Campus Life

Holiday season means the return of “A Christmas Carol”

He's not jolly or even very friendly, in fact, he's down right mean. But the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in  A Christmas Carol still resonates for theater-goers young and old each year during the holiday season.

He’s not jolly or even very friendly, in fact, he’s down right mean. But the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in  A Christmas Carol still resonates for theater-goers young and old each year during the holiday season.

The UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts and Department of Theatre will present its community-wide version of the holiday classic Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 and 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre, Building 82. Tickets cost $16 per person for the general public, $12 per person for senior citizens and active military, $10 per person for UWF faculty and staff and non-UWF students and free for UWF students with a valid Nautilus Card.

This is the third consecutive year the Theatre Department has presented A Christmas Carol. In the original Charles Dickens?s story first published in 1843, four scary ghosts teach miser Scrooge unforgettable lessons about kindness and compassion on one tumultuous Christmas Eve night long ago.

Scrooge’s story is very familiar with audiences, said director Kevin Kern, associated professor of Theatre. He adapted the novel for stage for the Golden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles several years ago and UWF is using his adaptation.

“In our adaptation, we’ve added a lot of music and fun tricks with the ghosts to keep it fresh for our audience,” said Kern. “Everyone has a favorite version that they’ve seen and know well, plus the ending isn’t a surprise to anyone, except possibly the very young.”

While some stage and film versions are scary and some are sentimental, Kern?s favorite is The Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit.  A new animated film version starring Jim Carrey just opened in theaters.

A Christmas Carol is a great way to introduce children to live theater, he said. “It’s very visual, it relies heavily on music and singing, and the story is compelling and timeless.” He believes theater can open the doors to a lifetime of knowing and appreciating art and culture. Don Goodrum, an actor from Fort Walton Beach who has several professional credits on his resume, will appear as Scrooge. “This is Don’s second year, and he was determined not to just repeat the role, but continue to find more nuances and subtleties in his character; that’s the mark of a true professional,” said Kern. “Don understands comedy well, and even though Scrooge is a real creep, Dickens gave old Ebeneezer some very funny lines and situations; Don doesn’t miss any one of them.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office at Ext. 2405 or 6285 or visit uwf.edu/theatre.

Written by Susie Forrester, University Marketing Communications