聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Every year Cornerstone Theatre brings a unique version of Charles Dickens鈥� 鈥淎 Christmas Carol鈥� to the stage. The musical production showcases the talented local thespians each year and this year they鈥檙e bringing a completely original production 鈥� including music 鈥� to the stage with 鈥淐arol.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For Jesse Twietmeyer 鈥� a long time member of Cornerstone Theatre, ideas for a revamped version of the story had been coming to him over the years, but logistically he wasn鈥檛 sure how to make it come to life.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he idea for this particular adaptation came to me about three years ago,鈥� Twietmeyer explained. 鈥淚 had a lot of ideas stewing, but about three years ago it started coming together.鈥�
鈥淚t was very specific and I finally realized the only way it would work was to make the music entirely original to fit the story I wanted to tell.鈥�
With that, he began writing a week after the 2016 production concluded and enlisted the help of his mom, Dianne Twietmeyer, in writing the music.
鈥淢om is an excellent song writer, so she came up with the music,鈥� Jesse stated. 鈥淢y sister Sam contributed to the lyrics 鈥� while she was in Ireland 鈥� and Clay Johnstone wrote one song.鈥�
Dianne added, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e catchy tunes and the cast loved the songs when we first played them for the cast. They鈥檙e instantly familiar, so even though they鈥檙e original songs, the audience will feel like they know them.鈥�
She explained that the genres throughout the production ranges including Latin, a hoedown, rock and roll, pop, blues, jazz, and even old style Broadway/Vaudville; so, there鈥檚 something for everyone.
The playwright describes the play as 鈥渁 modernized version that takes place on Wall Street and the Scrooge character is named Jonathan Anderson and he鈥檚 a big Wall Street guy. The purpose of the story is to look into the events of his life that led a person to make the decisions he made. There鈥檚 a focus on his relationship with his sister and nephew and how those elements affected the way he treats people and the way he views the world.鈥�
Efforts to learn the music and script started earlier than usual, as the entire production is original. They鈥檝e been learning the music since September and are just beginning rehearsals with the script.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a really great group here and they鈥檙e really into the new music,鈥� Dianne added.
鈥淓veryone鈥檚 been really supportive,鈥� Naomi Twietmeyer, Jesse鈥檚 wife, added.
Tickets are currently on sale at Fengche Flowers on Main Street in Carlyle. The production will be held on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., as well as a matinee on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. Locals are encouraged to reserve tickets for the Friday and Sunday productions if it works for their schedule in order to save seats for those coming in from out of town.
