Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Nothing says Christmas like Scrooge’s transformation from greedy miser to gift-giving hero, and this holiday classic comes to glorious life in Running to Places Theater Company’s (R2P) musical production December 21-22 at the State Theatre of Ithaca.

The play tells the familiar story of tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge who, after being visited by a series of ghosts in the night, opens his heart just in time for Christmas morning. R2P’s emotional production leaves no doubt that even the worst of us can find—and deserve--redemption.

This will be R2P’s second time staging “A Christmas Carol.” “The audience response last year was overwhelming,” says Joey Steinhagen, R2P artistic director. “The show is a great Christmas tradition—it ran for over a decade at Madison Square Garden, so we weren’t surprised there was so much enthusiasm for us presenting it again this year.”

Alan Menken, award-winning composer of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” wrote the musical and included very little dialogue; fortunately, the music is easily strong enough to carry the show. Music director Jeremy Pletter, a senior at Ithaca College, says audiences will be particularly impressed by the poignancy of “A Place Called Home” as well as the chilling intensity of “Link by Link.”

Guest choreographer Steven D. Moore’s Broadway-inspired dancing turns the show into a true holiday spectacular. Moore, a theater professional in New York City and an Ithaca College alum, uses the young cast’s enthusiasm and high energy to create a non-stop swirl of movement and theater magic that will captivate audience members of every age. Company members Maddie Vandenberg and Laura Fegely served as dance captains to help the cast polish the challenging choreography.

R2P’s shows traditionally dig deeper than usual productions, and this Christmas Carol is no exception. The scenic design by Tyler M. Perry features a grittier London than the typical Hollywood version. A huge ticking clock dominates the stage, a powerful reminder that time is running out for Scrooge’s chance at happiness.

"Working on this show, I was struck by the depth of Scrooge's humanity contained in the story,” says Steinhagen. “It's easy to forget that every awful thing that ever happened to him throughout his life -- the loss of the love of his life and the deaths of his sister and his best friend -- all happened on Christmas. No wonder he says Christmas is a humbug.”

Josiah Rawlings plays Ebenezer Scrooge, haunted by ghosts Christian Henry (Jacob Marley), Elisheva Glaser (Christmas Past), Caitlin Mallory (Christmas Present), and Laura Fegely (Christmas Future). Noah Elman is Bob Cratchit, father to Nico Sawester’s Tiny Tim. Michael Sloan plays Young Ebenezeer, affianced to Summer Davis (Emily), with Young Marley performed by Will Westlake. Felix Ferdinand-Penny and Ilana Wallenstein give us Mr.and Mrs. Fezziwig.

The show runs one weekend only: December 21st and 22nd with performances on  Saturday at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM.

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