When Tim Craig, director of this year’s high school production of “A Christmas Carol: The Musical,” called Mark Squitieri last summer, all he said was “grow back your chops.” Squitieri knew exactly what he meant.
“He didn’t have to tell me he wanted me to play Scrooge again; I knew,” Squitieri said.
Two years ago, Craig had tapped Squitieri for the role because he wanted an adult for a realistic production, rather than using a high school student. But after 30 years since his last performance on the high school stage, Squitieri hesitated, even though he had played significant roles in high school productions of “West Side Story,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” and “Gypsy,” as well as in various productions at the Jewish Community Center.
This year he had second thoughts, too, partly because he had done so well two years ago. Squitieri said he feared he might not live up to his own performance. But in the end, he decided the challenge for him was to do even better this time around.
“I thought the gas tank was empty. But I was wrong. I got right back into it once I started.” — Mark Squitieri
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During rehearsals two weeks before the opening curtain on Nov. 26, the school auditorium was a mixture of dance steps and buzz saws as actors, singers, and dancers worked on their parts as stage crews constructed the elaborate sets for what will be a six-show performance schedule as opposed to the three shows they put on two years ago.
Craig said the increase came as a result of post production comments two years ago that suggested many more people would have come had there been more performances. To help this along, the play is now selling their tickets online through its Web site, bhsdramsociety.com, and at the box office.
Sixty-four actors
This year, the total crew includes 70 people, 64 of whom are actors. While it is the same musical production from two years ago, the cast is largely different, with only about eight or nine carrying over from the previous performance.
“Most of those from the previous show graduated,” he said.
“A Christmas Carol: The Musical” was originally broadcast as a Hallmark Television special in 2004 starring Kelsey Grammar as Ebenezer Scrooge and based on a 1994 stage production. The songs, “Jolly Good Time,” “Nothing to Do With Me,” and “You Mean More to Me,” were written by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. This production has very little non-musical dialogue, which means nearly every conversation is sung in something that resembles an operetta.
The musical director is Meg Zervoulis, vocal director is Laura Bassett, set designer is Chris Wolfer, light designer is Stephen Quinn, and the stage manager is Dahlia Saad.
Although the sets will be as elaborate as they were two years ago, Craig said they will be more representational rather than realistic. While the musical itself will have the same beginning and end as two years ago, Craig said the first production has led to changes of emphasis in some areas.
“We’ll still have snow at the end of the show,” he said. “It will still be a hell of a show.”
One huge difference this year is the addition of choreographer Laurie Alexander, who was in the original Broadway production.
“She has become a mentor to some of our kids,” he said.
Among them will be 11th grader Brittany Baran, who serves as dance captain and will play the role of Mrs. Cratchit.
“She is an amazing mentor,” Baran said. “I’m very excited to be working with her.”
Intending to major in musical theater when she gets to college, Baran – who performed in the musical two years ago as a member of the ensemble – said her role is challenging, partly because she plays the mother of a child destined to die if Scrooge does not reform. The character is described as “a wonderful wife and mother, hopeful, and generous.”
Dana Magee, a senior, played the Ghost of Christmas Present two years ago, and will play the role of Ghost of Christmas Past in this production.
“I get to tell the story of what Scrooge can’t change,” Magee said.
Although interested in pursuing the performing arts, Magee will only minor in it when she gets to college.
Michael O’Donnell, also a senior this year, has performed in other productions, but not in the previous version of this play. Interested in public speaking, he joined the drama department in his junior year and plays Mr. Smythe, recently widowed and left with a young daughter, Grace. He hopes Scrooge will be lenient and give him time to pay his debt. He is respectable, but poor.
“I’m not a singer,” he said, laughing as he described one of the challenges he faces in the upcoming performance.
Sarah Martinez, a junior who played in the ensemble two years ago, plays Sally Anderson, the wife of Scrooge’s nephew Fred, weary at having an ungrateful “Uncle Scrooge” over for Christmas dinner each year.
The play runs from Nov. 26 and 27 and Dec 3 and 4 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Alexander X. O’Connor Auditorium at Bayonne High School. Tickets cost $10 for students and senior citizens, and $12 for other adults. For reservations and ticket information, call the box office at (201) 858-0071.