newportbeachindy . com NOVEMBER 11 , 2022 13
Carol
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Where Landon was a taciturn curmudgeon , Doyle ’ s façade is less opaque , the actor more willing to offer us a wider window into Scrooge ’ s feelings . Not that his Scrooge isn ’ t bellicose . That belligerence is forceful … but as comedic are Doyle ’ s near double-takes at the yuletide cheeriness surrounding him , Scrooge seeing himself as a young boy generates a sharply felt , palpable nostalgia .”
Doyle certainly knows the play — he ’ s been it the show some 37 years and has played many of the characters , including the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present , Fezziwig , Scrooge ’ s nephew Fred and both solicitors .
“ This year will be slightly different , because this year , I will have an ownership of this amazing role I was charged with creating for the first time last year ,” Doyle said . “ Now , rather than working to make it my own , it will be my story to tell . Actors are at heart storytellers and as stories go , this is a great one .”
Hisa Takakuwa returns to direct for her second time , although her experience with the show goes back many years . She served as assistant director for 14 years and also appeared in the production for 14 more .
“ I am honored to both shepherd the cherished legacy of SCR ’ s ‘ A Christmas Carol ’ and support beloved Founding Artist Richard Doyle as he continues to deepen and grow his Ebenezer Scrooge ,” Takakuwa said . “ I am especially excited to welcome several new cast members into the ‘ A Christmas Carol ’ family this year , all of whom are SCR veterans . As always , there will be a bit of new to keep it fresh for audiences , but never at the cost of the heart-warming and comforting holiday classic that so many hold as a family tradition .”
Joining Doyle in the cast of “ A Christmas Carol ” is Preston Maybank as Bob Cratchit ( replacing longtime cast member Daniel Blinkoff ), Michael Manuel ( Ghost of Marley ), Richard Soto ( Ghost of Christmas Present ), Jennifer Parsons ( Ghost of Christmas Past ), Melody Butiu ( Mrs . Fezziwig / Solicitor ), Tommy Beck ( Young Scrooge ), Larry Bates ( Fred / Gentleman ), Kelsey Bray ( Mrs . Shelley / Pursued Maiden ), Eduardo Enrikez ( Joe , Young Marley ), Michael Reese Shald ( Topper ), Erika Schindele ( Belle ), Nick Slimmer ( Thomas Shelley ), William Francis McGuire ( Mr . Fezziwig ), Elyse Mirto ( Mrs . Cratchit ) and Alicia Coca ( Sally ).
The understudies are Diana Burbano ( Mrs . Fezziwig , Mrs . Cratchit , Ghost of Christmas Past and Sally ) and Michael Polak ( Bob Cratchit Ghost of Christmas Present , Fred , Jacob Marley ).
Maybank , Bates , Enrikez , Shald , Mirto and Coca are newcomers to this year ’ s cast .
Noticeably missing from the cast this year is SCR Founding Artist Art Koustik , who for many years played Joe , a cider vendor who also pays handsomely for purloined clothing and other items .
The cast is joined by 16 young performers , who are divided into two eight-person teams . The teams alternate performances . The child actors are students in the SCR Theatre Conservatory who auditioned for their roles after completing at least two years in the Conservatory .
The Red Team features Justine Roussel ( Martha Cratchit ), Maximillian Lalli ( Peter Cratchit ), Maddie Chung ( Belinda Cratchit ), Julia Ner ( Tiny Tim ), ChloeLux Phan ( Teen Girl About Town ), Tessany Azizi ( Girl About Town ), Max Zazik ( Boy Scrooge / Oliver Shelley ) and Ben Hacker ( Turkey Boy ) The Green Team features Natalie
Bright ( Martha Cratchit ), Matthew
Chan ( Peter Cratchit ), Anabelle Green ( Belinda Cratchit ), Yunah Choi ( Tiny Tim ), Piper Huntley ( Teen Girl About Town ), Ashley Hong ( Girl About Town ), Isaac Person ( Boy Scrooge / Oliver Shelley ) and Vincent Logan ( Turkey Boy ).
The creative team includes Thomas Buderwitz , scenic design ; Dwight Richard Odle , costume design ; Donna & Tom Ruzika , lighting design ; Dennis McCarthy , music arrangement / composer ; Drew Dalzell , sound design ; Dennis Castellano , vocal director ; Kelly Todd , choreographer ; Joanne DeNaut ,
UNIQUE GIFT SHOPPING , HOLIDAY MUSIC & ART CLASSES
Join us this holiday season for one-of-a-kind gift shopping , festive entertainment , art classes , visits with Santa & more ! Open weekends & select Fridays , 10am-7pm .
Parking is limited in front of the Sawdust grounds due to channel construction . Park at Act V Lot 16 for free and take the Laguna Beach trolley during festival hours !
LAGUNA LOCALS GET IN FREE AFTER 3PM ON OPENING DAY , NOVEMBER 19 ! PURCHASE TICKETS AT SAWDUSTARTFESTIVAL . ORG
CSA , casting and Talia Krispel , production stage manager .
A Christmas Carol received generous support from Honorary Producers Julianne and George Argyros / Argyros Family Foundation of Newport Beach . The media sponsor is Orange County Register .
Tickets are now on sale and range in price from $ 35 to $ 101 , with additional discounts available for children under 12 .
Tickets may be purchased online at www . scr . org or by phone at ( 714 ) 708-5555 .