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A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens

Tavis Docucette as Young Scrooge and Laurie Berich as Belle


Mike Pitsikoulis as Marley, John Scamardella as Scrooge

Cast
Laurie Berich, Tavis Doucette, Heather Mae Foard, Jake Ottosen, Mike Pitsikoulis, and John Scamardella
 
Producer                              
Susan Fenley
Director                               
Diane Zerega
Adapted for stage by             
Cash Tilton
Music composed by             
Susan Mondzak
Set Design/Construction     
Interborough Repertory Theatre
Costumes                            
Interborough Repertory Theatre/Linda Koenig
 
This production is made possible in part by funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Councilman Michael McMahon.

Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the Cratchit family, and the Ghosts of Christmas come to life this season in Sundog Theatre’s musical of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” co-presented with Staten Island's Enrichment through the Arts. This classic holiday tale of redemption and enchantment runs for one performance on Sunday, December 14, at 3:00 p.m. The musical, which lasts a little over one hour, opens at the Concert Hall at College of Staten Island's Center for the Arts at 2800 Victory Blvd. After the show, actors will come out and talk to the audience, at which time audience members can ask questions and meet the performers. Audience with cameras can then take pictures with the actors if they desire. Sundog's actors are a mix of on and off-Island talent as well as Wagner College performers.

The Spirit of Christmas Present (Heather Mae Foard) visits Scrooge
  

   "This production is taken directly from Charles Dickens' book," states Susan Fenley, executive director of Sundog Theatre and the show's producer. "In that way, it retains the intelligence and literary charisma of the original. At the same time, the music and comedy infused into the show is highly enjoyable by children. Six actors play all the characters, so there is a lot of action. The show truly is appropriate for all ages."

Tommy Grace as Tiny Tim and Jake Ottosen as Bob Cratchit

          Charles Dickens first told his now-famous tale in the 1850s. Since then, there have been numerous adaptations of the beloved tale throughout the world. This production of "A Christmas Carol" was created and performed by Manhattan's Interborough Repertory Theatre (IRT) years ago. IRT no longer performs the show, so Sundog Theatre has taken up the mantle and additionally will be presenting the musical during multiple daytime performances for schools at 900-seat venues in the Bronx, Staten Island, and Baltimore.
      Sundog Theatre is a Staten Island-based performing arts organization that offers shows for adults and children. The theater also provides in-school arts-in-education programs to support school curricula through the arts. Enrichment Through the Arts, headed by Maureen Hartje, presents multicultural and curriculum-based performances for young audiences at the College of Staten Island.

Laurie Berich as Martha, Heather Mae Foard as Mrs. Cratchit, and Tavis Doucette as Peter

John Scamardella as Scrooge, Tavis Doucette as young Scrooge, and Mike Pitsikoulis as the pedagogue

Staten Island's Sundog Theatre presents Dickens' A Christmas Carol
by Lisa Ann Williamson -- Staten Island Advance
December 12, 2008

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- John Scamardella likes to think of Charles Dickens as a rock star. Not the screaming guitar and howling vocal type. More the literary, read-aloud type.

"Hey, he would tour and read chapters of his books," says Scamardella, director of marketing at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. "He was the first to have groupies." Had he lived in the 19th century, Scamardella might have been one of them. He loves Dickens' "David Copperfield," "Great Expectations" and "A Tale of Two Cities." But the oft-adapted "A Christmas Carol" holds a special place in his heart. "The story is so simple, just about redemption, but it's probably one of the best stories ever," says Scamardella, who coordinated Snug Harbor's Dickens Festival in 2006. "Dickens writes for and understands the human spirit so well."

So when the opportunity came to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Sundog Theatre Company's one-hour musical version, he was all in.
"A Christmas Carol" -- with memorably catchy tunes by Susan Mondzak -- was created and first performed by Manhattan's Interboro Repertory Theatre. Sundog inherited the script, set and bulk of the costumes. It opens at College of Staten Island's Concert Hall on Sunday before touring for school groups in Staten Island, the Bronx and Baltimore.
"It's really a unique show, since it's taken from the novel, it's very intelligent (for the adults) and the ghost is very appealing to the kids," says Susan Fenley, executive director of Sundog. "Part of our mission is to do theater that is transformational -- this has got to be the epitome of transformation."

Ryan Cole, from left, Laurie Berich, Mike Pitsikoulis, Tavis Doucette, Jake Ottosen, John Scamardella and Heather Mae Foard during rehearsals.

Scamardella heads a seven-member cast who portray townspeople, the Cratchit family and visiting ghosts of past, present and future. Rounding out the cast are Laurie Berich, Tavis Doucette, Heather Mae Foard, Jake Ottosen, Ryan Cole and Mike Pitsikoulis.The show's stage manager, Ashley Koenig, also gets involved as the "turkey boy." As an added bonus, a member of the audience is selected at each performance to portray Tiny Tim Cratchit.

"The audience loves it when one of their own goes on stage," Fenley says. "It's like they are all on stage. They can relate to that person." Which fits perfectly, considering the story -- at its core -- is about relating to others. And sharing that message during the holiday season might even create a few more Dickens groupies, Scamardella says. "Especially for children seeing this for the first time, this version can help them develop a love for the story."

BACK TALK: AWE theater writer Lisa Ann Williamson can be reached at williamson@siadvance.com. AWE photo by Robin George.