Photo by Jon Anderson.
Scrooge
Cast members in “Scrooge -- The Musical” rehearse a song at the Hoover Library Theatre.
Most people likely have seen some version of Charles Dickens’ famous “A Christmas Carol” story before, but probably not quite like the version to be presented Dec. 3-5 at the Hoover Library Theatre.
Director Jack Mann and a cast of 21 actors will be putting on a stage version of “Scrooge – The Musical,” with a twist.
Theatergoers who come to the show will get to see the story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a miserly, bitter businessman into a person with a more generous spirit, with the help of some apparitions.
But this production is a bit unusual, Mann said.
“We’re actually letting the audience see how the show is put together,” he said.
When the audience first arrives, they’ll pretty much see a blank stage instead of an elaborate set, Mann said. As the show progresses, the set is put together scene by scene, he said.
The set, being created by Hoover Public Library employees Greg Patterson and Scott Littleton, will be rather minimal on purpose, Mann said. The audience will get to use their imagination to envision what the surroundings look like, based on the dialogue and actions of the actors, he said.
“It’s a great experience for the actors and I expect will be a pleasant one for everyone involved,” he said.
Plus, the audience will get to see the actors working backstage to some extent, Mann said. Instead of exiting the stage for costume changes, someone will bring some of the actors their clothes for a change on the stage, he said.
“A Christmas Carol” was adapted into a screen musical in 1970 by writer-composer-lyricist Leslie Bricusse. It then began making the rounds as a stage musical, including new songs not included in the movie.
The show has about 25 songs, including some instrumentals, and lasts a little more than two hours with an intermission, Mann said.
“It’s got some great music and some wonderful children playing the Cratchit children,” the offspring of Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit.
There are 45 characters in the musical, played by 21 actors, Mann said. “Almost everybody in the show will be playing more than one character,” he said.
The cast includes many names that are familiar in the Birmingham area theater community, including: Howard Green as the old Scrooge, Kyle Holman as the ghost of Scrooge’s former partner Jacob Marley, Ben Burford as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Mr. Fezziwig (the proprietor of a warehouse business), Suzanne Mann (Mann’s wife) as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Julia Hixson as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Mann said he has worked with everyone in the cast in previous productions.
Casting began about six months ago, and rehearsals started in the last week of October and are going well, he said.
Matina Johnson, fine arts coordinator for the Hoover Library Theatre, said she chose Mann to direct the musical because he’s such a well-respected director in the Birmingham area and has worked well with the Library Theatre before.
“We wanted to do a high-quality Christmas production to bring in the families,” Johnson said. “He has connections with incredible cast members, and we knew it would be a top-quality production.”
Ticket sales have been going strong, and Johnson said she expects to sell all 250 seats for each of the three shows.
“It’s a great family show to be able to bring the kids and grandkids,” she said. “We’re really excited about it.”
The show is scheduled for Dec. 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $25 plus a $2.50 processing fee per ticket and can be purchased online at thelibrarytheatre.com or by calling the Library Theatre box office at 444-7888 or visiting the box office at 200 Municipal Drive between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
