A Dickens’ classic will come to life later this month during the Tri-Valley Drama Club’s fall show, A Christmas Carol. The story is based on the traditional Charles Dickens story we all know and love but retold from a new perspective in a version written by Michael A. Youngs. Showtimes are scheduled for Friday, December 15 beginning at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 16 at both 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the TVHS Cafetorium.
“I wanted to go with a holiday theme this year,” shared TV Drama Club Advisor Marley Kennedy. “Personally, there is nothing that signifies the Christmas season and holiday more than a good viewing of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol is a large part of my family’s holiday tradition. Growing up, my dad would put on the George C. Scott version of ACC usually on Christmas Eve. We would all sit in the living room with only the tree lights on and watch as a family. Even now, it’s still one of my favorite parts of the holiday with my parents. The idea of putting my own twist on this classic story, and with my students, it was just too good and perfect to really kick off the holiday season.”
The group has been working hard over the past few months to bring this production to the stage. A total of 68 students ranging in grades seven through 12 and an additional seven elementary school students round out the cast and crew.
“I also am excited to share what these kids have worked on because a lot of how I operate as a director is I encourage the students to add their own ideas to their performances. This show and all TV Drama Club shows, are truly a group effort. I want the kids to advocate for jokes, gestures, or scene blocking that they feel makes sense to their individual characters and their overall performance. I really try to keep to the concept that this isn’t MY Drama Program, it’s THEIRS. I hope it gives them more motivation and gives them a sense of ownership over each and every performance,” said Kennedy.
The huge feat of bringing a production of this size together is much more possible with the help of a few drama all-stars. Alum Eve Davis volunteered to come back to help with the program as an Assistant Director, Alaina Roberts a TV sophomore is this production’s student director, and four student stage managers (Co-Stage Managers senior Luca Albright and Freshman Lillian Adams, and Assistant Stage Managers senior Sara Waggle and 8th Grader Alexis Geyer) all are a huge help behind the scenes.
“I firmly believe in the concept of having a student director for each production here at Tri-Valley,” Kennedy explained. I think it offers students the chance to learn great leadership skills and adds to their concept of what it takes to be the best performer. This is a program I hope to continue and grow as the Drama Club program grows here at Tri-Valley.”
Performances of A Christmas Carol are estimated to run about an hour and a half to two hours in length including a 15-minute intermission. General admission tickets ($5 for students and senior citizens and $8 for adults) can be purchased from December 11 to 14 at Dresden Elementary between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or at the door at the time of each show.
