SEARCY, Ark.— Harding University will usher in the holiday season with a comical ghost story for all ages, featuring this year’s Homecoming musical, “Scrooge,” playing Oct. 30-31.
Producer Cindee Stockstill and director Robin Miller described this year’s musical as a “moving storyline that is very enjoyable and fun with uplifting music.” Comedy and emotion alike will be spirited to the audience by the engaging, hard-working cast.
“I really do think that people will laugh and cry in this show,” Stockstill said. “I think it’s going to be very enjoyable from a lot of different directions.”
Harding senior Alex Ritchie leads as Scrooge, the main role that will rarely leave the stage.
“We needed someone who understood the underlying emotions of what the Scrooge character was going through, and that takes an emotional maturity,” Stockstill said. “He’s doing very well. This has been a great cast. They are so focused and willing to work.”
Throughout the play, the audience will watch as Scrooge comes across pieces of life’s wisdom. Realizing his wealth will never make him happy and that his actions hurt people other than himself, he attempts
to find redemption.
“What you will take away is the idea that you can do life better, and you can do it different,” Miller said.
Along with the important themes to be featured within the performance, the music will also be a significant part of the show that everyone can enjoy.
“We have some fun upbeat numbers, but we also have some emotionally powerful numbers,” Miller said. “It’s really solid music.”
The cast this year includes many Harding students and also a number of children. Seven-year-old Emma Myhan of Searcy will play Tiny Tim, the
son of Scrooge’s impoverished assistant. The second-grader has major lines throughout the play as well as a solo.
Stockstill and Miller said they believe the timing to be fitting for this particular musical. Though it is about Christmas, the tale is told through several hauntings, and the ghosts are ideal for the spirit of October.
“Scrooge” is a musically adapted version of “A Christmas Carol,” featuring the grouchy miser Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, on Christmas Eve.
Marley appears to warn Scrooge that if he does not amend his greed-consumed life, he will end up suffering eternal punishment. Later that night, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Be each lead Scrooge on a journey to inspire the miser to care for those around him.
Come watch as Scrooge makes the decision of his life in time for Christmas in Benson Auditorium Oct. 30-31 at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced according to seating visibility; Level A tickets are $15; Level B, $12; Level C, $10. For more information, call 501-279-4255 or visit www.hardingtickets.com. Box office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m.