BY MELANIE BUCK –
Mena High School’s Drama Department is set to perform A Christmas Carol for audiences this weekend. Elijah Barnes stars in the show as Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol tells the story of a mean and bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentle, kind-hearted man after he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.
Director and drama teacher, Jessica Kropp said, “A Christmas Carol, in my opinion, is one of the most heartwarming and inspiring pieces of literature ever written. I
have read the story every year for the last seven or eight years at Christmas time, and so I knew at some point I would want to do it for the school production. It demonstrates in such an accessible way the true spirit of the Christmas season. So, my entire team and I, are very proud and excited to present this story this year.”
Rounding out the cast are: Mark Castillo, Braden Purvis, Daniel Green, Dylan Dodd, Cody Gee, Natalie Ford, Charlotte Cude, Abi McPherson, Beth Coogan, Cece Metcalf, Hannah McDonald, Kelsey Wiggins, and Seth Ladd.
The show is directed by Jessica Kropp, with assistant directors Stephanie Ladd and Judy Kropp. Logan Sweeten, Ruby Kay Manis, Caleigh Talamantez, Savannah Brown, Faith Amidei, Skylar Beck, Brooklyn Beck, Brynn Harvey, Alyssa Scott, Ruby Green, Colby Murphy, Natalee Renard, and Michelle Talamantez complete the stage crew.
A Christmas Carol will be performed for the public on Saturday, November 21st, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 22nd, at 2:30 pm. at the Mena High School Performing Arts Center. Admission is $5 per person.
The show will also be performed for other Mena Public Schools during the school day. Holly Harshman will watch the performance on Friday, November 20th, at 9
a.m., Mena Middle School on Monday, November 23rd, at 1 p.m., and Mena High School on Tuesday, November 24th, at 9 a.m.
“Morgan Hicks adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is spot on. She gets it right. Her vision and our vision is to show the light and beauty and joy of this
world in which Scrooge intentionally closes off his heart and therefore adds to his own misery. We often do the same thing. Bitterness, greed, and envy often replace the benevolence, charity, mercy, and generosity we should have towards our fellow man. And at Christmas time, we decide to be the best version of ourselves, and we try to make a point to remember what is truly important. I hope that people will come to be reminded and inspired… and entertained,” said Jessica Kropp.
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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