Scrooge, The Musical - 2007
Scrooge,
the Musical
Opens Dec 7
As the weather turns colder, let the Theatre Guild warm up your hearts, with its third year of presenting a wonderful musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This beloved story shows the transformation of a miserly man into a generous person and sets the stage for the upcoming Christmas season.
Scrooge - The Musical, with book, music and lyrics written by Leslie Bricusse, opens on Friday, December 7, and runs two weekends through December 16. Join the fun with upbeat music and an entertaining story set in Victorian England.
For the past two years the show played to sell-out houses and thrilled school children with Outreach performances. This year it is a bonus show, open to the public for eight performances on two weekends. We also changed the evening start time to 7:00 pm to make it easier on families with younger children. If you’ve seen it before, you’ll enjoy it again, with many new cast members, some fresh choreography, and new technical touches. If you have not seen the show, this is your chance to find out what has made it so popular.
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 familiar story is set in 1843 London on the day before Christmas. The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge approaches the holiday as a time to demand repayment from those who owe him money. He scoffs at his clerk Bob Cratchit and his nephew Fred who prepare to celebrate Christmas.
While Cratchit and his children admire the shops decorated for the holidays, Scrooge heads out, singing “I Hate People.” He goes home to sleep, only to be visited by the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. Marley warns him he will be doomed to suffer in the afterlife if he continues to pursue cheating and 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 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. Finally the mute 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.” The story of transformation is completed with an upbeat ending, right to “God bless us, every one,” from Tiny Tim.
Tickets are selling very fast for this ever-popular Christmas musical, which runs December 7 to 16. 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
From the Managing/Artistic Director - Doug Instenes
Our Theatre Family
It is a special joy to produce Scrooge for the third year, with certain changes to give a fresh appeal to those who have seen it before. And it gives a chance for even more people to see the show for the first time.
One thing that seems unique about the show this year is that we have so many family connections in the cast and crew. While we don’t purposely cast the show with that in mind, sometimes it just works out that way. Bob Gall, who plays Fezziwig, is the father-in-law of music director Greg Berg. Jeselyse Klyzub Kalmar (Kathy Cratchit) is the daughter of Stephen Kalmar II (Punch and Judy man). Ethan Wakefield and Lindsay Wakefield (Peter and Martha Cratchit) are real-life siblings, playing siblings. Mike Pirtle (Hugo Hearty) is the father of Bobby Pirtle (Young Ebby) and Katy Pirtle (Jenny). John and James Christensen are twin brothers, playing toys and phantoms. Jeanette and Jamie Morelan (sisters) both play girl urchins. Last but not least is my daughter Lauren Instenes, who Kim and I hope will become a doctor, but loves playing an urchin.
We all feel like family as we go through the months of rehearsals and performances. And especially during the Christmas season, we all enjoy being with our extended family.
Our theatre family will miss Jim Yorgan, a 45-year RTG volunteer, who died in October, and we are paying tribute to him in this issue of The Callboard. He and his wife Vi have touched so many lives at the Theatre over the years, and we are grateful to have known him.
The entire staff at the RTG wishes all of you a wonderful holiday season.
“God bless us, everyone!”
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 .................... Jese Klyzub Kalmar
Peter Cratchit ..................... Ethan Wakefield
Martha Cratchit .................. Lindsay Wakefield
Belinda Cratchit ..................
Morgan Bryant
Harry/Young Scrooge .........
Brian Schalk
Helen/Isabel ....................... Amber Smith
Jacob Marley ..................... Ron Halvorsen
Ghost Ch. Past ................... Jamie Johnson
Ghost Christmas Present ..... Andy Hansen
Fezziwig ............................. Bob Gall
Mrs. Fezziwig ....................
Leah Thornton
Tess Jenkins/Ensemble ....... Katie Kowbel
Urchins/Ensemble ............... Daniel Burke, James Christensen, John Christensen, Mark Geisler, Hannah Gudbaur, Jon Eckblad, Lauren Instenes, Stephen Kalmar II, Sarah Kveton, Karen Magee, Erin J. Martin, Norgie Metzinger, Nick Meythaler, Jamie Morelan, Jeanette Morelan, Vanessa Morrone, Sam Patterson, Bobby Pirtle, Katy Pirtle, Mike Pirtle, Matthew Sawalski, Chelsie Sweeney, Robbyn Wilks, Teri Wilson, Veronica Wudi
Production Staff
Director …..............…….. Doug Instenes
Music Director ………….. Greg Berg
Choreographer ……………..Kate Zavada
Scenic Design …………… Charles Erven
Technical Director ............ Kurt Oian
Production Stage Mgr. ....... Rose Bliss
Digital Orchestration ........ Oak Music
Stage Managers ........... Eric Guttenberg & Marge Henze
Asst. Stage Mgrs. ......... Jeff Kauzlarich & Donna Nielsen
Light Design ................. Michael Kurhajec
Light Technician ........... Geoffrey Greeley
Sound Mixing ............... Eric Goodwin
Sound Technicians ............ Amy Pirtle & Heather Bumstead
Costume Design ......... Sharon Molina
Wardrobe Supervisors .. Kelli Kauzlarich & Nat Cycenas
Props Master ............. Spencer Carlson
Makeup ................. Nicole Monaghan & Teri Christensen
Dialect Coach ................. Colin Carter