Limelight Productions presents ‘A Christmas Carol’
Limelight Productions, a children’s theater company that started
up last summer, will be presenting Charles Dickens’
”
A Christmas Carol
”
at the Gavilan College Theater Dec. 21-23.
Limelight Productions presents ‘A Christmas Carol’
Limelight Productions, a children’s theater company that started up last summer, will be presenting Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Gavilan College Theater Dec. 21-23.
Limelight is the brainchild of Jessica Smiley, of West Coast Music and Dance FX, and Sally Hail, a voice director at the dance studio. Both women have been involved in theater productions before starting Limelight last summer as a children’s theater summer camp.
“Kids want something to do, kids and teens,” said Hail, the director of the show who also shares executive director credit with Smiely. “There is really a need for that. This is just something I can do and wanted to do.”
The production of “A Christmas Carol” will be a classic telling of the Dickens’ story, complete with old English. Hail translated the script from modern-day English back to the type of words that would have been used in Dickens’ time.
“I was a little nervous – can they do it and understand it?” Hail said, of her young actors. “For the first few weeks, we just translated and I said, ‘Do you know what you are saying?’ And then I put it into more hip language.”
The production is not a musical, but some classic Christmas carols have been incorporated into the show such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Joy to the World” and others. There will also be an opening number that features dancing and the music of a 13-year-old fiddler who has been playing the violin for nine years.
The show features kids from 8 to 18, and there are 41 actors who will take the stage.
“It’s been interesting,” Hail said. “The older kids have been mentoring the younger ones. Some of them have been around, acting with me for years and they are in a position to help with the younger ones who are coming up.”
Hail said it is a goal of the company to allow the mentoring opportunities for older students.
“We are talking about that stuff – letting the kids have a leadership role,” Hail said. “It gives them something else to do besides being in a show.”
Hail said she likes to do spooky plays and in a way “A Christmas Carol” is a ghost story.
“‘The Christmas Carol’ for me, is the ultimate tale of redemption,” she said. “I just love the story and I am just so happy to be able to do it.”
Hail said the next production will be part of their summer theater camp.
“We have a lot of fun,” she said. “We try to make it a safe environment. We always talk about how when in school they have to act a certain way because of peers or how people judge you. Here in theater, no one judges you. It’s a safe nurturing environment to explore their creative side.”
‘A Christmas Carol’
Limelight Productions presents Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Dec. 21-23 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. Tickets are $10 for general admission or $35 for a family four pack. For tickets, call 635-0553 or visit www.showclix.com.
