“The Nutcracker Christmas Carol,” a spoof that combines several holiday favorites, returns to Chattanooga State Community College for shows over the next two weekends.
The family-oriented musical comedy mashes up holiday stories into one joyful hour, complete with Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, Dr. Stahlbaum, Herr Drosselmeyer, Fritz, Clara and Little Cindy Lou Who.
“In 1990, there were five ballet companies presenting ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ and three theater companies presenting ‘A Christmas Carol’ in the Chattanooga area,” said author Rex Knowles in explaining the origins of the production.
IF YOU GO* What: “A Nutcracker Christmas Carol.”* When: 7:30 p.m. today, Sat-urday and Dec. 17-18; 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 19.* Where: Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre, 4501 Amnicola Highway.* Admission: $10 adults, $5 children.* Phone: 697-3246.* Note: The matinee performance on Dec. 19 will feature real-time captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing and a reception for the cast after the performance.
“I didn’t know which one to go to as I had friends in all of them. In jest, I wondered if it would be possible to combine both shows so I would only have to go out one evening and thus have more time to shop and drink hot chocolate. I sat down and wrote the first draft of ‘The Nutcracker Christmas Carol.’ “
He said the story has been revised and, with help from Sherry Landrum and Allan Ledford, eight original holiday songs have been added.
Landrum, who directs the production, said the show was created “as a good-natured spoof of all the great Christmas stories rolled into one, especially ‘The Nutcracker Ballet’ and ‘A Christmas Carol.’
“We gave Charles Dickens credit for all of it,” she continued. “It was a lighthearted joke. But as we worked, we realized how much all Christmas stories owe to ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Dickens’ great story of human transformation and redemption. The theme of Scrooge, the penurious tyrant and his worker Bob Cratchit, the thoroughly good human being who works hard and loves his family, resonates throughout.”
Ledford is serving as musical director. Choreography is by Lindsay Fussell.
The 17-member cast features Knowles as Ebenezer Scrooge, Jeffrey Parker as Charles Dickens, John Thomas Cecil in the dual roles of Bob Cratchit and Dr. Stahlbaum, Maria Sager in the dual roles of Caroline Cratchit and Clara Stahlbaum, and Eric Phillips as Tiny-Tim and Fritz Stahlbaum.