When I first began adapting this production of A Christmas Carol I was faced with the daunting task of having seen or performed in many wonderful productions of the story; and knew I wanted to bring something new and unique to the classic Charles Dickens tale. The challenge facing me was, “How can I make these characters fresh, and the story relevant in today’s society?”
I also wanted to show how one family can face obstacles many of us would find impossible to comprehend, and how they faced their fate with faith, grace and dignity.
My third goal was to show the connections we all have, to our families, our friends, our communities and to society.
Working with these three goals in mind, I thought about the work being done daily by both Community Crisis Services Inc. and The Christian Life Center. Both of these outstanding agencies offer hope, compassion and a sense of connectivity to those who seek their services. With them as my starting point, I was able to bring the characters to the page in a way I hadn’t seen before, and show how one young, hardworking family can suddenly find themselves in a situation where they would need shelter and sustenance, and what it would take for them ultimately to succeed.
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common in today’s world, and not all stories have a happy ending. But with community support, we can make a difference.
I hope that you’ll enjoy our show, and all of the hard work, dedication and talent that the cast and crew have brought to our production of A Christmas Carol. Without their unwavering belief in our goals, we would not have made it this far.
I also hope that you’ll find it in your heart to support these two wonderful non-profit agencies as they strive to bring help to those most in need.
So now it’s time to sit back, relax and fall in love with Charles Dickens immortal classic all over again.
Performances:
Thursday December 19th-Sunday December 22nd, at 8pm
Performed at The Christian Life Center
5600 Taylor Rd
Riverdale MD 20737
$10 Adults, $5 Children 12 and under
All proceeds will benefit The Warm Nights Hypothermia Shelter Program for Families with Children and Individuals as well as The Christian Life Centers Food Distribution Programs.
For reservations, email me at [email protected] (yes, three “L’s”),
or call (240) 565-4144.
I’ve seen a few of the rehearsals and can only say it is a moving adaptation of an old story in a modern setting. Well worth the time to go see it – and donations help two wonderful and needed programs in the community.