The Drama Guild

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge: Auditions and Show Dates

Photo Credit: Casey Campbell, The Oregonian, December 2010 (original source)

Hello, all! It is my distinct and humble pleasure to announce to you, the crazy kids (and their very supportive families) of OCHS Drama Guild the official details surrounding our fall production for 2014.

Firstly, for those of you who may not know me, let me explain.

No no, that is too much, let me sum up.

To be plain (too late), the Drama Guild's in my blood...as an alum of OCHS (Class of '03), my time spent working on shows, fundraiser events and other performances were some of my fondest experiences as a student. I owe that in no small part to the teachers and directors who supported and encouraged me as an artist, among others Terri Brennan, Leah Getz and Patrick Mulvaney. I have done my best to pay that forward in my own artistic career, working with students of all ages as a director and teacher for organizations such as Cape May Stage and the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company. To now have the opportunity to work again in the school that had a huge influence on where I am today, is nothing short of a dream come true, and I am grateful and humbled that the administration and community at large has helped to make that happen.

But enough of that....what about the show?

"The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" by Mark Brown is a sequel with a twist to the classic Dickens story. A year after his miraculous transformation, Ebenezer Scrooge is back to his old miserly ways and is suing Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future for breaking and entering, kidnapping, slander, pain and suffering, attempted murder and the intentional infliction of emotional distress. The ghosts employ Solomon Rothschild, England's most charismatic, savvy, and clever barrister. Scrooge, that old penny pincher, represents himself. One by one, Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's nephew Fred, solicitor and philanthropist Sara Anne Wainwright, and the ghosts themselves take the witness stand to give their account of the night in question. With a variety of colorful characters both new and familiar (though some not necessarily as you remember them), this production provides an extra-large figgy pudding bowl full of riotous laughter and holiday 'spirit!'

Performances will be held on the following dates: Thursday, December 18th and Friday December 19th at 7:00 PM, and Saturday, December 20th at 2:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

Auditions will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. An ALTERNATE audition day will be held on Tuesday the 14th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, only for students who are unable to attend auditions on the 15th (sign-ups for the alternate date will be taken ahead of time). If time permits, callbacks will be held the same day as auditions. The alternate date of callback will be Thursday the 16th, from 3:00 PM-4:30 PM. Students will be asked to read sides from the script, and do not need to prepare any monologues/other material ahead of time.

A Tentative Rehearsal Schedule for October and November can be found below--all rehearsals will be held in the Auditorium unless otherwise noted, please keep in mind that times/dates may be subject to change. December Rehearsals and Tech Week times/dates are forthcoming, once more specifics have been locked in.

A mandatory meeting for all parents/families of Drama Guild students who are interested in participating will be conducted by the Drama Boosters on Wednesday, October 8th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, in room G110. Your attendance is highly encouraged so that an overview of rules/regulations, as well as any other logistics for this season, can be addressed. I will be in attendance to field pertinent questions as well, so please, show your support for this program by attending.

I look forward to meeting each of you over the next few weeks--and I hope to see many of you at the Boosters meeting, of course! We've got much to do and less time to do it in, so I think it's safe to assume things will be a bit of a wild ride! For now, in the meantime, let me just say...