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“But I have a few papers, some old photographs. They have little value but are of infinite worth.” — Ebenezer Scrooge

In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is called upon to reckon with his fixation on worldly goods by otherworldly figures. Throughout his nighttime journey, he learns that his relationships with family, friends, and neighbors are more important than any of the expensive items that he owns.

That’s not to say that physical objects are not significant. Instead, an item’s worth is measured, not in monetary value, but in the way that it connects us to other people. The most important items have little to no financial value at all.

We asked the people involved in Alliance Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol to share stories of important items in their lives. Here are some of their responses:

Arthur the Traveling Teddy

“My childhood teddy bear: Arthur. My father caught me eyeing him in a toy store during a family vacation in California and later surprised me with him. Holding him for the first time is one of my earliest childhood memories of pure, unadulterated joy. Arthur represents to me the pure, selfless love of my family. Over the decades, he has traveled all over the world – from vacations, to college, to dozens of jobs across the country, Europe, India, Asia. He is quite worn and tattered, yet remains a beautiful symbol of my family. I am currently pregnant with my first child and I cannot wait to place Arthur in her hands for the first time – as my father did for me.”

—Rhyn McLemore, Ghost of Christmas Past/Ensemble  

Nana’s Furry Legacy: The Tiger Striped Throw

“My nana was a Leo and loved anything leopard or tiger striped — anything big cat related.  When she passed, my sister and I were given these king-sized fleece throws — I was given the tiger striped, my sister the leopard print…It’s been more than 20 years since her passing, and through all my moves — from college to LA to Memphis, back to San Diego, and then to Atlanta — I still have that throw, which I refer to as ‘my nana blanket.’”

—TeKeyia Amaru-Rice, IDEA Director 

Broken Guitar, Unbroken Memories

“My wife gave me a guitar when we were in college. She engraved a quote from one of my favorite poets on it. Now it sits in our living room even though it’s broken and out of tune. It’s a reminder of when we were first together years ago.”

—Christopher Hampton, Mr. Cratchit/Mr. Pritchitt/Ensemble

A Mother’s Stitched Love

“I took ballet when I was 4 years old. My mother was very into handmade clothing, so she made me a ballet bag out of my favorite baby blanket. I still have it in my closet, holding pairs of abandoned dance shoes from high school and college. I’m sure a tattered and stained 80s blanket bag has little value in any market but the memory of my now-gone mother’s desire for me to have something comforting in my first extracurricular activity is worth quite a lot to me.”

—Liz Campbell, Stage Manager  

My Father’s Wedding Band

“Certain objects that tie me to my past become almost magical, like a talisman. One of them is my father’s wedding band, which I started wearing after he and my mother were both gone. It carries history and significance that are unique to me. I saw it on my father’s hand for my entire life, and I now see it on my hand. It reminds me of who I come from and, to some extent, who I am.”

—Andrew Benator, Ebenezer Scrooge* 

Captured Memories: Photographs and Handwritten Letters

“I have two photographs: one of just me at maybe 3 or 4 and one of my siblings and I as kids. Anytime I look at the girl in the first photo I’m struck by how wide her smile is. I’m reminded to keep my younger self with me as I journey on— especially her optimism and her lively spirit. The photo of my siblings and I is really meaningful to me because even though we don’t live in the same state anymore, they are incredibly important to me. We’ve been through a lot together and I’m so proud watching them grow. Finally, I have a little crate of cards and letters that my friends have sent me over the years. They serve as reminders of all the people I’ve been blessed to know. A handwritten letter with stickers and drawings carries so much love!! You know the sender put time into it.”

—Akasha Nelson, US Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig/Missy Watkins/Bess/Mudge/Mrs. Dilber/Ensemble

My Mother’s Letter

“A letter from my mother that she wrote to me when I was 18. I was going through a tough time, & even though we talked freely all the time, there was something deeply meaningful about her written words reminding me how much she loved me & believed in me no matter what.”

—Ann Marie Gideon, Missy Watkins/Bess/Mudge/Ensemble 

Daughter’s Drawings

“My daughter’s drawings. These are priceless to me and my husband, as they represent her development over the years, but have little traditional value (as in, not worth purchasing.)”

—Lindsay Ridgeway-Baierl, Manager of Individual Giving 

Trinkets of Memories: A Collection of Moments

“I have a small bag of trinkets in my closet that I keep, rarely look at, and never throw out. It’s a collection of small items from my life that had some kind of impact on me at the time, or they represented a moment that meant a lot (most are from shows). There’s a tiny sewing kit, a magnet that says “Dumpster Fire Tour,” a bracelet with the letters WAWD (what are we doing) printed on it, the casing of a bullet from my first time shooting at a range which was in preparation for my first show which we had to use firearms in, a blue scarf that was Cordelia’s when I did “King Lear” for the first time (I was the Fool and I had decided I was in love with Cordelia), a note from a girl inviting me to a concert years ago (I found out shortly after that she had taken her own life and I never saw her again after she gave me that note), and a small ring purchased from an Old Navy that my now wife and I wore when we shot an adaptation of “Hamlet” in my home town (we played Hamlet & Ophelia). Connecting with those items physically can almost put me back to the time when I received them, and it’s one of the best ways I have to make sure I don’t forget the meaningful things that have happened to me, that were perhaps too quick or short for a photo or a big memory attached. I look forward to being 80 and looking back at all the trinkets I’ve collected from a life well lived, and boring my kids with all the stories that those items hold.”

—Caleb Clark, Young Scrooge/Peter/Ensemble and US Ebenezer Scrooge

A Blossoming Love: The Homemade Cherry Blossom

“A homemade cherry blossom. Made from tissue paper and a stick from a backyard. My now husband, Lowrey, mailed this to me at the very beginning of our dating time period while I was away working on a show. He knew that cherry blossoms are my favorite flower and sent it to me for opening night. It is literally a stick anyone could find in their backyard with paper glued to it, but it still sits proudly on the mantle over our fireplace. It has little value to anyone else, and would look like a childhood craft, BUT to me it showed just how much he cared by taking the time to make something very specifically for me.”

—Lyndsay Ricketson, Ghost of Christmas Future/Ensemble 

Connected By Jewelry: The Friendship Necklace

“I have a necklace that I wear almost every day that matches one that my best friend also has and also wears every day. It didn’t cost a lot but seeing it in the Snapchat pictures we send each other every day is always a morale boost and connects us across the miles.”

— Ashley Elliott, Marketing Coordinator 

Now, we turn it to you: What are some meaningful items in your life? What are the things you have been given by loved ones, and what do you hope to give in the future?

In the wise words of MR. FEZZIWIG, “At the end of your days one look at this photograph and you’ll be transported back to a time surrounded by good companionship. And good friends.”

Which Christmas Carol Character Are You?

Christmas is right around the corner and you’re dying to know whether you’ve been naughty or nice this holiday season! This quiz is a sure fire way to tell whether you can look forward to some ghostly visitors this Christmas Eve…or if you’ll be doping the visiting.

Take the quiz to find out!

Go to Quiz

 

 

Why do we revisit this story every year? What is it about Scrooge’s journey that continually reveals something new about ourselves?

Every year about this time, I start to hunger to hear this story again. To make plain what I tend to forget or take for granted through much of the year. To remind myself that no matter how isolated or cynical one has become, there is always the possibility for transformation, the chance to replace our stony hearts with generous, loving ones. Gathering together to share in this story has become much more than simply tradition. It’s taken on the air of ritual, affording us the chance to reaffirm certain profound truths about our shared humanity.

One of those truths is the most basic of all: we need each other. I cannot know who I am without knowing who I am in relationship. To this community. To my family. To my friends. To my neighbors. To you. Scrooge, like many of us, seems to have forgotten this most basic of truths: that it is in relationship with others where we find meaning. Not in isolation. Not in things. But in community. Scrooge’s isolation impacts more than his own misery. It deprives his community of certain possibilities.

Similarly, the boundless gratitude of Tiny Tim is not just an individual virtue but a gift that is freely given to all in his orbit. Tim generously shares with all of us a vision for a more selfless, loving world. Each day, we’re given the opportunity to choose generosity, to reflect back to each other our authentic selves, and to help create that version of the world.

Like Scrooge on Christmas morning, “we haven’t missed it!” We still have time. Thank you for joining us again this year, and for reminding us of that beautiful truth.

Learn more about A Christmas Carol

 

 

Think about all the great pairings in the world. Chocolate and peanut butter. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Cookies and milk. The holidays and A Christmas Carol.

Whether you love or hate the classic Dickens tale, it’s one of the most quintessential parts of the holiday season. With the overwhelming number of A Christmas Carol adaptations on TV, in movies or on stage, it’s easy to just say “Bah, Humbug” to all of them.  

But the Alliance Theatre has a one-of-a-kind production that should emerge as the event of the season. And here are five reasons why:

1) Historic Final Year
All good things must come to an end, and this performance of A Christmas Carol is no exception. After 27 years on the Alliance Stage, this particular adaptation will be in a new location next year before retiring from the Alliance season. A new version of the Dickens classic by the same author will premiere back at the Woodruff Arts Center in 2018. So whether you are new to this Atlanta tradition, or you drop in every year, this is your last chance to see what has captivated audiences for decades.

3) David de Vries as Scrooge
Returning in the starring role of Ebenezer Scrooge for the third year in a row is celebrated actor, David de Vries. With professional credits as Lumiere in Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast and Dr. Dillamond in the national tour of Wicked, de Vries definitely proves has the chops to carry the iconic role, previously portrayed by the talented Chris Kayser (now in the role of Scrooge’s deceased business partner, Jacob Marley) . The transformation from cold-hearted miser to giddy philanthropist is a fruitful and captivating journey, indeed.

3) The Set and Special Effects
Two trap doors, a fly system, levitation track and lots of snow. These are just a few of the whimsical effects of “A Christmas Carol.” The set, designed by D Martyn Bookwalter, is a hoarder’s paradise, with grand archways and various bookshelves, furniture and knick-knacks strewn across the stage. All are illustrations of the things Scrooge had “stolen” from others over the years.  

4) The Ensemble
Starring alongside David de Vries are a group of strong performers, each with their own memorable roles on stage. Wendell Brock from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says it best: “For now, let us bask in the splendors before us: the creme de la creme of the Atlanta theater community all tied up here under one big bow.” Feel the love and longing for connection from the heart of Scrooge’s nephew Fred (played by Joe Knezevich). Become swept away with the courting of young Scrooge (Lowrey Brown) to Belle (Ann Marie Gideon). Laugh out loud with Mrs. Dilber’s (Je Nie Flemming) qualms about her grumpy, old client.  Rejoice in the cheery nature of little Tiny Tim (Marco Schittone).

5) The Music
“God rest ye merry gentleman, let nothing you dismay…”  The holiday season produces a multitude of both haunting and joyful carols. In this production, director Rosemary Newcott creatively integrates story and song throughout the show to generate a unique atmosphere. And if you can’t resist singing yourself, there may be a few occasions to show off your pipes!

As the end of December looms nearer, tickets for the show will become scarcer, so do not miss your last chance to see this Atlanta tradition!  

» Tickets & info

 

Tonight we’ll host one of our favorite traditions at the Alliance.  Each year we invite members of the Atlanta Miracle League to attend the final dress rehearsal of A Christmas Carol.  The miracle league provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of the ability.  They also help facilitate other opportunities for families involved in the league.  Tonight we will welcome around 400 children with disabilities and their families to A Christmas Carol.  It’s a very special performance that our actors, house and stage managers look forward to each year.

John McLaughlin, who works with the North Metro Miracle League, contacted us via email to share some letters he’s received from families who attend each year.  We asked if he would let us share his email and the letters here, and he agreed –

Dear Alliance,
Thought you would like to see a sample of the responses I get when I send out your Christmas Carol invitation. Both of these families are having a very hard time and this evening is very special to them….and we are rapidly approaching 400. You guys make me a Hero every year……..At age 70 that’s not easy …That skin tight super hero suit just doesn’t look the same anymore….It’s getting saggy, baggy and draggy……It couldn’t be me could it…..Must be something the laundry did?
– John P McLaughlin

Hello John!!  I am so hoping that there may be 12 spaces available for the Christmas Carol perfomance!  It is like the biggest, most special-ist thing that our family does.  We are very much looking forward to dressing up a little and attending the theater with you all!   The show is soooo good.  Thank you for ALL that you all do, in so very many wonderful ways.

Hi Mr. John. We were at the Miracle League Christmas gingerbread party last year. Our Erica was the little girl in the walker lit up with christmas lights. We would love to attend if possible. We would be bringing 8 – 2 adults ( Mark and Kim – Erica’s parents) and 6 kids. (Joshua 14, Jessica, 12, Alyssa 10, Andrew 8, Emily 6, and Erica 5)   I hope this works out.  This has been a hard few months for the kids. Thank you for everything that you do. God Bless.

In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone!”