Centerstage knocking on Ebeneezer's door

Mirror staff

Centerstage Theatre is ready to give Ebeneezer Scrooge another sleepless night.

The Federal Way company’s new adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” will debut Nov. 19 and continue through nearly mid-December at Knutzen Family Theater.

The production will include a cast of 22 and new arrangements of 18 traditional carols, helping tell the classic story of crotchety, cold-hearted Scrooge, whose Christmas Eve slumber is interrupted by three ghosts. They help him understand the folly of his ways and make him over into a new man as Christmas Day dawns.

The production is the largest in Centerstage’s 27-year history, said artistic director Alan Bryce, who penned the adaptation.

“We’re presenting a special holiday production for our community,” Bryce said, adding the cast is “an even blend of professionals with children and teenagers from our area.”

Jim Winkler stars as Scrooge. Also filling roles are Daniel Angeles, Bob Barnett, Grete Bergland, Megan Bernovich, John Bianchi, Samantha Chapman, Justin Cospito, Dan Crossman, Keith Dahlgren, Jessica Hernandez, Andrew Hopkins, Si Issler, Carli Anne Kitsch, Sheherezade Krzyzaniak, Nyree Martinez, Kenyon Meleney, Jerod Nace, Dustin Schisler, Taralynn Thompson, Terri Weagant, and Robbie Bernovich.

The music is arranged and directed by Dawn Clement, Young American Jazz Musician of the Year. The set was designed by Craig Wollam, head of Seattle Scenic Studios, and choreography is by Allison Schumacher.

Bryce noted Dickens’ beloved fairy tale is “an escape into one of the riddles of the human spirit. It is a simple meditation on what it is to be human.”

Bryce said his selection of the perennial holiday entertainment was based on financial considerations of Centerstage, which canceled its fall production of “Nunsense” in order to marshal resources and concentrate on its business structure.

“Bearing in mind our shaky financial status, we needed a sure-fire success this Christmas to secure the rest of the season,” he said. “But as I worked on the adaptation of a story I already knew well, I was struck by the extraordinary depth and subtlety of the original. It is a masterpiece not only because of the simple power of the tale of Scrooge’s redemption, but also because of the ecumenical appeal of its message of the perils of capitalism unchecked by compassion –– and thus, still very relevant today.”

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