From Nov. 28 through Dec. 22, the classic and widely enjoyed “A Christmas Carol” will return to Clarence Brown Theatre.
In the famous Christmas story by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge comes face to face with the negative consequences of his selfish life choices through visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Kathleen F. Conlin is the director of this year’s production and Terry Silver-Alford is the musical director. The cast is composed of UT faculty, visiting guests, community actors and undergraduate and graduate students. As a professional theatre, Clarence Brown brings in actors and actresses from all over for their plays alongside the academic students and faculty.
This year, Scrooge will be played by voice and acting professor, Terry Weber.
Weber has been involved with shows at Clarence Brown ever since he started working at UT. Weber will be returning to the role of Scrooge again for the first time since 2010, having had the desire to play the main role again since the last time he held it.
“(I was) anxious about the show, but it seemed like a good time to come back,” Weber said.
Starring alongside Weber is associate professor of Jed Diamond who will be playing the role of Bob Marley, Scrooge’s dead business partner who returns as a ghost. Diamond has played Scrooge himself for the past two years.
Both Weber and Diamond stated that they are able to feel connections to their characters when playing each role.
“Sometimes we are less kind or sympathetic than when we were young. I am able to identify with Scrooge when he shuts things out and turns towards things that are more selfish,” Webber said. “Doing this role provides a great opportunity for self-reflection.”
With “A Christmas Carol” being an annual show Clarence Brown puts on and Marley being a major character, Diamond said that playing the role of Marley is a “huge thing to fill.” While feeling connected to his character, Diamond had some difficulty getting ready to play the famous ghost.
“It can be challenging when playing a ghost, because the scene is set up to be a scary scene,” Diamond said. “It’s easy to get in the external elements of being spooky.”
Diamond and Weber expressed their excitement for the show and mentioned that the cast and crew expect a large turnout for this year’s production.
“(There’s a) parallel Christmas play going on at the same time, ‘The Santaland Diaries,’ so there’s a risk there might be some audience split off to see the other play, or attend both plays,” Weber said.
Even with “The Santaland Diaries” occurring at a similar time, “A Christmas Carol” is already selling out shows for opening week.
“The production is usually a sell-out, which is what it is usually the most produced,” Diamond said.
Previews for “A Christmas Carol” will be on Nov. 28 and 29 being followed by opening night on Nov. 30. Tickets are available online and at the box office and are $5 to $10 for students, with the exception of the free previews, and $25 to $45 for adults.
