Dickens at Crystal Sea

It has been 14 years since CSDC did a Christmas show (Babes in Toyland in 2007). December is usually our month off. But some important events are happening in the life Artistic Director Irene Miller this year -- the birth of a grandson, a daughter's wedding, and a 40th anniversary trip. So the Senior Intensive show (usually performed in February) got moved to December . . . which of course meant a Christmas show: an adaptation of Charles Dickens' well-loved A Christmas Carol!

"I love A Christmas Carol. It's always been one of my favorite stories," says Miller, "so I've had a lot of fun getting to do this one." The play was chosen, however, by the senior students themselves. And it's apparently a popular show with our audience as well; three of the five performances are already sold out.

"I was very excited to get this role," says Travis Rodriguez, senior, who is playing the hated-and-beloved character of Ebenezer Scrooge. "I'm very excited to try to portray Scrooge in a compelling way."

"It's a very magical production. We can't have actual snow in Texas, so we had to make fake snow!" Azucena Jazmin, another senior, plays a variety of roles, including Peter Cratchit and Scrooge's fiancée Belle. Cast members have been singing Christmas carols since rehearsals began in August. "It really brings out the Christmas spirit!" confessed Violet Hanson.

Senior Kara Garcia says the show has made her love Christmas more. "The theater has been all decorated for Christmas, and the show has been so fun with the different accents and all the costumes and stuff . . . now there's more memories attached to it."

Rhapsody Hanson, who plays Young Scrooge, appreciates the opportunity to convey God's message through the story. "In a lot of shows -- Robin Hood, for example -- we didn't blatantly share the gospel, but in this show we're able to in a non-threatening way."

A Christmas Carol opens on the CSDC stage this Friday, December 3rd. Tickets are still available for Friday, December 10th and Sunday, December 12th . . . but only if you hurry to crystalseadrama.org.

"This show will knock your socks off," Travis promises. "Literally. We're in the business of stealing socks."