The ultimate hater of the holiday season is coming to Oxford when the high school presents the musical ‘Scrooge? this Thursday (Dec. 8) through Sunday.
Much like Charles Dickens? ‘A Christmas Carol,? the story follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he dismisses Christmas and dwells into self-loathing, caring for nothing but his riches.
After being visited by ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, Scrooge finds himself gloriously transformed and becomes devoted to the Christmas holiday and its true meaning.
‘Scrooge,? which is a two-act play, was adapted from Dickens’s novel in 1970 by Leslie Bricusse. It’s been 10 years since OHS has performed ‘Scrooge.?
‘It’s very similar, but there’s more songs,? said Director Margaret Payne. ‘He added six new songs to the musical.?
Payne said the cast of about 40 has been working hard on the show for six weeks.
Patrick Parrish will direct the PIT band for the musical numbers, while OHS teacher Natalie Daversa has worked on the choreography.
The set of ‘Scrooge? consists of moveable backgrounds that transform from Scrooge’s bedroom, to the Cratchitt home, to the town street.
The cast includes Matt Steffens (Scrooge), Nick Shufflin (Jacob Marley), Nick Risinger (Christmas Present), Amanda Ryskamp (Christmas Past), Kam Mueller (Christmas Yet to Come), Jake Havenes and Brad Dugan (Bob Cratchitt), Ashley Landis (Mrs. Cratchitt) and featuring Oxford Elementary third-grader Logan Mace (Tiny Tim).
Other cast members include:
‘The Cratchitt Family’Oxford Middle School students Sydney Parrish, Megan Rieker, Debra Carpenter, Neil Maskill and Erica Schlueter.
‘Townspeople’Alec Pilafas, Colson O’Dell, William Hartwell, Amber Zarnecki, Ashley Gross, Aylssa Rathburg, Chelsea Smith, Elizabeth Ligon, Jessica McLean, Kaitlyn Sims, Kate McQuarter, Kathleen Cardinell, Kristen Bowen, Megan Klimek, Sara Fisk, Sara Popa, Sarah Kessler.
‘Young Scrooge’Matt Balch
‘Mr. Fezziwig’Robert Beard
‘Mrs.Fezziwig’Ashton Albertson
‘Miss Dibler’Kristen McIssac
‘Butchress’Lauren Crossley
‘Tomasina Jenkins’Rachel Napoleon
‘Mrs. Pringle’Samantha Adams
‘Kathy’Stefanie Cook
‘Isabel’Stephanie Schmidt
Payne said she knows the musical will go well this weekend.
‘They’ve worked hard and have had a lot of fun with it,? she said.