We R Family! [Team Cratchit]

Hello Bloggers!

Annie Kerins (a.k.a. Mrs. Cratchit) here. We have been in rehearsals for "A Christmas Carol" at the Hanover Theatre for exactly one week. It is so exciting to see all the pieces of the show coming together. This is my 3rd year working at the Hanover Theatre and, even though I am playing the same role, each year is very different. One thing I find fun is getting used to a new Cratchit family. Actors are constantly "matched up" with other actors and put into all sorts of situations with people who might essentially be strangers. A script can be a nice security blanket when you are getting to know someone new, but sooner than later the script is put down. Usually at that point it is easy to get comfortable and feel like a team.

This year the head of Team Cratchit is Sean Patrick Hopkins. Sean played Bob last year, so we are already pretty comfortable working opposite one another. He is wonderful to work with, although he makes me laugh too much! Neither of us have children of our own and I think that might make us more appreciative of our "pretend kids". This year the Cratchit kids are played by Emily Greenslit (Worcester, MA), Thomas Petrocelli (Holden, MA), Joanna Rosen (Marblehead, MA), and as Tiny Tim, Peter Stamoulis (Shrewsbury, MA). This is Joanna's 3rd time playing Martha at the Hanover Theatre and Emily was in the youth ensemble last year. That makes Tom and Peter the newest kids on the block. They seem to be having a good time joining us in the general merriment that is "A Christmas Carol" here at the Hanover Theatre.

-Peter Stamoulis & Thomas Petrocelli

Wednesday was the last time Team Cratchit rehearsed together. We ran the "Cratchit Table" scene for the 2nd time. We finally got to add props and do the scene "off book" (without scripts). Previously, everyone had scripts in hand, Tiny Tim wasn't using the crutch, and there was no goose. So finally, there were cups, plates, a tablecloth, bundles, mashed potatoes, Tim's crutch, and of course, the goose! Working with props requires a lot of specific attention. Even the tablecloth Emily places at the top of the scene has to be folded in a special accordion style by our Assistant Stage Manager, Candice Dale Mongellow, so that the scene runs smoothly. That means everytime we perform the scene Candice has to run over to the prop table and refold/adjust every prop! In addition to working with the props, Joanna got to practice lifting Tiny Tim, and Sean got to practice lifting Emily (Mrs. Cratchit does not get lifted in this show, in case you were wondering.) Everyone is getting more comfortable in the scene-how nice it is to begin to feel like a real family. The next time we will run the scene is Sunday. Can't wait!

Sean Patrick Hopkins & the Goose

In my next blog you can read interviews that I have been conducting with all the Cratchits. :)