Theatre 29 is ringing in the holiday season with a time-honored classic in a new way. Arts & Entertainment Reporter Charlie Thomas tells you how secure your seat…
Theatre 29, recently voted as the Morongo Basin’s Best Live Entertainment venue, will ring in the holiday season for the whole family with twelve sumptuous and vibrant performances of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol – The Musical.”
Offered for the first time as a musical in the Morongo Basin and in San Bernardino County, “A Christmas Carol – The Musical” will open on the Theatre 29 Main stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 2021, with weekend performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm through December 12, 2021.
Like the classic play, a perennial favorite, “A Christmas Carol – The Musical” is adapted from Dickens’ 1843 novella recounting the classic story about mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation on Christmas Eve as he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner and the Christmas spirits.
“Each of Dickens’ iconic characters is brought to life with music, dancing and spectacle,” said Director Lisa Goldberg, helming her first main stage feature. “It’s not a typical stage production or reading by any means.”
This version of the holiday favorite tale comes to Theatre 29 from the Broadway powerhouse team of Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. “A Christmas Carol – The Musical” opened on Broadway in 1994 and ran for nine years.
“Composer Menken brought us “Beauty and the Beast,” “Little Mermaid,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Sister Act” and “Pocahontas,” just to name a few,” Goldberg noted. “Lyricist Ahrens’ Broadway credits include such classics as “Ragtime,” “Once on This Island,” “Seussical,” “School House Rock” and even “Rocky – The Musical. Quite a team, indeed.”
The cast consists of 27 musical theatre veterans from past Theatre 29 productions, as well as some new performers from the Morongo Basin Communities, including some talented local children playing some of the most cherished roles.
Cast in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge is John Pollnow and Jacob Marley is Rob Wanless. The three ghosts of Christmas (Past, Present, and Future) are Jasmine Shaffer, Robin Wilson, and Anna Pollnow. Bob Cratchit and his wife will be portrayed by Ian Ferris, and Imelda Patu, their son Tiny Tim will be played by Adonai Patu. Scrooge’s Mother is Erin Keeran, Noah Wahlberg is Scrooge’s nephew Fred as well as Young Jacob Marley. Scott Clinkscales will play Young Adult Scrooge, with Britney Vachon-LaGuardia playing Emily. Mrs. Mops will be portrayed by Aribella Enders and Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig will be Kurt Schauppner and Kat Young. The ensemble playing a merry multitude of characters includes Anna Alkire, Carly Bateman, Tyler Bateman, Dennis “Easy” Boos, Jocelyn Gonzalez, Eliana Hicks, Isla Keeran, Liam Keeran, Andrew Perkins, Joseph Rego, and Kaleb Sinclair.
