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KEARNEY — Telling the timeless tale of “A Christmas Carol” can take many forms. The Kearney Community Theatre has found one that uses music to present Charles Dickens’ classic story.

“This is a way of telling Scrooge’s story of redemption through song and dance,” said director Rick Marlatt.

Tickets are now on sale for “A Christmas Carol,” set to music by Alan Menken, with performances Dec. 3-20 at the Kearney Community Theatre.

“It’s the same story Dickens created many years ago,” Marlatt said. “It’s really a classic piece of literature, but it’s a different way of telling that story. In this particular case, it is very heavy on music and dance.”

Most of the dialogue has been incorporated into the music to create a production that flows effortlessly.

“This is probably the fifth or sixth rendition of the Dickens’ story we’ve done on this stage,” Marlatt noted. “This is the first that is literally a full-blown Broadway musical.”

Composer Menken and lyricist Lynn Ahrens teamed up with writer Mike Ockrent to write the musical. It opened on Broadway in 1994, and a film version appeared in 2004 featuring Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge.

One of the challenges of producing the show is the size of the cast. The cast features 33 characters performing 22 songs. The sheer number of performers adds to the spectacle and gives power to the songs and the dances.

“The dialogue is basically just the transition to the next number,” said Marlatt.

The composer is best known for his work scoring Walt Disney Pictures’ films including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Hercules.” Menken won Academy Awards for Best Score in 1991 and Best Song in 1992.

 “There’s no better way to spend time with your family this holiday season than to come to this show and spend it together,” Marlatt said.

e-mail to:

rick.brown@kearneyhub.com

Cast

Charity women – Kelle Hunt, Debbie Ridder, Claire Runions

Mr. Smyth – David Holl

Grace Smyth – Krista Williams

Scrooge – David Rozema

Crachit – Gray Brandt

Mrs. Crachit – Bethany Stanger

Crachit children – Bethany Holl, Carmen Krier

Tiny Tim – Griffin Mims

Fred Anderson – Alex Schwarz

Jonathon – Justus Hanson

Ghost of Christmas Present – Brett Covington

Ghost of Christmas Past – Laura Rozema

Ghost of Christmas Future – Sonja Harms

Mrs. Mops – Claire Runions

Marley’s Ghost – Shade Ingraham

Creditor – Mark Messner

Younger Scrooge at age 12 – Tyler Newby

Fan – Emma Brandt

Younger Scrooge’s mother – Janet Brandt

Mrs. Hawkins – Kelly Hunt

Young Scrooge at age 20 – Jacob Sayre

Mr. Fezzwig – Kevin Hervert

Young Marley – Derek Brooks

Emily – Amanda Brandt

Sally Anderson – Minnie Bahensky

Julia Anderson – Peyton Geiser

Old Josephine – Debbie Ridder

Abundance and Charity Elves and Soldiers – Minnie Bahensky, Amanda Brandt, Emma Brandt, Derek Brooks, Shade Ingraham, Laura Rozema

Chorus of Child Angels/Town Children – Peyton Geiser, Erica Maul, Carmen Krier, Cassie McDonald, EmmaLee McDonald, Hannah Woodward, Anna Kahle, Bethany Holl, Tyler Newby, Schyler Vacha, Justus Hanson

WHEN AND WHERE

“A Christmas Carol” presented by the Kearney Community Theatre, based on the story of Charles Dickens with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent, 8 p.m. Dec. 3-5, 8 p.m. Dec. 10-12, 8 p.m. Dec. 17-19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Kearney Community Theatre, 83 Plaza Blvd, Kearney. 234-1529; www.kctonline.com. Tickets are $16 for show only or $33.25 for dinner and show.