First week in November

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Ok...here we are...the first week of November...don't exactly know what that means except Halloween, etc.. is all over...but most importantly, it means we are one month away from showtime...

The schedule for this week holds true to exactly what is on the schedule:

- Monday, November 2...7:00pm-8:45pm...the "crowd" only...scenes 1, 12, and 23

- Tuesday, November 3...7:00pm-8:45pm...everyone in scenes 16B (that's where the Ghost of Christmas Future comes in) through and including scene 21...again, that's everyone who is in a scene with the Ghost of Christmas Future...(clarification:  16A is the first part of 16 with the Ghost of Christmas Present...16B is the second part of 16 with the Ghost of Christmas Future)...I hope that's clear...

- Thursday, November 5...7:00pm-8:45pm...everyone who is in scenes 1, 12, and 23...note, this is the same as Monday PLUS any other characters - not just the "crowd" who are in 1, 12, and 23

Again, I still have not been given a location for these rehearsals...so, please just plan to report to the alley and we'll go from there...

Last week's rehearsals were great...thanks...we got everything blocked from the office scene (2) through everything with Marley and with the Ghost of Christmas Past...I am again looking forward to another week of good blocking...

Underway, etc...

To:  Cast & Crew
From:  John McC

I just wanted to share a couple of things:

1.  First of all, rehearsals are underway and going beautifully...Monday we blocked the office scene w/ Fred, etc...and last night we blocked the scene with Marley...so, forward we go - full speed ahead...

2.  I want to encourage everyone to try to see "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"...several of our cast are also members of that cast...they deserve our support...plus, youth theatre shows are always a delight.  "Legend" plays Friday and Sunday.  ALSO, you might want to check out the radio show this weekend - "War of the Worlds"...radio shows are always fun and some of our cast are involved in that show, too...

3.  I was told last night that Thursday's rehearsal (the 29th) will be in the Lobby...as stated on the schedule, it covers all the scenes with the Ghost of Christmas Past - PLUS Belle...it will run from 7:00pm until about 8:45pm...there will be a radio show rehearsal going on in the Little Theatre, so please do not disturb them...

4.  Looking toward Monday (November 2)...we will be blocking the three "crowd" scenes...in addition to those listed as "crowd/ensemble" I'd like to see Old Joe, Doorstop Woman, Ignorance, Want, Carolers, Buck, business associates, undertaker's man, Dilber, laundress, Fred's party guests, Fezziwig's party guests, fiddler, concertina player, Poole, and Lamb.  The following can also be included - but not as their character, but as a townsfolk - 9yr old Scrooge, 16yr old Scrooge, 22yr old Scrooge, Fan, and Mrs. Fezziwig...I have still not been told where that rehearsal will be held, so plan to report to the lobby...when I find out, I will let you know...that rehearsal starts at 7:00pm and will end at about 8:45pm...

5.  Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rehearsals this week:

Rehearsals this week are exactly what is on the schedule with one exception...Scene 10 was added to Thursday's rehearsal - this affected only adding Belle:

Monday (26th)...Scene 2...Scrooge, Fred, Bob Cratchit, Lamb, Poole

Tuesday (27th)...Scenes 3 and 4...Scrooge, Marley (only)

Thursday (29th)...Scenes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, AND 10...Scrooge, Spirit #1, 9 yr old Scrooge, 16 yr old Scrooge, 22 yr old Scrooge, Fan, Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig, Fezziwig party guests, fiddler, concertina player, Belle

Rehearsals are at 7:00pm...I have still not been told what rehearsal spaces are available to us, so please report to the lobby and we will go from there.

Please be familiar with your lines before you come to rehearsal...it will help things go quicker...thanks

Rehearsals this week:

Read-Through - "GREAT"

To:  Cast Members
From:  John McC

I thought last night's read-through was "great" - I was so happy.  You seemed to get good honest laughs at all the right places and yet found the seriousness of Scrooge's transformation.  I loved hearing your voices.  Needless to say, I am so looking forward to get into blocking next week and bringing this script to life. 

For the older crowd, remember "Night, Mother" this week in the Little Theatre.  TILT is a wonderful part of FCOA and the BCT family.  Check it out.  Rosie and Amy are both fine actresses - should be an outstanding production.  It plays Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm.

I will also be encouraging everone to go see "Sleepy Hollow."  Love the Youth Theatre!  We all need to get out and support our fellow cast members who are also shining in "Sleepy Hollow."

Announcing "A Christmas Carol" Cast

First of all, WOW!!!...huge turnout...68...super...congratulations to those who have been cast...and thank you to those who were not - PLEASE consider becoming involved with the crew, costumers, etc....

REMINDER:  Cast meeting and read-through on Thursday, October 22 at the Theatre - in the Lobby...there are rehearsals in both the Little Theatre and Main Stage...7:00pm - 8:30pm

REMINDER:  FCOA requests a $20 refundable deposit on your scripts...the $20 is returned after you return the script at the end of the show's run...

Cast for “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”


EBENEZER SCROOGE...Al Shilling

THE NARRATOR...Peter Greene

MARLEY’S GHOST...Martin Rudegeair

FIRST SPIRIT (ghost of Christmas past)...Laurie Rogers

SECOND SPIRIT (ghost of Christmas present)...Ted Smith

THIRD SPIRIT (ghost of Christmas future) Andrew Ritsig

POOLE...Maggie Bernecky

LAMB...Terri Williams

FAN...Geralyn McMullen

9-YEAR OLD SCROOGE...Tyler Lyons

16-YEAR OLD SCROOGE...Arron Hoffman

22-YEAR OLD SCROOGE...Aaron Ritsig

BELLE...Sonia Firster

FEZZIWIG...Tom Last

MRS. FEZZIWIG...Lori Spence

FIDDLER...Aaron Ritsig

CONCERTINA PLAYER...Rae Connolly

GUESTS AT FEZZIWIG’S PARTY: Elizabeth Anderson, Allison Cowles, Stephen Dennis, Alysha Graham, Katie Kirby-Rogers

NEPHEW FRED...Ben Bodamer

KATE...Rebecca Christe

GUESTS AT FRED’S PARTY: Liesl Bittner, Arron Hoffman, Jill Kellner, Alix Noyes, Andrew Ritsig

BOB CRATCHIT...Bill Hennessy

MRS. CRATCHIT...Tish McClintock

TINY TIM CRATCHIT...David Zlotnicki

PETER CRATCHIT...Bowen Dye

MARTHA CRATCHIT...Megan Keelan

BELINDA CRATCHIT...Kate Ditzenberger

FREDERICK CRATCHIT...Daniel McQuaide

HARRIET CRATCHIT...Katherine McDonald

OLD JOE...Mike Heise

LAUNDRESS...Iva McMullen

CHARWOMAN...Michelle Schull

MRS. DILBER...Amanda Keener

UNDERTAKER’S MAN...Arron Hoffman

BUSINESS ASSOCIATE #1...Aaron Ritzig

BUSINESS ASSOCIATE #2...Stephen Dennis

BUSINESS ASSOCIATE #3...Pamela Logsdon Sibley

BUCK...Lane Behe

BOY CAROLER...Lane Behe

OTHER CAROLERS (SCENE #1):  Erin Edwards, Kristina Hartle, Reagan Lashinsky, Katie Lawson, Hannah McQuaide, Katie Kirby-Rogers, Beth Pfohl, Alix Noyes

DOORSTOP WOMAN...Michelle Schull

IGNORANCE...Erica Scott

WANT...Tyler Lyons

CROWD/ENSEMBLE (passersby, moaning phantoms, extra party goers, etc...):  Brandon, Byers, Rae Connolly, Mija Gossett, Andrew Krizon, Regan Scott, Bethany Weingard

Tentative Rehearsal Schedule for "Carol"

To:  Interested auditioners
From:  John McConnell, "carol" director

Here is a tentative rehearsal schedule for "carol"...I will not finalize the schedule until auditions are over and the show is cast - therefore being able to accomodate cast members' conflicts...you will notice most rehearsals are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday...you will also notice not all of the locations are set as of this time, nor have I assigned the "scenes" to be rehearsed - again, I will do this after casting so I can take into account cast conflicts...(ps...for those who have not worked with me before - I can work around a lot of your schedule conflicts)...I do not think many people will be asked to attend rehearsals all three nights a week until we begin the run-throughs...it is a relatively short show...all parts are non-singing...however, I will be casting a small group of carolers to be incorporated into the show...

Tentative Rehearsal Schedule (revised schedule will be completed after casting)


“A Christmas Carol”

DAY         DATE       TIME       LOCATION       SCENE(S)

Saturday   10/17       2:00pm  BCT Lobby       Auditions

Sunday     10/18       2:00pm  BCT Lobby       Auditions

Thursday  10/22       7:00pm                            Cast Meeting &
                                                                       Read Through

Monday    10/26      7:00pm                            TBA

Tuesday    10/27      7:00pm                            TBA

Thursday   10/29      7:00pm                            TBA

Monday     11/2      7:00pm                             TBA

Tuesday     11/3      7:00pm                             TBA

Thursday    11/5     7:00pm                             TBA

Tuesday    11/10     7:00pm                            TBA

Thursday   11/12     7:00pm                           TBA

Monday    11/16     7:00pm                            TBA

Tuesday    11/17     7:00pm                            TBA

Thursday   11/19     7:00pm                           TBA

Monday    11/23     7:00pm                           Entire Show (twice?) -
                                                                     no books

Tuesday   11/24      7:00pm                           Entire Show (twice?) -
                                                                     no books

Sunday    11/29      1:00pm    Main Stage     Tech Rehearsal

                              3:00pm    Main Stage      Full Cast - Entire Show

Monday   11/30     7:00pm    Main Stage      Entire Show (twice?)

Tuesday   12/1       7:00pm    Main Stage      Entire Show (twice?)

Wednesday 12/2    7:00pm    Main Stage     Full Dress Rehearsal
                                                                   (w/ makeup)

Thursday     12/3    8:00pm    Main Stage     Full Dress Rehearsal
                                                                   (w/ makeup)

Friday         12/4    8:00pm    Main Stage     Performance

Saturday     12/5    8:00pm     Main Stage    Performance and Party

Thursday    12/10   6:30pm     Main Stage    Brush-Up Rehearsal

Friday        12/11   8:00pm     Main Stage    Performance

Saturday    12/12    8:00pm    Main Stage    Performance

Sunday      12/13    2:00pm    Main Stage    Performance and Set Strike


Please Note: There is NO Rehearsal on Monday, November 9. GO STEELERS!

Please Note: There is a bit of a break between November 24 and November 29. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Please Note: The Brush-Up Rehearsal is schedule for 6:30pm on Thursday, December 10. The Steeler game starts at 8:15pm.



*********************

Large cast is needed!

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Ebenezer Scrooge...Miserly old man (male)
The Narrator...Charles Dickens (male)
Marley's Ghost...Spirit of Scrooge's partner (male)
Second Spirit...Ghost of Christmas Present - Jovial spirit (male or female)
First Spirit...Ghost of Christmas Past - old/Young Spirit (male or female)
Nephew Fred...Scrooge's kind nephew (male)
Belle...Scrooge's young fiancee (female)
Bob Cratchit...Scrooge's meek clerk (male)
Mrs. Cratchit...Bob's kind/feisty wife (female)
Fezziwig...Jovial Boss (male)
Poole...charity seeker (male)
Lamb...charity seeker (male or female)
Tiny Tim Cratchit...Bob's crippled young son (boy)
Peter Cratchit...Bob's 12 year-old son (boy)
Belinda Cratchit...Bob's 15 year-old daughter (girl)
Guests 1, 2, 3...(3) of Fred's party guests (male or female)
Old Joe...Rag and bottle shop owner (male or female)
Charwoman...Coarse cleaning lady (female)
Mrs. Dilber...Lower class laundress (female)
Buck...Street urchin (boy)
Businessman 1, 2, 3...(3) Greedy businessmen (male)
Boy Caroler...Poor street caroler (boy)
Frederick Cratchit...Bob's 8 year-old (boy) one line in dialogue
Harriet Cratchit...Bob's 7 year-old daughter (girl) one line in dialogue
Carolers...(2) other carolers (boys or girls)
Doorstep Woman...non-speaking part (female)
9-year old Scrooge...non-speaking part (boy)
16-year old Scrooge...non-speaking part (male)
Young Scrooge (age 22)...non-speaking part (male)
Fiddler...non-speaking part (male or female)
Concertina Player...non-speaking part (male or female)
Ignorance...non-speaking part (boy)
Want...non-speaking part (girl)Undertaker's Man...non-speaking part (male)

Also:  Crowds of passersby, moaning phantoms, party goers, dancers, carolers

Cast Size:  Rarely are more than 7 people on stage at once.  Doubling is suggested.

The first step to become a star is coming to audition.

AUDITIONS:


The auditions for Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” are set for Saturday, October 17th at 2:00pm and Sunday, October 18th at 2:00pm. Auditions will be in the lobby of The Barrow-Civic Theatre. Those planning to audition should use the alley door. No advance preparation or previous experience is needed.

This production is a non-musical, however, a group of carolers will be featured. There are roles for 13 males, 6 females, 9 males or females, 7 boys, 4 girls, and 2 boys or girls. Children should currently be in third grade and older.

John McConnell is the stage director. Cooper Oliver and Gerry Bolton are the producers.

Performances will be December 4, 5, 11, 12, and 13 at The Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.