By Staff
special to The Star
Nov. 20, 2002
Los Angeles has Patrick Stewart, the star of "Star Trek," playing Scrooge. New York's old skinflint will be Tony Randall. And Meridian has its own mayor, John Robert Smith, portraying the famous Dickens character.
The Victorian Christmas show, directed by Jimmy Pigford and designed for both adults and children, will be staged at Meridian Little Theatre Dec. 5-11.
Then on Christmas Eve, seven years after old Jacob Marley's death, the ghost of Marley (Chet Estep), rattling his chains and wandering the Earth, appears in Scrooge's lodgings.
One after the other, the spirits of Christmas Past (Carollon Blanpied) and Christmas Present (the Rev. Paul McDonald) take him on journeys into the lives of Tiny Tim (Jack Branning), Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Cratchit (Terri Nanney), Mr. Fezziwig (Greg Snowden) and Mrs. Fezziwig (JoEllen Reeves) ultimately transforming Scrooge's selfish heart.
Tiny Tim's family, the Cratchits, are Martha (Katie Snowden), Belinda (Callie Rush), Peter (Matt Naylor) and Frances (Jennie Fisher).
Other Dickens characters are: Kyle French who plays Ebby, young Scrooge; Katie Lee who plays his sister, Fan: Joseph Johnson who plays Scrooge as a young man; Beth Maranto who plays his fiancee Belle; and Amy Poole who plays Fred's wife Millie.
Sister Andr Burkhart and Donna Jill Johnson will play Mrs. Crow and Mrs. Dilber. Jake and Nell, two street vendors, will be played by Al Brown and Linda McInnis. Karie Woodall will play Lucy and Kevin Robinson will portray Topper. Brian Nanney will play a young errand boy.
Others in the cast include: Katie Moulds, Christa Poteet, Chandler Giles, Abby Dennis, Kay Poole, Sara Fair, Tom Fair, Clint Nanney, Robert Barham, Danyell Lowe, Jessica Williams and Jillian Alexander.
Playing London street urchins are: Alanno Hall, Shelby Gibson, James Gibson, Zac Gaines, Aubree Gaines and Kevin French. Mary Lela Valentine and Jamie Sharman will portray dancing dolls. Jill Alexander is the Christmas Future Phantom.
For the production, scrooge's bed, a Victorian canopy with bed hangings, has been built by William Harper and will transport Scrooge from one scene to the next with the guidance of Robbye Spangler.
The production staff is Dr. Bob Hermetz, choral director; Carol Merrill, choreographer; and Carey Smith, orchestra conductor.
Stage manager Melinda Perry, assisted by Josh Taylor, and her crew are in charge of special effects that include disappearing spirit, London fog, rattling chains and faces appearing in mysterious places.
Audra Bosarge is in charge of the stage lighting and Ladd Temple is sound director.
Jimmie Kay Fisher is collecting Victorian props, while Susan Speed is acquiring the majority of the wardrobe from Norcostco in Atlanta.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
When: Dec. 5, 6, 7 10, 11 8 p.m. curtain; Dec. 8 2 p.m. curtain.
Tickets: $18 for adults and $16 for senior citizens,
students and military.
For information: Call 482-6371, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Pro-rated season memberships are available for the three remaining shows.