By Josh Nichols
Staff writer
Those feeling like a scrooge this
Christmas season need to attend “Mr.
Scrooge: The Musical” at the Lincoln
Community Playhouse.
For the first time in its 54 years,
LCP presents its own unique twist on
Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas
Carol”
The musical, written by Richard
Morris, Dolores Claman and Ted Wood,
is about the greedy old Mr. Scrooge and
die lessons he is taught in compassion,
loving and sharing.
The play features a cast of 35 actors,
mostly children, and a 30-person chil
dren’s choir.
Play director Rhonda Lake said the
choir will sing four carols during the
play.
She also said special children’s roles
were incorporated into the ghost char
acters.
Children surround the adults play
«-=-r-- V-^
There are lots of surprises, and we do our own*
creative take on the play.”
Rhonda Lake
-• play director
ing the ghosts and have speaking parts
throughout the performance, she said.
“There are lots of surprises, and m
do our own creative take on the play,’
she said. “But we are still doing every
thing the way Dickens had it written.”
Lake pointed out that even
“Christmas Carol” is done a little differ
ently.
“In this version, we highlight othe
characters from the original story,” sh<
said. “The maid, who was a little knowi
character in the original, does a whol<
singing piece by herself in this play.”
Lake also said Mr. Scrooge, wh<
very seldom has singing parts in othe
versions, sings a couple times in thii
' Play- , ■]
This includes a song at the end of
: the musical where he sings Merry
Christmas to all those he has been mean
to in the past.
Patrick Lambrecht, who plays
Scrooge, described the musical “Mr.
Scrooge” as the “Reader^ Digest” ver
sion of the original story.
“It’s an extremely condensed ver
i sion,” he said.
i Not only that, he said, but this story
; takes a much lighter tone than Dickens’
original, somewhat haunting Christmas
> tale. It is listed as a musical comedy in
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‘ Please see SCROOGE on 11
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r By Daneix McCoy
Staff writer
A young girl’s godfather brings her a small wooden
doll at the family’s holiday party. Falling asleep with die doll
that night, the young girl finds herself swept off to a world of
magic, princes and dance.
The story never changes, yet every year around the holi
day season “The Nutcracker” captures the hearts of children
and adults alike.
“I think children love it because of the beautiful music,
the colorful costumes and the adventure in the story,” said
Robin Welch, choreographer for the Omaha Theater
Company Ballets rendition of the ballet “Adults also like it
KaMiie* it folros ttuMn Wlr-tn whm rfiov imw vmmow anA
wonderful journeys.”
Shari Shell-True, director and choreographer for
the Lincoln Midwest Ballet’s production of “The
k Nutcracker,” agreed.
“1 think people make it a holiday tradition. They
make it a part of their Christmas celebration,” she said,
“ft* a beautiful and enchanting children^ story with a lot of
spirit I think that it has a wide audience appeal because there
is something in it for everyone.”
Another reason audiences find the ballet appealing is
because each production is different.
“Every city has a different version,” said Welch. “There is
no original. There is always going to be the same story idea
and die same music, but every choreographer visualizes it dif
ierently.
The Omaha Theater Company Ballet’s production is dif
ferent in feat it sets toe story in Omaha.
“Our story takes place in die 1920s, which is about die
same time that Omaha was really starting to grow,” Welch
said. “We incorporate die history of Omaha into our version.
In our story, Clara’s uncle is a movie producer in Hollywood,
and he comes to Omaha to put on a movie at the Orpheum
Theater, which was built during this time period.
“I personally love this period in history. I think that it was
a time of lavish sets and a wonderful time for choreography.
We use that choreography in a classical ballet style. Our pro
duction is art deco.”
Shell-True said the Lincoln Midwest Ballet’s rendition
difiera in that it leaves the ending of the story open for audi
ences to detipber.
“I believe in happy endings,” die said. “I want Clara’s
adventure to be true and not a dream because that’s the way I
believe it
“Moat companies Stamp it as a dream in the end, and I
thmk that can leave some audience members disappointed.
Vlfe like to leave it to the audience. We let the audience decide
what happened, if it was a ckeam or if it was real. This way
each person walks out with their own perception of the story.”
Please see NUTCRACKER on 11
Sharon Kolbet/DN
CAST MEMBERS of “MR. SCROOGE” rehearse scenes from the musi
C3i xo ns presentee 91 ms Lincoln voinniiiniiy ■ mynouso■
