'A Christmas Carol the Musical' opens Friday at Players
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- Published on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 17:58
- Written by Paul Gordon
Folks heading to Peoria Players Theatre this weekend for their annual Dickens fix, beware: This isn't your father's "A Christmas Carol."
But keep an open mind. "A Christmas Carol The Musical," which opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. for an eight-show run presents an unexpected yet delightful score wrapped around Charles Dickens' classic story about Scrooge and the Cratchit family, including Tiny Tim.
It does, however, beg the question: What would Dickens himself think about music being put to his timeless piece?
(Photo courtesy of Peoria Players Theatre) Ebenezer Scrooge, protrayed by Curt Rowden, stands near his own grave marker as shown him by the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be during a scene from "A Christmas Carol the Musical," which opens Friday at Peoria Players Theatre."Oh, I think he would have improved once he heard it and saw it performed," said Mary Ellen Ulrich, director of the musical that is making its regional premiere at Peoria Players.
Noting that not many authors wrote musicals in Dickens' day, she added, "In my opinion, I think the music just makes this classic even better. But of course, I love musicals."
Ulrich also believes audiences will be surprised by how the show is set up. "They are probably thinking they are going to be seeing the full-blown story of 'A Christmas Carol' with a song thrown in here and there. They are going to be surprised," she said.
She said there is relatively little dialogue in the script and what is there is used mostly to set up the scene and songs. "Since most people already know the story of 'A Christmas Carol,' they won't need much setting up. And since it is so well known it shouldn't be very hard to follow. Of course, if you don't know the story you might feel like you need a scorecard," Ulrich said with a laugh.
Much of the show is done in vignettes to move the script — and thus the audience — through Scrooge's past, present and future as told him by the three ghosts who visit him Christmas Eve. "It goes very quick," she said.
The musical score was written by Alan Menken, known for his scores for Disney films that include "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." The lyrics were written by Lynn Ahrens, who wrote the lyrics for "Ragtime" and "Anastasia."
Ulrich has a cast of 76 in her show and said given more space she could easily double that. Of the 76, there are 14 family units (parents and child or children), which she said she is proud of because theatre can bring families together.(Photo courtesy of Peoria Players Theatre) Don Lane portrays the ghost of Jacob Marley in the Peoria Players production of "A Christmas Carol the Musical," which opens Friday.
It has her own family for many years. In "A Christmas Carol the Musical," her son Jimmy Ulrich is assisting her and is the choreographer. The music director is Jeanette Beardsley and the costumes, which one can imagine must be period and elaborate, were done by Carrie McMillian and Sarah Blume.
The set, which Ulrich said is meant to depict old London town while being flexible in providing different looks for different scenes, was built by Chas Killen and Howard Gorman.
In casting the show, Ulrich said, she knew she needed strong actors to carry the Dickens tale but also good singers to carry the music.
Curt Rowden, a veteran of many shows at Peoria Players and other area stages, portrays Scrooge in this rendition of "A Christmas Carol."
Don Lane lends his impressive tenor voice to the role of Jacob Marley, while Megan Manley is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Bryan Blanks the Ghost of Christmas Present and Jo Sternberg the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be.
Tiny Tim Crachit is played by Jaret Ledford and the rest of the family includes Steve Post (Bob Crachit), Susan Knobloch (Mrs. Crachit) and Jimmy Drew, Audry Post and Isabella Manley as the other Crachit children.
Bruce Colligan and Anita Rowden portray the Fezziwigs and lead a raucous Christmas party scene filled with song and dance.
Other featured performers include Edgar Sandoval and Amanda Bishop as Fred and Sally Anderson, Jordan Martin as Emily, Rusty Brost as 18-year-old Scrooge and Colin Evers as teen Ebenezer, Emma Wyckoff as Fan Scrooge and Jimmy LaHood and Maddie Hoskins as Mr. Smythe and his daughter Grace.
"I really didn't know what to expect when I was asked to direct this show but it has been a lot of fun. I think our audiences will agree it's just a fun show," Ulrich said.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15 with 2 p.m. matinees on Dec. 9 and 16.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for patrons 18 and under. Tickets are $12 for everybody for the Wednesday, Dec. 12 performance.
To order tickets call (309) 688-4473.
