JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 14, 2004 — Scrooge and Marley are together again, raised from the pages of Charles Dickens鈥� classic story by two 51社区 theater professors.
Darren Michael, assistant professor of theatre, plays Ebenezer Scrooge, and David Burke, professor of theatre, is the ghost of Jacob Marley for the Jackson Theatre Guild鈥檚 production of "A Christmas Carol," on stage Dec. 16-19.
While the show is a community production, 51社区鈥檚 theater department saw this as a chance to get involved beyond the Jackson campus.
鈥淚t is very important for the theater students and faculty to be involved with things like this, and for all of Union,鈥� Michael said. 鈥淚t is our mission as Christians and artists to work hand in hand with the Jackson community.鈥�
In this case involvement does not stop with the professors. Jared New, a junior art major at Union, will play Scrooge鈥檚 nephew Fred Halloway, while fellow students Emily Brown and Daniel Graham, both senior theater majors, work behind the scenes to help the show come together. Brown has been working as a costume consultant and Graham is props master for the production.
鈥淚t was a tough experience to be divided between school, Union theater and this show, but I鈥檓 glad to have this experience,鈥� Graham said.
The cast of about 50 is being directed by Shelly Michael, theater teacher at South Side High School, and has been working for several months on Larry D. Quiggins鈥� musical adaptation of the show.
鈥淭his has been a great experience,鈥� Darren Michael said. 鈥淚 never get to work opposite students or David [Burke]. And my wife [Shelley Michael] has never directed me before.鈥�
The show starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 16-18, with matinees at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18-19. General admission is $12, or $10 in advance. Senior citizens鈥� and students鈥� admission is $8. Tickets for the Saturday matinee are $5.
Tickets are available at jtgonline.com or at Bubba鈥檚 Bagels on North Highland.