Scrooge, The Musical - 2006

Scrooge, the Musical
Opens Dec 8

Christmas is a special time for many people, and many theatres plan special holiday performances of favorite stories. At the Racine Theatre Guild, we are bringing back the hugely successful musical Scrooge, with book, music and lyrics written by Leslie Bricusse. It is based on the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol. It opens on Friday, December 8 and runs two weekends through December 17. We have changed the standard evening start time from 8 pm to 7 pm to accomodate younger audience members.

Last year the show played to sellout houses and thrilled schoolchildren with Outreach daytime performances. This year it returns as a bonus show, playing to the public for eight performances on two weekends, and it is also being staged as an Outreach show so even more children have a chance to see it.

Scrooge first appeared as a film in 1970, starring Albert Finney as Scrooge. Leslie Bricusse was nominated for an Academy Award for Original Song Score for the film and for best original song with “Thank You Very Much.” The movie then made its way onto the stage when Bricusse adapted it in 1998. The RTG is staging this version, with the familiar Dickens characters and the movie’s catchy and tuneful songs.

The familiar story is set in 1843 London on the day before Christmas. The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is in his counting house with his employee Bob Cratchit. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, stops in to invite his uncle to Christmas at his house. Scrooge, in no mood to celebrate anything other than making money, declines the invitation and sends Fred away. Cratchit asks for his pay and to have the next day off work.

While Cratchit and his children admire the shops decorated for the holidays, Scrooge heads out to demand repayment of money from all those who owe him, singing “I Hate People.” He heads home to go to sleep, only to be visited by the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. Marley tells him he will be doomed to suffer in the afterlife if he continues his greediness. He tells Scrooge he will be visited that night by three ghosts.

The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his happier moments as a child and young man. The song “Happiness” is sung by a young Ebenezer in love. Then the Ghost of Christmas Present shows the miser the homes of Bob Cratchit and Scrooge’s nephew where he sees how others celebrate the season with optimism and hope, revealed in the songs “Good Times” and “A Beautiful Day.” Finally the dark and sinister Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears to show Scrooge that a heartless and lonely death awaits him. “Thank You Very Much” is sung by the townspeople who are glad that Scrooge has died.

The next day Scrooge is delighted to see he hasn’t missed Christmas Day, and he vows to reform, singing “I’ll Begin Again.” Everyone enjoys the upbeat ending, right to “God bless us, every one,” from Tiny Tim.

Tickets are on sale for this wonderful Christmas musical, which runs December 8 to 17. For information or to reserve tickets, please call the Racine Theatre Guild Box Office at 633-4218. You’ll want to bring the whole family to Scrooge—The Musical, to give some thought to kindness and generosity instead of materialism and greed.

From the Managing/Artistic Director - Doug Instenes

NOT A RERUN

When we produce a show for the second year in a row, it has its special joys and challenges. We have repeated several productions of Outreach shows for more than one year, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver!, Annie, Honk! and now Scrooge. People who see the shows on successive years tell us that each version brings a fresh appeal.

Scrooge was so well received last year, by the schoolchildren for the Outreach plays, and by the general public, that we are thrilled to bring it back for a second year. Some things are the same, but some things are new and different.

You may recognize the sets, many of the costumes, and some of the special effects from last year. Yet the second time around we are able to stretch ourselves a bit more, in choreography and new creative touches. You will recognize half of the actors as members of last season’s cast, but many of the performers are new. New actors bring fresh ideas and different skills.

It is a credit to Leslie Bricusse that we are enjoying his music even more a second year. The songs heighten the emotion and give freshness and liveliness to the familiar story.

If you saw the show last year, you may enjoy it just as much the second time around. If you missed Scrooge last year, we recommend that you get your tickets soon. It is an uplifting and entertaining story, a perfect way to kick off the Christmas season that Charles Dickens loved so much.

The entire staff at the RTG wishes all of you a wonderful holiday season. And to quote Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone.”

Cast

Scrooge, the Musical

Book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

Based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Cast
Ebenezer Scrooge .............. Gary Stamm
Bob Cratchit ....................... Bob Benson
Mrs. Ethel Cratchit .............. Ellie Hammond
Tiny Tim ............................. Mitchell Proctor
Kathy Cratchit .................... Bailey Johnson
Peter Cratchit/Dick Wilkins . Eric Welch
Martha Cratchit .................. Lauren Instenes
Belinda Cratchit .................. Erin Martin
Harry/Young Scrooge ......... Ben Martin
Helen/Isabel ........................ Megan Patzke
Jacob Marley ..................... Ron Halvorsen
Ghost Ch. Past ................... Jamie Johnson
Ghost Christmas Present ..... Andy Hansen
Fezziwig ............................. Bob Gall
Mrs. Fezziwig .................... Dawn Van Ess
Tess Jenkins/Ensemble ....... Katie Kowbel
Hugo Hearty/Ensemble ....... Mike Pirtle
Mr. Jollygood/Ensemble ..... Daniel Burke
Topper/Pringle ................... Kevin Sustachek
Mary/Ensemble .................. Samantha Sustachek
Merchants/Ensemble .......... Karen Magee, Kylie Cacciotti, Jennifer Diethart, Robbyn Wilks, Vanessa Morrone, Stephen Kalmar II, Chelsie Sweeney, Mark Geisler, Katy Pirtle
Urchins/Ensemble ............... Steven Wright, Zachary Klemp, Marie Zahn, John Christensen, James Christensen, Nicole Reynolds, Katie Wright, Morgan Bryant, Sarah Kveton, Ashley Hancock, Jeselyse Klyzub Kalmar