By Staff
AND THE CAST IS… – The cast of Meridian Little Theatre's "A Christmas Carol" include: Front row, Mayor John Robert Smith, left, and the Rev. Paul McDonald; back row, Sister Andr Burkhart, left, Chet Estep and Donna Jill Johnson. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
special to The Star
Oct. 27, 2002
Meridian Little Theatre has chosen the cast for its upcoming production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
The play will be presented Dec. 5-11 at the Highway 39 playhouse.
Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith will once again portray the icy, old skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge. Smith was previously seen in MLT productions as Fagan in "Oliver" and Captain Hook in "Peter Pan."
Playing the part of Jacob Marley's ghost will be Chet Estep, a local businessman and a newcomer to the MLT stage.
Carollon Blanpied will revise her role as Christmas Past.
The Rev. Paul McDonald was chosen to play Christmas Present. McDonald is a native of Meridian who recently moved back. He is pastor of Bonita United Methodist Church.
Jerome Kittrell will play the role of Scrooge's struggling clerk, Bob Cratchitt. Kittrell has previously played Cratchitt and appeared in "Cabaret" for MLT.
The coveted role of Tiny Tim, the Cratchitt's young crippled son, went to Jack Branning.
Katie Snowden captured the role of the oldest Cratchitt daughter, Martha.
Portraying the older Cratchitt son, Peter, will be Matt Naylor. The middle Cratchitt daughter, Belinda, will be played by Callie Rush. Jennie Fisher will play the older daughter, Frances.
Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, a jolly couple who appear in Scrooge's dream, went to Greg Snowden and Jo Ellen Reeves.
Sister Andr Burkhart will play Mrs. Crow with Donna Jill Johnson playing Mrs. Dilbur, two cockney women up to no good.
Ed Little will be Fred, Scrooge's nephew. Amy Poole will portray his wife, Millie.
Katie Lee will play Fran, Scrooge's sister at a younger age, and Kyle French will play Scrooge as a boy.
Other Dickens' characters seen throughout the play will be Al Brown as Jake and Linda McInnis as Nell, both London street vendors; Karie Woodall as Lucy; Kevin Robinson as Topper; and Dr. Mike Nanney will portray the first charity man with Brad Hampton as the second charity man. Brian Nanney will play a young errand boy.
Jamie Sharman and Mary Lela Valentine will play the roles of dancing puppets. Jullian Alexander is Christmas Future.
Appearing as street carolers in the Victorian Christmas scenes will be Katie Moulds, Christa Poteet, Chandler Giles, Abby Dennis, Kay Poole, Sara Fair, Tom Fair, Clint Nanney, Robert Barham, Danyell Lowe, Jessica Williams and Jullian Alexander.
Alanna Hall, Shelby Gibson, Zae Gaines, Aubree Gaines and Kevin French will play London street urchins.
The successful musical was presented in December 1994 and 1996 to full houses. Echoing with good cheer, Dickens' beloved "A Christmas Carol" is transformed into a musical celebration of goodwill toward men for the stage.
Jimmy Pigford directs with Dr. Bob Hermetz as vocal director and Carol Merrill as choreographer.