A Christmas Carol - December 2015

book by Doug Wright

by Scott Frankel • lyrics by Michael Korie directed by Christopher Dykton

Rachel Alberts and John Monnett

A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol

written by Charles Dickens produced by Lloyd Bittinger directed and adapted by Rachael Hubbard presents

PRESIDENT Lloyd Bittinger

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

ARTISTIC SUPPORT............................................................................................................................Beverley Benda

BOX OFFICE............................................................................................................................................Rae Edmonson

BUILDING....................................................................................................................................................David B. Hale

DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................................................................Jim Howard

EDUCATION........................................................................................................................................Roland B. Gomez

FRONT OF HOUSE........................................................................................................................................Eddie Page

MEMBERSHIP......................................................................................................................................Maria Ciarrocchi

PRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................Russell Wyland

PUBLIC RELATIONS..............................................................................................................................Rachel Alberts

SEASONAL PLANNING..................................................................................................................Frank D. Shutts II

TECHNICAL SUPPORT............................................................................................................................Robert Kraus

Treasurer....................................................................................................................................................David B. Hale

Secretary to the Board......................................................................................................................Carolyn Winters

Executive Secretary................................................................................................................Margaret Evans-Joyce

Archivist................................................................................................................................................Barbara Helsing

Business Manager..................................................................................................................................Virginia Lacey

Box Office Manager..................................................................................................................................Tina McCrea

Legal Counsel.................................................................................................................. Brian T. Goldstein, Esquire

Director’s Notes

Why is A Christmas Carol so beloved? If I were to ask you what your favorite Christmas carol was, the answers would vary greatly. Some would cite “Silent Night” while others would insist “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is the most cherished carol. And yet Charles Dickens’ classic story may be as much-loved as any of these dear holiday songs. Dickens’ approach to the novella, written in 1843, was to divide it into distinct episodes, called staves, a term that refers to a musical notation staff. The use of this term synchronizes beautifully with the title, A Christmas Carol.

I have loved this narrative since I was a child and have watched every filmed version of the tale. One of our family traditions is to attend a stage production of A Christmas Carol each Christmas. I was lucky enough to be cast in the show on four occasions, and this year marks the fourth opportunity I have had to direct it. I have even led study groups through Dickens’ luscious descriptions of Christmas feasts and puddings, city streets and boroughs, and rich character sketches of Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge.

So why do so many of us love this story? For many reasons: its short length (it takes only about two hours to read in its entirety); its subject matter (who doesn’t love Christmas, besides Ebenezer Scrooge, of course); and its delightful characters (the dear Tiny Tim, who speaks the unforgettable “God bless us every one”). But perhaps the most important reason we cherish A Christmas Carol is our delight in watching the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge into a kind, caring, charming man. And as we watch, perhaps we are transformed just a bit ourselves.

As you enjoy this timeless production, allow yourself a moment for personal reflection on the glorious memories of Christmases past, the joys that can be found in the present, and the optimism for a better and brighter future. I hope that you will find A Christmas Carol to be a magical, reminiscent encounter illustrating the spirit of Christmas that can last throughout the year.

With warm wishes for a happy Christmas,

Rachael Hubbard

**My efforts are dedicated to Jeremy Levesque, a young man who portrayed the character of Ebenezer Scrooge beautifully on the stage and who lived in the present with a joy and energy that truly exemplified the spirit of Christmas. We lost him at a very young age, but the lessons that his young life taught us live on forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Susan Boyd • Angie Gary • Dana Gattuso • Joanna Henry

Bobbie Herbst • Tina Barry McCrea • Stephanie Zaitsev

The Cast (in alphabetical appearance)

Belle’s Child, Young Dick Wilkins, Running Boy ............................................Jayson Altieri Jr.

Belle ................................................................................................................................................Clare Baker

Tiny Tim ......................................................................................................................Nathaniel Burkhead

Marley ..................................................................................................................................Daniel Calderon

Young Scrooge, John ..............................................................................................................Carson Carr

Mr. Whitham ............................................................................................................................Colin Davies

Boy Cratchit ..............................................................................................................Avery Clifford Evans

Bob Cratchit ........................................................................................................................Matthew Fager

Belle’s Child, Fan ..................................................................................................................Celeste Gary

Martha Cratchit ..............................................................................................................................Eva Gary

Belinda Cratchit ..............................................................................................................Lindsey Gattuso

Old Joe .............Terry Gish

Fezziwig ..............................................................................................................Roland Branford Gomez

Mrs. Cratchit ..................................................................................................................Kacie Greenwood

Ebenezer Scrooge ..................................................................................................Lawrence O. Grey Jr.

Peter Cratchit ............................................................................................................................Johnie Hays

Mrs. Hogarth ..................................................................................................................................Leah Hays

Lillian, Caroline ........................................................................................................................Olivia Hays

Ghost of Christmas Past, Maid ................................................................................Tristiana Hinton

Belle’s Child, Turkey Boy, Ignorance, Running Boy ..............................................Morgan Jay

Mr. Hopwood, Poulterer ....................................................................................................Dan Lavanga

Fred’s Wife, Mrs. Fezziwig ............................................................................................Whitney Lloyd

Mrs. Dilber ..........................................................................................................................Janette Moman

Ghost of Christmas Present ....................................................................................Heather Norcross

Fred, Ghost of Christmas Future ........................................................................................Erik Rieloff

Boy Scrooge ..............................................................................................................................Iain Schlegel

Dick Wilkins, Topper ..................................................................................................John Tyler Trope

Belle’s Child, Lamplighter, Running Boy ....................................................................Daler Truitt

Belle’s Child, Child Soloist, Beggar Girl ....................................................................Viktoria Truitt

Girl Cratchit, Want ..............................................................................................................Katya Zaitsev

Setting

London, England, during the Industrial Revolution (1800s).

Scenes

Stave 1: Marley’s Ghost

Stave 2: The First of the Three Spirits Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits Stave 4: The Last of the Spirits Stave 5: The End of It

A Christmas Carol is performed in one act with no intermission.

The Crew

Producer .Lloyd Bittinger

Director ............................................................................................................................Rachael Hubbard

Assistant Producer ........................................................................................................Beverly Ashcraft

Assistant to the Producer ................................................................................................John Scherfel

Musical Director ......................................................................................................................Linda Wells

Choreographer ................................................................................................................Grace Machanic

Stage Managers ..............................................Austin Fodrie, Katilyn Mairena, Alexandra Mees

Assistant Stage Managers Brooke Angel, Rebecca Balough, Jack Barbour

Hans Burkholder, Lucas Burkholder, Tomika McDougald, Hannah Maher Miller, David Wiseman

Set Design and Construction ..................................................................................Andrea D’Amato

Construction Crew............Alan Carniol, Joel Durgavich, Chris Feldmann, Michael Forcina, Jeff Gathers, Waqasul Haq, John Hays, Jim Hutzler, Malinda Nafziger, Jeff Nesmeyer

Set Painting ............................................................................................................................Alex Taliesen

Set Decoration ..................................................................................................................Russell Wyland

Lighting Design ..................................................................................................Jeffrey Scott Auerbach

Master Electrician ..................................................................................................Micheal J. O’Connor

Assisted by: Marzanne Claiborne, Kimberly Crago, Charles Dragonette, Jim Hartz, Pam Leonowich, Doug Olmsted, Donna Reynolds, Nicholas Roy, Sherry Singer, Marg Soroos

Sound Design ..............................................................................................................................Lynn Lacey

Assisted by: Keith Bell, Eileen Doherty, Malinda Nafziger, David Rampy, Jack Seaver, Kimberly Sonntag, Gene Warner

Costume Design ............................................................................................Jean Schlicting, Kit Sibley

Assisted by: Mary Busse

Wardrobe ............................................................................................................................Margaret Snow

Assisted by: Angie Gary

Property Design ................................................................................................................Whitney Lloyd

Assisted by: Carlyn Lightfoot, Malinda Nafziger, Leslie Reed

Hair/Wig Design ....................................................................................Heather Norcross, Kit Sibley

Makeup Design ....................................................................................................................Lori Bonnette

Rigging ..................................................................................................................................Russell Wyland

Special Effects .Art Snow

Photographer ......................................................................................................................Doug Olmsted

Young Actor Coordinator ........................................................................................................Leah Hays

Dance Captain ..........................................................................................................................Clare Baker

Double Tech Dinner ............................................................................................................Becky Patton

Assisted by:Jamie Blake

Opening Night Party ..........................................................................................................Virginia Lacey

Assisted by: Mary Hutzler, Sherry Lord, Alison Tregea

Auditions ............................................................................................................................Mary Lou Bruno

Assisted by: Sherry Clarke, Eileen Doherty, Bobbie Herbst, Alexandra Mees, Margaret Snow

A special thanks to all those people whose names were not available when this program went to press.

In case of an emergency, LTA has three AEDs (automated external defibrillators)

They are located as follows:

1. in the lobby, near the Council Green Room

2. in the cast entrance hallway, near backstage door

3. in the Alexandria Academy, on the first floor

PlanningYourGift.

Have you considered including The Little Theatre of Alexandria as a beneficiary of your estate? The Little Theatre can suggest tools that will assist you in making plans that will support the artistic and education programs of The Little Theatre in the future, as well as provide your estate with tax benefits. Supporters of The Little Theatre who make planned gifts are invited to be members of The LTA Legacy Society. The LTA Legacy Society recognizes those who have demonstrated their concern for the long-term well-being of The LittleTheatre of Alexandria by notifying us oftheir bequest intention or other planned gift. For additional information, please call Virginia Lacey at 703-683-5778 x 2, orby email at virginia@thelittletheatre.com.

Come Play With Us!

There are many ways to be involved with The Little Theatre of Alexandria!

Volunteers are an important aspect of LTA. There are many opportunities to be a part of LTA with a variety of events and times! All are welcome to participate regardless of experience.

LTA is one of the oldest community theatres in the Washington D.C. area thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. A successful stage production requires many volunteers working behind the scenes before and during the run of the show. Everyone performing in and nearly everyone you see working on an LTA show is a volunteer.

As a volunteer community theatre group, LTA welcomes anyone interested in becoming involved. There are lots of opportunities at LTA, for all experience levels! So, come play with us.

For more information visit our website www.thelitletheatre.com and click on “Volunteer”, or call the business office at 703-683-5778.

Drama, Music, & ImprovClasses

LTA offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been at it a while,

✪ ADULT CLASSES ✪ YOUTH CLASSES ✪ SUMMER CAMPS

A full schedule of classes are offered in September and January, in addition to an abbreviated summer schedule for adults and summer camps for youth.

1. Visit www.thelittletheatre.com, and click on “Education”