Paso High Theatre Co. prepares “A Christmas Carol”

Students may be used to seeing Scrooge atop a balcony at the Vine Street Christmas Showcase, but now Paso Robles Theatre Company will be bringing its own adaptation of the beloved tale “A Christmas Carol” to the Paso Robles High PAC. Director Marcy Goodnow is preparing for her ninth show at PRHS with her cast of 31 Advanced Drama students, 24 crew members, one stage manager, and three assistant stage managers, adding up to roughly 70 students on cast and crew.
This year the cast was chosen exclusively from Goodnow’s Advanced Drama class.
“This cast in particular feels like they have something to prove. They are working extremely hard and working to understand their characters. Having [rehearsal] in class really gives us the time to do that. They are a great bunch of kids who just really love it, and that’s important to me,” said Goodnow.
The cast not only had to audition to be in the show, but also had another audition at the end of last year to make it into Advanced Drama. The cast includes Ian Capps as Tiny Tim, Grisey Castro as Fred, and Jameson Murray as Bob Cratchit.
Rehearsals started Sept 15 and have gone on every day in class. Rehearsals will not be held at the typical afterschool time until tech week, where the cast will be doing full run throughs of the play, adding in the technical elements such as lighting and sound. Over 200 hours of work and rehearsal go into making the play into the polished final product that is seen on stage. Not only do the plays take hard work, but the royalties, costumes, and sets also cost the theatre company around eight to ten thousand dollars.
Goodnow would like to use rented costumes, used costumes, and handmade costumes made by Ruth Enrique-Bague and her costume crew. She also says that makeup and wigs will play a huge part in the costumes. “Ruth is a genius!” said Goodnow.
Taking the lead as the infamous Scrooge is senior Jordan Peralta.

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This cast in particular feels like they have something to prove.

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“Scrooge is a pessimist and he’s really mean to people, but he also has a side that does care. He’s mostly angry at the world and angry at his past mistakes,” said Peralta.
Goodnow doesn’t plan on making Scrooge the crotchety old man he seems to be in the original “A Christmas Carol”. Through the course of the play Scrooge is transformed by his visits by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, played by Natalya Suttmiller, Julia Schulte, and Amber Burgh, respectively.
The cast has grown together through this performance; Spending hours together for rehearsals as they prepare for opening night has bonded them together.
“It’s just a big family. Everyone gets along; (most of the time). It’s a lot of fun being around a good environment,” said Peralta. This is his second performance with PRHS after playing Corny Collins in the production of Hairspray last spring.
As the Fall Play grows closer, some students are already eager to see it.
“I’m excited because it means I can see the amazing performance that will be given by my peers. There are only so many chances to do things like this, and this fall will be one of them,” said freshman Averie Bayless.
The play will run Dec. 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7:30 and the 7 and 14 at 2:00. Goodnow encourages students to come out and see the play.
“These kids have got it going on. They are so dedicated and so extremely talented. So they just need to come out and support their friends. Just like we go to Homecoming, I want them all to come and see the show.”