Scrooge – Willow Bend Center of the Arts and Courtyard Theatre

NTPA’s “Scrooge the Musical” … “brilliant … robust and passionate” Dallas Morning News

North Texas Performing Arts – Repertory proudly announces its Christmas Tradition “Scrooge, The Musical,” a show by award-winning songwriter, Leslie Bricusse.

Featuring an all-star cast, this Plano Christmas Tradition now in its 8th BIG YEAR has been critically acclaimed and plays to sell-out crowds. “Scrooge” is directed by Sara Akers together with Choreographer Trisha Martin and Musical Director Mose Pleasure.

This year’s production again features a very special “Merry Christmas Celebration” including a “last chance” for children to meet with Santa and Mrs. Santa at Santa’s Workshop before each show.

Special after-show activities include photo opportunities with Scrooge and Tiny Tim.  Special Christmas treats and gifts will be available before the show and at intermission.

This year’s cast features professional and amateur actors of 60 adults and children from Plano and the surrounding area. Most lead roles are filled by DFW-area performance professionals including Mike Mazur as Bob Cratchit (NTPA Plano Managing Director, experience on Broadway and beyond) and Jeff Swearingen as ‘Marley’ (well- known DFW area actor, Column Award recipient for Best Actor and Best Director).

Several NTPA Resident Directors join the cast including Kaitlyn Wright as Ghost of Christmas Past (professional opera and theater voice performer and music instructor), Christian Black as Ghost of Christmas Present (OU Theatre graduate, credits with Dallas Theatre Center and Dallas Children’s Theatre), Seth Nelson as Young Scrooge (SMU theatre graduate and DFW area credits).

Trisha Martin rejoins as choreographer, lead dancer and Nephew’s Wife and Helen (Amarillo Little Theatre credits and performed professionally in “Texas” The Musical Drama in Palo Duro Canyon). Noted area talents vocalist Angeleen DeWitt reprises her role as “Isabel” and actress Bonnie Grugle will be taking on the role of “Mrs. Cratchit.”

Darrell Rodenbaugh returns in his 8th year as “Scrooge,” with over fifty performances to his credit in this role. Tiny Tim will be double-cast by Jonathan Rizzo, an 11-year-old with 24 shows to his credit, and Reese Blair, an 8-year old with 11 shows to her credit.

This year also features entire families with Jeff (Jollygoode) & Laura (Fezziwidg & Mary) Blair and daughters Reese (Tiny Tim) and Kate (townsperson/urchin). Husband and wife Jonathan Sieders and Shirley Aguilar will portray Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig and will be joined by their daughter Maritza as Jen and Kathy. This family-friendly cast also includes Andy (Jenkins) and Jessica (Pringle) Stangby with daughter Abigail (Jen).

Rounding out this year’s Cratchit family cast is Emery Glickler and Audrey McGaughey (Kathy Cratchit), Callum Tiller and Andrei Venegas (Peter Cratchit), Jordan Word and Lauren Green (Belinda Cratchit), and Matilde Rodriguez-Glass and Denise Smith as Martha Cratchit.

In his 6th year in the production, Steve Flad plays Christmas Present and in their third years are Bob Morgan as Jacob Marley and Nick Baker as Baker and Punch & Judy. In their second years are Jason Wills as the Nephew, and his son Lleyton Billingsley as King Urchin and Turkey Boy. In her fourth year is Abby Rogers as School Teacher and in their second years, Lucas Sauvage and Peter Alamares play Dick Wilkins and Punch & Judy.

Newcomers to this year’s cast include Christian McLellan as Topper, Tressa Korson as Bess, Tatiana Smith as Wine Merchant and Billy Smith as Topper & Mr. Carstairs, and James Mason as Hugo Harty, and Bill Smith as Bissett, Deanna Green and Jessica Stangby as Mrs. Dilber & Ms.Pringle and Alex & Julianna Rios as Miss Dilber.

Rounding out the cast is Tammy Hooker who plays the role of Beggar, Chloe Sy as Jen, Griffen Tippen as the King Urchin and Turkey Boy. Bennett Tschoeppe and Will Clements are both Ebby.  Joann Rodriguez and Jessica Stanby portray Mrs. Pringle, and Brielle DeWitt and Lexie Word as Fruit Seller with Persiz Dezfuli, Abigail Stangby, Aanya Bhoria, and Elsie McMcCormick as Townspeople, Urchins & Ghouls.

About “Scrooge – The Musical & Charles Dickens:  “Scrooge – The Musical” was written by award-winning songwriter, Leslie Bricusse, creator of the musical versions of “Jekyll & Hyde” and “Willie Wonka”.  The movie version received four Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe nominations.

The show closely follows the plot of Charles Dickens’ acclaimed book, A Christmas Carol.  Born in 1812 in London, Charles Dicken’s often drew upon his own life for the basis of his novels.

In 1822, Dicken’s father was imprisoned because of his debt. Dicken’s mother pulled Dickens from school and sent him to work at the age of ten in a Blacking Factory which made shoe polish.

Eventually, Dickens returned to school and began his career working for a firm of solicitors. Dickens was known to be skilled mimic and gregarious personality. He started writing as a freelance reporter for law cases and then published his first short story in 1833, His national reputation grew when he published his Pickwick Papers. Next came Oliver Twist, Nicolas Nickleby. A Christmas Carol, the story that inspired Scrooge – The Musical, was written in 1843.

Ebeneezer Scrooge has spent all his life accruing gold and allowing all his loved ones to slip through his hands. On Christmas Eve 1843, Scrooge is given the gift of one more chance to redeem himself for mankind and for his soul. The musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol reminds us to love one another and to hold each other close!

Showtimes
At North Texas Performing Arts — Plano (The Shops at Willow Bend)
Friday, December 7, 7:30 PM – join us for a post show reception with the cast!
Saturday, December 8, 1:30 PM
Saturday, December 8, 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 9, 2:30 PM

At Courtyard Theater
Friday, December 14, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 15, 1:30 PM
Saturday, December 15, 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 16, 2:30 PM