A Christmas Carol - meet director Michael J. Baker, Jr.



I have had the distinct pleasure of portraying “Scrooge” five times under the tutelage of some wonderful directors – Roland Gomez, Rachael Keep Hubbard and Donna Ferragut. In addition, each of these productions has had the deft musical touch of Linda Wells. My journey as Scrooge has given me an everted view of A Christmas Carol and the Dickensian terrain as a whole. I have endeavored to sculpt a portion of the tale from the actor’s perspective - how Scrooge perceives the world and his audience, instead of the reverse. In addition, things discussed but never seen come to life in this latest LTA rendition. The chapel, the schoolhouse, Scrooge’s bed chambers, Marley’s underworld and Scrooge’s own funeral procession are but a few of the new revelations. Each serves to enrich Scrooge’s metamorphosis and highlight the play’s overall themes of gratitude, generosity, and hope. Even Ali Baba, a childhood favorite of Dickens, and other self-proclaimed visions come to life in this rendition, exemplifying Dicken’s invisible world of "Fancy," and his love of literature and the imagination.

Little Theatre’s talented team of producers, designers actors, and volunteers have fashioned the stage in the mold of an 1843 Dickens Village. All that is left is for you to take this journey with us. As you watch -  “Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Fill your glass again, with a merry face and contented heart. Our lives go on, but your Christmas shall be merry, and your new year a happy one!”

-Charles Dickens

One last comment. I decided to direct A Christmas Carol for the opportunity to work with the folks at LTA that I have admired for years. Their dedication to the magic of theatre is unparalleled. I feel like a kid at Christmas when I enter their world.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LTA kicks off 2023/2024 season with Freaky Friday

Image
(June 27, 2023) The Little Theatre of Alexandria jump-starts its 90th season with Freaky Friday, a musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and production by Walt Disney Motion Pictures.   In this hilarious American classic, a mom and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies and they have just one day to put things right again before a big wedding. “The journey of this mother and daughter in discovering who the other really is can be recognized by anyone who has ever been in a relationship, whether it’s with family, friends, or lovers,” says director Joanna Henry.  “In Freaky Friday , a mother and daughter really see what it is to be a family and experience each other’s lives first-hand, if only for a day.  How would we treat each other if we truly had the chance to walk in one another’s shoes for a day?” The cast members of this witty production include:      Sofia Cruz as Ellie Blake ·        Kristina Friedgen as Katherine Blake ·        James Campione as Flet
Read more

The Odd Couple (Female Version) - meet cast member Natalie Fox

Image
Meet Natalie Fox, playing Vera is LTA's upcoming The Odd Couple (Female Version). What did you find appealing about your character and this show? I love that Vera is funny without meaning to be because it really makes her an entertaining character to form and play.  This is a really witty and fast paced show with Vera sometimes used as a way to break tension or to change gears.  She's full of random, non sequitur remarks that jar the other characters away from their nostalgia discussion for a moment to marvel in her vapidity.  That being said, she is also well-meaning, helpful and kind person who genuinely adores her friends and loves being around them. How long have you been acting and what made you get involved with theatre? I have been acting for as long as I can remember.  Since the time I could walk and talk, I've been putting on skits and shows.  Later in elementary school through middle and high school, I was in several productions and on competitive improv tea
Read more

The Winners of LTA's 46th Annual One-Act Playwriting Competition

  Thanks to the LTA One-Acts Play Reading Committee! Thank you to the amazing LTA One-Acts play reading committee, who read nearly 90 scripts over the course of eight weeks, and completed a full weekend to select the three winning shows: 1 st Place : North  by Bruce Bonafede 2 nd Place: The Fengolonian Fiasco by Vicki Riba Koestler 3 rd Place: The Dollar General  by Keely Herrick   The LTA One-Acts Play Reading Committee  Vero Autphenne Lori Barringer Ann Breeden Abigail Casas Maureen Dawson Morgan DeHart Nick Friedlander Jesse Friedson Jasmine Jones Daniel Lakin Lauren Markovich Alden Michels Sam Nystrom Steve Rosenthal Lela Ross Richard Young An additional thank you to LTA Seasonal Planning Chair Eleanore Tapscott for supporting the One Acts Committee, and even participating in our reading committee! These shows will be produced by the Arlington Players in summer 2024 and we are excited to see them on their feet! Brittany Huffman & Josh Heit, One-Acts Committee Co-Cha
Read more