Independent Producer Reneges on Holiday Show A touring production of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" scheduled to be performed at the Homewood campus this month has been canceled because the producer has failed to pay for the rental of the hall. The production, advertised in at least several editions of the Sunday Sun this fall, was scheduled for four performances on Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 12-14, at Shriver Hall auditorium. Johns Hopkins had no role in the production other than to contract to rent the hall to the producer, Kevin Von Feldt of Von Feldt Enterprises in California. The university notified Von Feldt Dec. 2 it has canceled its agreement with him because of his company's failure, despite repeated requests, to pay in full the rental fee for the auditorium. According to a story that appeared in a Kansas City newspaper since the Hopkins contract was signed and was relayed to Hopkins recently, Von Feldt reportedly has a history of being unable to open productions for which he has advertised and sold tickets. The Sept. 4 story in the Kansas City Star quoted a Los Angeles detective as saying he knew of no ticket buyers for an aborted 1991 series of plays and musicals there who failed to receive refunds. Johns Hopkins spokesman Dennis O'Shea said the university does not know if Von Feldt's "A Christmas Carol" production has opened in other cities where it was to play before coming to Baltimore. He said the university has had no involvement in the sale of tickets for the show and has no way of knowing how many have been sold. In one advertisement published in Baltimore, all seats were listed at $35. In another, ticket prices ranged from $20 to $35. Both ads promised half-price tickets for children and seniors and discounts for groups. Both ads listed a toll-free (800) telephone number for ticket purchases. The university said it does not know whether Von Feldt's company will proceed with its Baltimore performances at another location. Anyone who used a credit card to purchase tickets may wish to speak to their credit card company to learn what their rights are with regard to their purchase.