By Sharon E. Siegel
PORT JERVIS, NY -- The magic of Christmases ‘past, present and future’— Charles Dicken’s heartwarming tale about life -- is coming to the historic Port Jervis Youth Community Center on Pike Street this weekend. Approximately 40 actors, actresses, directors, stagehands, and others who are part of the Actors Community Theater Group, Inc. (A.C.T. Group) will delight audiences with their vintage set, costumes, and talents.
The group will perform with period music, dance, dialect, and sets Charles Dickens’ 1843 tale of hope, redemption, and appreciation for the real treasures of family, caring, and life. The show will be performed Friday evening, December 6th at 7pm, Saturday December 7th at 1 pm and 7pm, and Sunday December 8th at 2pm at 134 Pike Street. Tickets are $20 for premium seating (closer to the stage) and $15 for General Admission. Doors open a half an hour prior to show time.
A Christmas Carol tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a lonely (by choice) sad man who despises Christmas. Scrooge’s late business partner Jacob Marley, who was similar to Scrooge in life, comes back to visit Scrooge with advice learned too late by himself, but offered by Marley to Scrooge, about life. Scrooge’s dedicated current staff member, Bob Cratchit, is treated poorly by Scrooge daily, but still sees the good in life and tries unsuccessfully to share his own goodness of family and life his boss, as does Scrooge’s nephew and three ghosts of Scrooge’s past – who pay him life-jarring visits. By the end of
A.C.T. "A Christmas Carol"
Director-Elizabeth Sullivan
Co-Director/Stage Manager - Lynsey Sullivan
Producer - Kelly Sullivan
Assistant Stage Manager-Sadie Addy
Founding family
Kelly, Elizabeth, Erin and Lynsey Sullivan
Shakespeare in the park Macbeth was directed by Joseph De Bona.
New Voices: A Community Playwright Showcase was directed by Kara Raap
A
.C.T. has produced six full-length staged productions, five cabarets, an attended and performed at multiple city events and festivals. The group’s productions are currently being held in The Community Center of Port Jervis, with some cabarets at the VFW Post #161 – including an upcoming one to also watch for. Two sold out performances of Macbeth by the non-profit A.C.T. group have gone to benefit the Port Jervis Recreation Department.
A.C.T. may be visited on their website at https://theactgroupportjervis.com/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550615540543
A Christmas Carol – A.C.T. Cast
Narrator 1: Jayden Terwilliger, Narrator 2: Avery Newnam, Scrooge: Ricardo Rivera, Bob Cratchit: Rolf Newnam, Fred: Joseph Annicaro, Charity Member 1: Michael “Friz” Frizalone, Charity Member 2: Olivia Raines, Narrator 3: Brittany Pierce-Caiazza, Narrator 4: Kara Raap, Jacob Marley: Ishmael Gil, Ghost of Christmas Past: Pam O’Dea, AD Scrooge: Seth Gil, Fan: Dayra Gil, Mr. Fezziwig: Michael “Friz” Frizalone, Dick Wilkins: Sawyer Newnam, Mrs. Fezziwig: Kara Raap, Belle: Avery Newnam, Young Scrooge: Jayden Terwilliger, Ghost of Christmas Present: Dorrie Jankowski, Belinda Cratchit: Olivia Raines, Peter Cratchit: Ross Rivera, Martha Cratchit: Charli Tauszky, Mrs. Cratchit: Lauren Newnam, Tiny Tim Cratchit: Robin Sweeney, Fred’s Wife: Erin Sullivan, Townsperson 1: Sawyer Newnam, Townsperson 2: Ishmael Gil, Joanna: Dorrie Jankowski, Mrs. Dilber: Brittany Pierce-Caiazza, Nancy: Pam O’Dea, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Yet Come, Townschild 1: Benjamin Siemers, Townschild 2: Zelda Caiazza, Townschild 3: Kayleigh Caiazza
Hear what the cast has to say:
Jayden Terwilliger (Young Scrooge): Port Jervis Middle School 8th Grade: Has been in school Drama Clubs in PJMS and in elementary school. Enjoys being with his friends and randomly appearing and singing in this show. Says Scrooge will be a troublesome ghost in Christmases Yet to Come if he doesn't change his ways.
Newnam Family: The whole family is in this show, and have appeared in previous shows on their own. Rolf Newnam (Bob Cratchit) appeared in Shakespeare in the Park this past summer. Lauren Newnam (Mrs. Cratchit -- Rolf's character wife and wife in real life) was in Alice in Wonderland. Rolf and Lauren's children, twins Avery (Belle & Narrator 2) and Sawyer (Dick Wilkins & Townperson 1) Newnam, joined them in the cast as well as the couple's nephew Ben Siemers (Townschild 1). The couple sees the show as a classic story of redemption and a chance to play the different versions of their roles -- the devastation of being grieving parents in the future, happy earlier in the show, and the interactions with other cast and characters.
Joseph Annicaro (Fred, Scrooge's nephew): Graduated from PJHS in 2017, was a member of PJHS plays, went to school for music, has been in all of A.C.T.s shows -- Miracle on 34th Street, Shakespeare, Barefoot in the Park , 12 Angry Jurors, Alice in Wonderland. As Scrooge's nephew Fred, Annicaro offers glimmers of hope to his uncle Scrooge. He constantly tries to have Scrooge dine with him and his wife, despite always being turned down. "I still have hope for people -- even the lost causes," he said of his character.
Ishmael Gil (Jacob Marley): Senior at PJHS, has been in school shows and plans to major in musical theater in college. Plays the part of Scrooge's dead co-worker who has been dead for seven years but comes back in spirit to visit Scrooge while Scrooge is extremely dissatisfied with life and Christmas. He warns Scrooge that if he doesn't change his ways he will suffer the same fate as Marley did, horrible experiences in life and after death. His visit with Scrooge helps him to change. Gil enjoys being in community type shows in order to meet other people, gain skills with a variety of ages, and mature himself through these experiences.
Ricardo Rivera (Scrooge): Tried out for the show and was very surprised to be offered the lead part of Scrooge. He had worked on the stage in the past, and was in one other show. He thinks his looks had a lot to do with fitting this part, but in watching him he was GREAT as Scrooge, as we all of the other characters in their parts. Rivera's nine-year-old son Ross Rivera is also in the show with him, playing the child part of Peter Cratchit. Ricardo Rivera (A.K.A. Scrooge) says the show is a good reminder not to take for granted what you have. "Don't be greedy. Share. And know that you can't take it with you," Ricardo said. He described his classic character as unfeeling and with hate for everyone until he is visited by three spirits and Marley who help him see the error of his ways. "He sees that he can't change his past, but he can at least do better now, donating to good causes of many, to help the less fortunate.
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