Few Christmas classic have endured the test of time like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. First published in novella form1843, by the following year, stage adaptations and public readings (by Dickens and others) solidified the now-familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his attitude-adjusting otherworldly Christmas Eve visitors as a holiday tradition. To that end, Nashville Repertory Theatre’s own Artistic Director Micah-Shane Brewer will helm this year’s holiday offering of A Christmas Carol adapted by the director himself.
A couple weeks ago, I reached out to The Rep’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Amos Glass with the idea of chatting with four members of the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol for a Christmasy edition of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20Q. When Amos asked who I’d like to chat with, I immediately requested Micah-Shane and the three actors playing the Three Christmas Spirits. What follows are those conversations.
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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST AND CREW OF NASHVILLE REP’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH A CHRISTMAS CAROL DIRECTOR MICAH-SHANE BREWER
JHPENTERTAINMENT: As the show’s director, what is it about A Christmas Carol, and this version in particular that drew you to the project?
MICAH-SHANE BREWER: A Christmas Carol has always held a special place in my heart. For as long as I can remember, this story has been a part of my holiday tradition. When I was a kid, I had a VHS tape (yes, I’m that old) of Mickey’s Christmas Carol and I would watch it over and over. Along the way, I’ve seen numerous film and tv adaptations and grown to love certain versions. (My favorite is The Muppets Christmas Carol!) I’ve also been in and directed probably 9 or 10 different stage adaptations. I’ve spent most of my life revisiting these characters each and every year. And every time I come back to it, it always connects in a deeper and more meaningful way.
I think as we get older, we look back at the past and think about touchstone moments, things that we did or didn’t do, choices that may have changed the trajectory of our path, but also, looking at where we are in this moment in time and where we are heading. The power of A Christmas Carol is that it speaks to one and all, both young and old. Its universal themes can touch us all. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular stories in the world, even 180 years after it was written.
When we decided we wanted to produce A Christmas Carol, I knew I wanted to make a special production that would be a holiday event for the entire family. It’s a traditional version of A Christmas Carol. Audiences can expect a beautiful, large-scale production with something for everyone and all ages. It’s a brand-new script, and the production designs are breathtaking. The scenic design is spectacular – the costumes are splendid – there are over 500 different pieces used in the production. There are some really fantastic projections designs and special effects. Music plays an integral role in the production. We use numerous Old English carols from the period, as well as a couple of new songs in the production.
A Christmas Carol is far more than just a classic holiday story; it is a poignant and transformative reflection of our shared human experience and an enduring reminder of the power of empathy and connection. It’s a journey of healing and a story of redemption.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Eggnog or Hot Cocoa?
MICAH-SHANE BREWER: Hot Cocoa any day!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A White Christmas or Sunshine for Santa?
MICAH-SHANE BREWER: I’m going to have to say a WHITE CHRISTMAS! There’s something very peaceful about a snowy day.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you enjoy more, wrapping presents or decorating the tree?
MICAH-SHANE BREWER: That’s a no brainer for me. Decorating the trees! Every year, we put up multiple trees in our house. I love to decorate for the holidays. (And I’m not very good at wrapping gifts…)
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s your favorite Christmas memory?
MICAH-SHANE BREWER: How do I pick just one? A lot of my memories and Christmas traditions run together. I have so many memories of Christmases when I was a kid: being with family; the rush of waking my sister up early Christmas morning and opening gifts; my grandmother’s Christmas lunch.
When you get older, Christmas changes in many ways. For many years, we hosted a huge Christmas party for our friends, and every year, the evening would conclude with friends gathering around the piano, singing Christmas carols (and sometimes showtunes). I love Christmas music, and being able to share that moment every year with friends is a special memory.
I’m usually doing a show around the holiday season. When I was in grad school, I remember doing MANY school performances of A Christmas Carol, and one performance, a young girl stood up from her seat in the front row during the finale, all gooey eyed and mouth wide opened, and yelled “It’s SNOWING!” She really believed it was happening, and it was just one of those moments that was so special to see the magic of Christmas and theatre combined! So every year, I think about that little girl and hope to recapture that magic for others!
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH A CHRISTMAS CAROL’s GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, KRIS SIDBERRY
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Among your roles in A Christmas Carol at Nashville Rep, you play The Ghost of Christmas Past. If you could live in a past time period, when would it be?
KRIS SIDBERRY: I was definitely not made for the modern time period. I love the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A Muppet Christmas Carol or Mickey’s Christmas Carol?
KRIS SIDBERRY: Mickey’s. My Dad loved Mickey Mouse.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Gingerbread or Sugar Cookies?
KRIS SIDBERRY: I love both. Cookies are my fav, but I guess Gingerbread.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A Christmas Tree with clear lights or multicolor?
KRIS SIDBERRY: Multicolor! White lights are so basic.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Favorite Christmas Memory?
KRIS SIDBERRY: Christmas was always very big deal in my house. My father was obsessed with Christmas. Sometimes he would decorate 3 different trees. Like most young kids, every year I would set out homemade cookies and milk. I remember being about five years old, and I swear that I heard jingle bells and hooves on the roof when preparing for the visit from Santa. I’m pretty sure that my parents must’ve hooked up speakers somehow in the house and played a track, but I will never forget that memory. So magical. I believed in Santa until my pre-teens. I will always believe in magic.
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH A CHRISTMAS CAROL’s GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE, BEN FRIESEN
JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re cast as The Ghost of Christmas Future, among other roles in The Rep’s A Christmas Carol. If you could make a wish for the future, and I guess now that I’m asking, you can, What would it be?
BEN FRIESEN: I would wish for more opportunities like this one, where I get to do so many things that I love to do with so many wonderful people! I already feel blessed to be acting professionally, but when I get to add singing, dancing, fiddling, dialect work, and flying? Shows like this are my dream!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Candy Canes or Peppermint Bark?
BEN FRIESEN: Nowadays I would probably go for peppermint bark, but the child in me still wants to lick one end of a candy cane until it becomes as sharp as a tack.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Favorite traditional Christmas Carol?
BEN FRIESEN: I love Mary Did You Know—the original carol already went surprisingly hard, but Pentatonix turned it into a certified bop.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Which do you think would keep you more in line…Elf on the Shelf or Krampus?
BEN FRIESEN: Something about the Elf on a Shelf’s beady little eyes say, “I know what you did”, which sends me into a spiral of, “What did I do this time?”—since Krampus is a physical threat, I feel like I could probably Home Alone-style defend myself against him if that situation arose.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Favorite Christmas Memory?
BEN FRIESEN: Throughout my childhood, my siblings and I were huge Lego fans (still are). Each year, we would often ask for one larger Lego set as our main gift, and our parents would save that for last—that way, when we tore open the wrapping paper, we would all immediately run downstairs and spend the next hour or two building our new sets together in our matching Christmas PJs.
RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH A CHRISTMAS CAROL’s GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Among your roles in Nashville Rep’s A Christmas Carol, you play The Ghost of Christmas Present. What’s the most fun aspect of that character?
BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: I love the idea that he ages over the course of 24 hours! There is a lot of fun to be mined in creating that idea, subtly, via voice pitch and tone, as well as via my movement as the character. I also love working in the costume at the designers created for this character. It’s grand, it’s beautiful, and it’s actually fun to wear! But I think my favorite aspect of this character is his determined commitment to optimism, hope, and love. He really does root for Scrooge; and he delights in seeing Scrooge find some happiness.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: A Charlie Brown Christmas or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?
BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: Definitely The Grinch!!! I’m partial to anything campy, but what I love about The Grinch is that despite the comedic aspects of the story, the tale is unapologetically woven around the idea that love conquers hate.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Which pop Christmas tune is superior? Mariah’s All I Want for Christmas is You or Wham’s Last Christmas?
BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: I think Mariah’s song is better written, but I will always love George Michael’s voice. Though, my friends and I play a game each year, that involves seeing which of us can avoid hearing Last Christmas before Christmas Eve. It only works if we all commit to the honor system of the game, but I almost won last year! They were only two of us left, but I heard it in Sprouts!!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Crazy Christmas Sweater or Cozy Christmas pjs?
BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: Definitely the PJ’s!!!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Favorite Christmas memory?
BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY: My favorite Christmas memory, at least, from when I was a child, was the year I received a letter from Santa, on parchment paper, wrapped in a red velvet bow. It was such a wonderful, exciting, heartwarming experience! “He” had left it for me near the plate of cookies we’d left out the night before. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that morning and receiving that letter!
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With that the director and ghosts of Nashville Repertory’s A Christmas Carol vanished as if Ole Scrooge’s clock had struck its morning bell, but you can find them and the rest of the cast of this seasonal favorite on stage at TPAC’s James K. Polk Theatre beginning Friday, December 1 and continuing through Sunday, December 17. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Following a brief break in the new year, Nashville Repertory Theatre will present Paula Vogel’s Indecent on stage at TPAC’s Andrew Johnson Theatre as The Rep’s 2023/2024 season continues. CLICK HERE for tickets to this powerful play. In the meantime, check out Nashville Rep online HERE and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
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