“With heartwarming moments of endearment and quirky comical spirits, this modern spin of a holiday favorite is a welcomed reprise from the 2020 blues and one you should not miss.”
A Year Like None Other
The stage has been mostly bare at the Spotlight Playhouse this year as COVID-19 took the world by storm, but this has not stopped the talented staff and volunteers from striving to keep the performing arts alive. Last season the Playhouse premiered an all-new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol written adapted for the stage by local English teacher and Spotlight veteran, Jeremy Grant. Directed by Chad Hembree and staring Tony Crachiolo as Mr. Scrooge, the play was a hit and was quickly scheduled for a return in 2020 with possibly setting up a new Berea tradition.
Unfortunately, the return of Ebenezer Scrooge could not happen in 2020, so in steps Carol Scrooge. “We needed something to show that Spotlight is still alive this Christmas. I poured over many scripts and considered asking Jeremy to adapt his 2019 script for a small cast, but eventually, I decided just to write one myself.” said playwright and director Chad Hembree. The new script entitled Christmas “Carol” features a small cast and takes a new spin on the classic tale. Starring Jennifer Rose Escobar, the story follows Carol Scrooge, a distant descendant of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Scrooge family has become synonymous with Christmas charity since Ebenezer’s frightful night, but the memories of the past have faded, and Carol is slipping back into the family’s old ways. Once again Jacob Marley returns to offer Carol the same chance to redeem herself as he did his dear friend and partner many decades ago. Just as before she is visited by three spirits all with lessons to share.
You can view Christmas “Carol” right here on BereaOnline.com beginning December 21st. There is no cost to stream this production, but a donation link will be up to help the Spotlight Playhouse stay afloat until spring when the theater hopes to return to a regular schedule.
Chad Hembree
Playwright / Director
- World Premiere – Monday, Dec. 21 7:00pm
- Free to watch on-demand at BereaOnline
- Filmed at the Spotlight Playhouse
- An original play by Chad Hembree
- Cast
- Jennifer Rose Escobar
- Charla Gilbert
- Kyrsten Daugherty
- Isabel Escobar
- Letha Hembree
- Paula Davis
- Lydia Escobar
- Scotty Varney
- Phoenix Bailey
- Mason Hembree
- Rachelle Cordova
- A Bluegrass Players Production
- Special Thanks to the Spotlight Film School
Mason Hembree as Jacob Marley
Carol gets cozy after a hard lesson learned.
Pardon us Miss Scrooge
Past played by Isabel Escobar
Young Carol
Future played by Paula Davis
Mr. Chad gets some screentime.
Present played by Letha Hembree
Call me Master of the Universe.
Party time
Roberta Cratchit played by Charla Gilbert
Call me sentimental.