聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Cornerstone Theatre group is highly anticipating their Christmas performance, 鈥淲ake Up Little Scroogy,鈥� which will be performed not only during Dickens weekend (Dec. 2-4), but at the Health Care Recruitment Committee鈥檚 gala on Saturday, Nov. 26.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 set in the stereotypical 鈥�50s, rock and roll era,鈥� Doug Waldner, director, explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really the true 鈥�50s, but like the Fonzie type setting.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd our music is either from that era or more modern songs that have that 鈥�50s feel to them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Each year the Cornerstone Theatre group reimagines Charles Dickens鈥� classic tale, 鈥淎 Christmas Carol,鈥� and does so adeptly.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was especially nice to do one from this era or genre because you get to pick the best songs of it, which makes it so much better,鈥� Waldner explained. 鈥淭he songs are just so much fun to sing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to the reimagined telling of the story, Waldner says that they are happy to welcome returning cast members as well as others just joining us for the first time or those returning after a break.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have high school kids involved as well and they started with us as little kids, but have kept with it and are now young adults,鈥� Waldner explained. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 been really neat to watch them grow into their own.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪o, we have new voices, people returning, and we have new people joining our band too, which is really nice. Everyone is really talented.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The script itself came together in January and after approximately 25 pages of story was written Waldner handed it over to Dianne Twietmeyer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淒ianne sat down with the script and used her comprehensive knowledge of songs from that era to add in music which helps tell the story and moves the production forward,鈥� Waldner explained. 鈥淲e did have to rewrite some of the music to better tell the story. But it鈥檚 been a lot of fun, I sit there listening to them tapping my pencil to the beat on the chair in front of me. It鈥檚 really very good.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 think people will enjoy it. It鈥檚 a fun show, it鈥檚 a happy show. And it鈥檚 loosely based on 鈥楢 Christmas Carol,鈥� but we鈥檝e done away with some characters and have amalgamated others. So, you鈥檒l know the story, but for example our ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future are not quite what you would expect鈥� and that鈥檚 all I鈥檒l say about that,鈥� Waldner said smiling.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Shows during the Dickens weekend are nearly sold out on the Friday and Saturday nights, with a few tickets left on the Sunday matinee. But, this year the production will also be performed in Arcola on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Health Care Recruitment Committee鈥檚 gala.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey do a really nice job there and it鈥檚 a little bit of a different venue because it鈥檚 a dinner theatre,鈥� Waldner said. 鈥淪o, that night is a great option for if you can鈥檛 make it the weekend of Dickens.鈥�
