2012 Christmas Carol-It begins

I am happily refreshed from our 1st day off. It's hard to believe we have already had 3 days of rehearsals for this year's production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Hanover Theatre.

  After learning the music for "Wassail" on Friday & Saturday (in addition to many of the songs in the show), it was time to get down to business and learn the dance on Sunday with our wonderful choreographer, Ilyse Robbins. If you haven't seen the show, "Wassail" is our largest, most intricate number in the production. Since it is so big, it helps to learn all the components early on in the rehearsal process that way there is plenty of time for it to sink in. "Wasail" comes in Act One at the "Fezziwig Party" and involves, 22 members of the cast, a fiddle, 7 part harmony, fake beer, a marriage proposal, and lots of dancing! Here's some of the cast members prepping BEFORE learning the staging to "Wassail".  



Yours Truly (Annie Kerins) with Andrew Oberstein



Tyler Bellmon and Co. stretch

Laura DeGiacomo, Kim Kalunian, & Meredith Stypinksi

Here are some tired, sweaty cast members recouping AFTER learning "Wassail" in it's entirety.

Me & Meredith



Kim Kalunian & Jeremy Towle

 

It has BEGUN !!!!

 









Fabulous Feet

or more specifically fabulous shoes! All the actors have finally completed their costume fittings with the talented Gail Astrid Buckley. You get a lollipop after a doctor's appointment , but after a fitting with Gail you get rehearsals shoes! It is a luxury to be able to work with your "show shoes" early on in your rehearsal process, but it truly makes a difference in the final product. This way the actors are able to have time to get comfortable doing their dance steps, lifts, any brisk movements, in the correct footwear. So if adjustments need to be made to the choreography or footwear, there is ample time.

Lynne Rosenberg (Mrs. Dilber) zips up her show boots/ a pile of shoes wait for their owners at rehearsal

Today was our last day in our rehearsal space. On Tuesday we start rehearsing on the stage in full costume with lights and sets and the mighty Wurlitzer! There will be so many new elements to get use to. I am very thankful that our fabulous shoes will greet us like old friends, first thing on Tuesday.

Tyler Bellmon practicing dance steps/ Joelle Kross laces up/ Lisa Dempsey is ready to Wassail!

Eric McGowan (Xmas Future) with ASM Candice Mongellow. He is probably the most thankful out of all that he has time to practice in his shoes!

Boo!

Mrs. Cratchit here! So we have 3 days until we get onto the stage. It's very exciting to have so many pieces together. In the last 2 rehearsals we have been doing run thrus with stops and starts. As you might have guessed that means we run the scenes until Troy stops them to fix or change something.

Today we stopped on one of my favorite parts. It's early in the first act just before the ghost of Jacob Marley arrives. Some audience members might just think they are hearing wind or some prerecorded voices, but in every production I've appeared in just before Jacob Marley appears the actors all assemble in the wings and get to make spooky noises! At 16 yrs old in my first "A Christmas Carol" production at Foothills Theatre I remember thinking it was so cool that the whole cast got to be the voice of the ghosts for a brief period of time. Mostly the actors chant "Ebenezer" or "Scrooge" during this scene or try to sound like the wind, but there is some flexibility within that. It is so fun to play with different ways to use your voice or different words you can interject in rehearsals. Today Troy stopped us for a couple of reasons during the "spooky noises" ... not enough consonants, not enough wind. I am sure we will have it perfect by opening, but until then I am happy practicing because it makes me feel a bit like a 7year old with all my friends on Halloween! "SssssscroooooooogGGGGGe" ! I love my job <3

Dale Place in last year's production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Hanover, right before a ghost arrives! Can't you hear our spooky voices in the background???

Cratchit Interviews

Good Evening Bloggerinos,

As promised, here are the interviews I have been working on for the past couple of days. Some of the actors I spoke to in person, some over the phone, and even Facebook was used! During my phone interviews the children did not recognize the name "Annie Kerins", so I had to reintroduce myself as "Mrs. Cratchit". It's funny that in the first week of rehearsal it's easier to be identified as your character than as yourself.

BOB CRATCHIT Interview:

What is it like pretending you have children when you are not a parent?

It's great because I love kids. But this scenario is even better because I get to give them back at the end of the day :)

How many times have you played Bob Cratchit?

Twice. This is my 4th time appearing in a production of "A Christmas Carol". My first production was with Trinity Repertory Theatre and they used a lot of puppets. I was a puppeteer. There was a Scrooge puppet. And Christmas Future was this huge head 15 feet above the stage. There were these 2 arms that we manipulated. Three of us had to operate that puppet. He would come out and point his 6 foot long hands at the grave stone. So that was fun.

My first appearance in the Hanover Theatre's "A Christmas Carol" I played Fred Scrooge. And this will be my second year playing Bob Cratchit.

Do you often play fathers?

Nowadays, yes I do. The first father I played was for a Rhode Island College Fund commercial. In that I play a dad with a little kid who runs around with a box on his head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0UCvfKoP9A Check it out!

And I just finished working at the Beef and Boards Theatre playing George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life". I have gone from playing a father with four kids to playing a father with four kids!

How is George Bailey's family different from Bob Cratchit's family?

They are actually very similar. They are not very well-off, but they're happy. George goes through some hard times, unfortunately, and kind of takes it out on his family, whereas Bob Cratchit never takes anything out on his family. They are different in that way. But financially they have similar struggles, maybe Bob is a little worse off, but the Bailey's do have the Depression to deal with.

At the core George Bailey is a dreamer and very hopeful. Bob Cratchit shares that same hopefulness. I don't know if he is so much of a dreamer, but he has got a very positive outlook on things. Both characters get through these very hard times. And they put their families first.

MARTHA CRATCHIT Interview:

How old are you?

I am 15 years old.

What's it like to play the same part 3 years in a row with different siblings every year?

I think it's really great having different siblings every year because I get to adapt my character to the different family. The first year I did the show, I had younger siblings, and that made my Martha kind of protective of the little kids. But each year they've gotten older (or maybe just taller...) which has given me a chance to make my character grow up a little and not have to constantly "watch out" for the other Cratchit kids onstage (at least that's how I see it).

How is the Cratchit holiday celebration different to your own?

The Cratchit celebration is different from my family's, but only because we're not as religious.

The whole idea of having the family home for Christmas is huge in my house though. Me and my brother are always running around doing activities and both my parents work, so just sitting down and having dinner together is really nice, and must be somewhat like the Cratchit's Christmas because they don't get to see Martha much, Mr. Cratchit works all day, and Mrs. Cratchit must have her hands full with all the kids.

Emily Greenslit, Annie Kerins, Joanna Rosen, Thomas Petrocelli, & Peter Stamoulis >

BELINDA CRATCHIT INTERVIEW:
How did you feel when you were cast as Belinda at the Hanover Theatre?

Well I was very, very, very ecstatic. I am so happy to be playing Belinda. Even though I was in the youth ensemble last year, I didn't know if I would be cast in a part this year. But I DID and I am very happy about that.

Me too. I am glad you are playing my daughter!

Do you have a favorite part in the "Cratchit Table" scene?

Hmm...I do love singing the "Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat"-song. That is a favorite.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with me about the show?

I love "A Christmas Carol". It's a story that never gets old. And Charles Dickens is amazing and he wrote it! The story is incredible and after all this time it's still being performed everywhere. I just love it!

Have you studied "A Christmas Carol" in school yet?

No. Not yet.

PETER CRATCHIT Interview:

How many people are there in your family?

I am an only child.

What's it like to play a character with lots of siblings?

It's kinda nice to have people you like to work with and they get to play your family and can be your friends. It's nice.

Do you have anything else you'd like to share about your character?

Well I appreciate the fact that they use cockney. It helps to kind of shape your character.

There are lots of different actors who have played Cratchit children and I like that I can make my character my own style, something that I can relate to. And Peter is an interesting character in general. I happen to like him. He is kind of a mischievous kid, but he is also very sentimental

How does he feel about his brother and sisters?

I bet sometimes Belinda probably pesters him, but I guess he cuts her some slack for Christmas.
How does he feel about Tiny Tim?

Well you know, everyone loves Tiny Tim. You can't not like him. Tiny Tim is the basis of the show. And he is pretty fragile. Even if Peter didn't get along with him, he has to like him, he takes care of him. Everyone really develops a bond with Tiny Tim even when you're not a character in the play.

TINY TIM Interview:

How old are you?

7

How did you learn your lines?

Before I go to bed I just read my lines very quickly. Usually by myself.
What's it like being carried around by Bob Cratchit?

It feels pretty high. And if I look down I kind of get scared, a little.

I can see why you'd feel that way, Sean is pretty tall.

I agree.

But does it get easier the more you do it?

Yeah.

Are you excited about being in the play?

Yes. Very.

Sean Patrick Hopkins takes a rest during a long rehearsal of carrying Peter Stamoulis on his shoulders.

"Deck the HALL with boughs of holly"! - Rehearsals for ACC begin!

It’s hard to believe that we have only been in rehearsals for six days and already our company is growing close. Perhaps it is because many are returning to the production for the second, third, fourth or even fifth run, perhaps its the true magic of the story itself. Personally, I believe its the latter. A Christmas Carol has always been a very precious story to me. I think it is purely because absolute Humanity is central in it. It is a tale that all can relate to, and that all can benefit from. Dickens forces us to re-focus on what is truly important in life: love and the way we live in this world in relation to others. It's about giving yourself, wholly, to others. And it's magical, and moving and there are ghosts for crying out loud! My only other exposure to this story comes from Mickey's Christmas Carol and Muppet Christmas Carol, both of which have exciting takes with very different (even aside from the inherently obvious (Muppets v. Disney)) means of telling the same wondrous story.

 

I am fortunate to be playing the character of Belle, Ebenezer Scrooge’s lost love. We see them when they are both very young and possess a deep love for one another. One of the best things about these two characters that we see in Scrooge's (Dale Place*) journey with the Ghost of Christmas Past (played by the lovely Tori Heinlein*) is how youthful and happy they were together. Especially in the Fezziwig Party scene! We get to see Young Ebenezer have fun and dance and show-off and get nervous! It's warm, bright and happy. But then, in deep contrast, we next have the scene where Belle has to leave him. We've worked on that scene once so far, and already Troy (our brilliant director) is helping me discover it's emotional depth (It also helps to have a great scene partner: Tyler Bellmon* as Young Ebenezer). I am having a great time carving each line and finding the thoughts and feelings behind them. Instead of playing the end of the scene, I am trying to let the changing circumstances effect me to bring me to that place, and wherever I end up is the truth Belle experiences. One of the most important things, to me, in acting is to be having fun and to want to work more. This is absolutely true of this scene and everything we've done so far.  I’m finding that the emotions of the scene come so easily just purely through the words and through the circumstances of the story. That Dickens, he's a talented fellow there. Now, I need to work on my accent for tonight's rehearsal!

We are working quickly and as a first-time cast member, this is both exhilarating and refreshingly challenging!

Well, first of all, the cast is amazing: singing, acting, dancing: we got it! I feel so honored to be working alongside each and every member and I am learning so much from them. The level of commitment to the music, text and choreography is tops, and in turn leaves no room for slacking (which is good, we have only a few more weeks until we open)! It's interesting, a lot of these carols I know very well --- or so I thought. I'm on the soprano line for all the singing I do, and it's mainly melody. But there are a lot of small details, shifts, and changes that I am (slowly but surely) learning. Example: (as seen in the title of this post) in our carol, it is "Deck the hall with boughs of holly...Fa la la la la - fa la la la." See? Subtle differences, again, keeping me on my toes! I don't think I'll ever sing "Deck the halls..." again. Since the first music rehearsal, various Christmas Carols have become the soundtrack in my brain (especially "Wassail"). And I love it! 

There is just so much joy in singing these songs and doing these dances that it makes it a wonderful time just coming to rehearsal! Even though we sometimes have to deal with traffic and that's always stressful, I always notice my mood lighten when I sign in and get ready to work. Christmas Carol is proving such a beautiful rehearsal process -- I am always looking forward to rehearsal and can't wait to see where we go!

-Micah Tougas, Cast member