic holiday story, "A Christmas Carol," will show in more than a dozen cities this holiday season.

In Los Angeles, the film runs Nov. 21-27 at the Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. In Chicago, the hometown film will run one week at the prestigious Music Box Theatre Nov. 29-Dec. 6, including an opening night gala with the actors and filmmakers.

The film will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray in December, and the soundtrack is now available. See www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com
for links to purchase items.

Acclaimed out actor David Pevsner portrays Ben Scrooge while former Saturday Night Live star Tim Kazurinsky appears as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. The film also stars Rusty Schwimmer, Bruce Vilanch, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell, David Moretti, Richard Ganoung, and JoJo Baby. It is narrated by Tony award-winning actress Judith Light. The stars at the gala opening include Pevsner, Schwimmer, Vilanch, Cavanagh, Kroell, Moretti and Ganoung.

"Scrooge & Marley" was shot in Chicago in May and also highlights a host of recognized theatrical actors who round out the cast: Drew Anderson, Christopher Allen, Nicholas Bailey, Allison Torem, Fawzia Mirza, Peter Mohawk, Becca Kaufman, Scott Duff, PJ Powers, Amy Matheny and many more.

Scrooge & Marley features a wide range of music from award-winning singers and bands, with a special end credit song performed by Jason Gould and written for the film by Marsha Malamet, Liz Vidal and Stephan Oberhoff. Other performers in the film and soundtrack include Matt Alber, BETTY, Linda Good, Amber deLaurentis, Becca Kaufman, Jeannie Tanner and more.

Following are the upcoming screenings of the movie (more to be added):

Nov. 21-27: Laemmle Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 310-478-3836, http://www.laemmle.com/viewmovie.php?mid=8602. All shows 1 p.m. Special talk-back with actors Sunday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m.

Nov. 29-Dec. 6, Chicago's Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, www.musicboxtheatre.com.

Wed., Dec. 5, 2012, 7 p.m.: The Seattle at The Rendezvous JewelBox Theatre (2322 2nd Ave., Seattle) will serve as host with proceeds benefiting Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea). This special screening is being presented by The Seattle Lesbian. Tickets are $10 general admission and $25 VIP. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., full bar and food menu available. Brown Paper Tickets:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/297234 . Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/455830031130242/?fref=ts .

Thursday, Dec. 6: Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film festival special screening. 8 p.m., $10, at Baywalk Muvico, 151 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Fla., www.tiglff.com.

Friday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan, www.acorntheater.com.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., 616-459-4788,  www.grcmc.org/theatre.

Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m., Cinema Center, 437 East Berry St., Fort Wayne, Ind., 260-426-3456, www.cinemacenter.org .

Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:30 p.m. at The Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa, 515-287-4545, $10; advance tickets available at the theater, www.fleurcinema.com.

Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Philadelphia Ritz East, 125 South Second Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 215-925-7900, tickets.landmarktheatres.com. Direct ticket link:  https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=273&MovieID=14229&ShowDate=12/13/2012&ScheduleID=19810

Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Camelot Theatre, Palm Springs, 2300 E. Baristo Rd., 760-325-6565, http://www.camelottheatres.com. Cast David Pevsner, Ronnie Kroell and David Moretti will do a post-show talk-back. Benefit for Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Sunday, Dec. 16, 3:15 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, Calif. In a double-header with "Hannah Free" starring Sharon Gless, 1 p.m., $8, start time, "Scrooge & Marley at 3:15 p.m., $10. Tickets available at the door prior to showtime, www.castrotheatre.com.

Sunday, Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 937-767-7671. http://www.littleart.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m., Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main St., Columbia, SC, http://nickelodeon.org.

Thursday, Dec. 20, 5 p.m., Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema, 143 W. Houston St., New York, NY. Tickets: https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=256&MovieID=14229&ShowDate=12/20/2012&ScheduleID=86239

Friday, Dec. 21, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7:45 p.m.; and Thursday, Dec. 27, 7:45 p.m. at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N., State Street, Chicago, http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

Friday, Dec. 21, 7 and 9 p.m., Reel Affirmations XTRA: Monthly Film Series, at Carnegie Institute for Science at 1530 P Street NW, www.reelaffirmationsDecXtra.eventbrite.com.

More screenings to be added in additional cities this December.

The film is also on Tugg, a new website that allows people to create their own theatrical screening of current and classic movies at local theaters. See http://www.tugg.com/titles/scrooge-marley .

About SCROOGE & MARLEY

"Scrooge & Marley" is a modern-day variation on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Recounted from a gay sensibility, with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens' timeless tale of a man's redemption at the holidays-thanks to the help of three ghostly spirits-comes alive from a fresh perspective that will appeal to audiences of every persuasion. The film is based on an original script by Ellen Stoneking, Knight and Timothy Imse. It was directed by Knight and Peter Neville. Producers of the film are Tracy Baim ("Hannah Free") and David Strzepek ("Foodgasm"), joined by several co-producers (Knight, Neville, Stoneking, Kroell, and Moretti) and noteworthy crew.

Full cast and production team bios at http://www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com .

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ScroogeMarleyCH .

On Facebook see https://www.facebook.com/ScroogeAndMarley .

TCR's Summer(land) Holiday Giveaway Begins Today!

Consider it an early holiday present from TCR to YOU.

Simply buy tickets to any opening weekend performance of Meet Me in St. Louis
(opens next Friday 11/23) and we'll give you an equal number of opening weekend tickets to the exciting new play The Summerland Project (opens in January) for FREE. 
Give them as gifts, or keep them for yourself, it really is that easy!

See the Fine (arts) Print at the bottom for more detail!

A Note from Meet Me in St. Louis Director, Casey Prince

During a time of year chock full of a sense of love and caring, it is appropriate that we are doing a show like Meet Me in St. Louis.  We are reminded of those simple things like family, love and devotion.  We are thankful for our home and those around us.  We take the time to ensure that they know how important they are to us.  We hope to say it with more than just a wrapped present, although sometimes we don't know a better way to say it.

No matter your faith, your story, your place, I believe we can all agree that there is a magic to this time of year.  For those that know this show, you'll know what I mean when I say that even something as simple as a trolley ride or anticipating the spring fair or realizing that your family isn't going to move is, well, magical.  I wholeheartedly believe that Meet Me in St. Louis will be a magical experience for all those that share in it.

On with the Show!

-Casey

More than 45 percent of physicians are experiencing at least one symptom of burnout, according to the first national study on the topic, and that concerns noted physician and professor of medicine emeritus Dr. Paul Griner, (www.DrPaulGriner.com), author of "The Power of Patient Stories: Learning Moments in Medicine." 

"Burnout can lead to misdiagnoses," Griner says. "As I emphasize in my book, it's vital to spend time talking to and listening to patients - thorough patient histories and observation and a good physical exam are often the difference between an accurate diagnosis and a wasted battery of unnecessary diagnostic tests."

Burnout can be characterized by, detachment, diminishing empathy and emotional exhaustion - all of which can impede a physician's ability to thoroughly and accurately assess patients, Griner says.

The Archives of Internal Medicine study, published in August, surveyed 7,288 physicians, and assessed them using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Nearly half, 46 percent, reported at least one symptom of burnout. Specialties that were most at-risk were family medicine, general internal medicine and emergency medicine -- those that benefit most from taking time to listen to patients because they are often the first point of patient contact, Griner says.

He notes that strategies to address this problem must recognize that burnout begins early in one's medical career, during medical school and throughout residency training.

With 59 years in medicine, as a practicing hematologist and internist, professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School, Griner offers these suggestions for overwhelmed physicians:

• First, take care of yourself. It sounds simple, but it's something doctors repeat so often to patients, they've often ceased hearing the words: Eat well, get adequate rest and exercise regularly. Taking care of yourself physically is fundamental for coping with stress and the negative emotions, such as frustration and anger, that can come with working in any field.

• Take time to nurture relationships. Having meaningful relationships with colleagues and co-workers can make your work more gratifying. Take some time - even a few minutes a day - to get to know them. They can provide a sounding board, a sympathetic ear, or ideas for solving problems. And you can do the same for them. Devote more time (at meetings and lunch) to the rewarding aspects of medicine, sharing patient stories and humorous anecdotes, and less time on frustrations.

• Actively listen to your patients and pay attention to what's going on in their lives. It will not only help you give them better care, you'll find it makes your work more interesting and satisfying.

• Do what's necessary to achieve a work-life balance. If you are not spending relaxed time with your loved ones, having some fun outside of work, or enjoying interpersonal relationships, you are at a greater risk for burnout. Just as taking care of yourself physically is vital, so is taking care of yourself emotionally. If necessary, identify a colleague who seems to have achieved this balance and spend some time with him or her.

• Participate actively in health reforms that will return a greater level of control to physicians and their patients. These include payment for value and greater patient participation in decision-making about care. Reorganizing primary care practices to allow more time for complex patients and recognition by insurers that excessive hassle is bad for patients and physician are also vital. These changes should lead to more satisfied patients and physicians and less burnout.

Preventing burnout needs to start early, Griner says. Teachers must give medical students and residents the tools to cope with and reduce the stresses that cause it.

"This is not the first survey that's found a heightened level of burnout among physicians. We know it's a problem," Griner says.

"Doctors need to be in tune with their patients, asking, listening and connecting the dots. They can't do that effectively if they're burned out."

About Paul Griner, M.D.

Hematologist/internist Paul Griner has had a 59-year career in medicine. He is a professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and was a consultant at the Massachusetts General Hospital, senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School, and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Cambridge, Mass. He has written or co-written 130 journal articles, book chapters, and books on clinical medicine, medical education, and health policy. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and was president of a number of national medical organizations, including the American College of Physicians.