“A Christmas Carol” Cast Looks Familiar
Susan Pollay rehearses for Sunday evening's show at Performance Network. Her roles are Speaker #12 and Speaker #6. In real life, her role is executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
They aren’t bound for Broadway – with roles like “Man with a Monstrous Chin” and “Laundress Vicky” – but on Saturday morning about a dozen folks from the community joined professional actors at Performance Network Theatre to rehearse for a benefit show of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” to be performed Sunday night, Dec. 21.
The script is a new adaptation by David Wolber and Joseph Zettelmaier, and is directed by Wolber. It is a “staged concert reading,” meaning that the cast will read from scripts during the performance. The show, a benefit for the nonprofit theater group, begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The Chronicle dropped by to catch a few minutes of the rehearsal, which started at 9 a.m. We got there at the end of Act I, just as WUOM’s Charity Nebbe was breaking up with Scrooge, played by PN regular John Seibert. (She was gentle about it.)
Here are a few photos from the morning’s theatrical workout.
The rehearsal room at Performance Network. From left: Heidi Bennett (Ghost of Christmas Past), John Seibert (Scrooge), John Hansen (Speaker #10), and Terry Heck (narrator).
Director David Wolber gives some notes to Charity Nebbe, who reads the role of Scrooge's former fiance, Belle Fezziwig.
Jesse Bernstein, Jim Kosteva and Susan Pollay wait for their turn to take the stage during Saturday's morning rehearsal. Bernstein, president of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, plays Man with a Monstrous Chin and Speaker #2. Kosteva is UM's director of community relations, and plays Third Man and Speakers #1 and #4. Pollay, DDA executive director, is Speaker #6 and #12.
Former Ann Arbor mayor Ingrid Sheldon was waiting to read the role of Laundress Vicky and Speaker #14. In the foreground is Russ Schwartz, who plays Peter Cratchit.
The Players
Terry Heck: Narrator
John Seibert: Ebenezer Scrooge
Malcolm Tulip (UM assistant professor of theater): Jacob Marley
Heidi Bennett: Ghost of Christmas Past, Speaker #19
Aaron Moore: Ghost of Christmas Present, Speaker #20
Ralph Williams (UM English professor): Ghost of Christmas Future
Phil Powers (Center for Michigan founder, former UM regent): Bob Cratchit
Carla Milarch (Performance Network executive director): Mrs. Cratchit
Sabra Satz-Kojis: Martha Cratchit and Intelligent, Fine Lad
Russ Schwartz: Peter Cratchit
Latifa Almohaer: Belinda, a Cratchit Girl
Aviva Satzrkojis: Tiny Tim
Ellie Serras (former Main Street Area Association executive director): Fran, his sister
Joseph Zettelmaier: Fred, his sister’s son
Sarab Kamoo: Fred’s Wife, Speaker #5
Jerry Lax (former Ann Arbor city attorney): Charity Gentleman #1, Speaker #7, Man with Red Face
Norm Herbert (former UM treasurer): Charity Gentleman #2, Speaker #8
Jim Kosteva (UM director of community relations): Third Man, Speaker #1, Speaker #4
Jon Bennett: Mr. Fezziwig, Speaker #18
Janet Torno (Performance Network director of development): Mrs. Fezziwig, Speaker #13
Charity Nebbe (WUOM host, children’s book author): Belle Fezziwig, Speaker #17
Brian Thibault: Belle’s husband Tut, Speaker #16
Jesse Bernstein (Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce president): Man with a Monstrous Chin, Speaker #2
Mike Cichon: Another Man, Speaker #3
Chelsea Sadler: Charwoman, Speaker #15
John Hansen (former state representative): Old Joe, Speaker #10
Ingrid Sheldon (former Ann Arbor mayor): Laundress Vicky, Speaker #14
Tom Whalen: Speaker #9 and #11
Susan Pollay (Ann Arbor DDA executive director): Speaker #6 and #12