HomeMullica Hill NewsAfter nearly a decade, Clearview returns to the stage this fall with...

After nearly a decade, Clearview returns to the stage this fall with ‘A Christmas Carol’

The cast comprised of high school and middle school students will present the classic tale of ‘A Christmas Carol’

Clearview Regional High School and middle school students performing in the fall play, “A Christmas Carol,” rehearse their musical numbers with Assistant Director and Music Teacher Diana Gable.

For the first time in approximately 10 years, Clearview Regional High School will return to the stage to present a fall play, a performance that intends to uphold the high standards of the renowned spring musical. This year, travel with Ebenezer Scrooge through the past, present and future of Christmas in the classic tale of “A Christmas Carol,” where both high school and middle school students will be on the stage together in a performance of song and theatrics.

While the spring musical is often held in the high school’s Toscano Theater of Performing Arts, the fall play will offer a more intimate setting with only 300 seats available per show, 80 of which are on stage, in a black box theater-setting.

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“Many people within the community have seen a Clearview musical in a 1,000-seat theater, a beautiful setting, but many of the seats are very far away from the performers,” director and school counselor Paul Sommers said. “We want people to be really close to see what they are doing, the emotion on their face; we want them to sit on the stage, we want them to get a different feel than what the spring musical brings.”

Sommers said last year, a Broadway Night was held to raise money to kick-start the fall production, however the budget is still small and the cast and crew have been working together to bring the classic tale to life.

“Our spring musical is well-known around this area, but we haven’t had much else for the kids to do acting-wise for awhile,” Sommers said. “It’s wonderful for the kids to have this opportunity to do a little more acting, particularly those who are not singers; we have a lot of people in the cast who never could do the musicals because it is singing focused.”

Directed by Sommers, music teacher Diana Gable and teacher Ashley DeLuce, the Victorian-era production, set in London, follows the journey of Scrooge, played by Michael O’Neill, who is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, played by Melissa Pratt, Angelina Trazzera and Anna Kilpatrick, the Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Logan DiVerniero, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, played by Taylor Kohnow. Through their travels on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is shown the consequences of his negative actions and attitude and inspired to become a kinder, changed man through the magic of the holiday.

Logan DiVerniero (left), rehearses as the Ghost of Christmas Present alongside Michael O’Neill, as Ebenezer Scrooge for Clearview Regional High School’s fall performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

“Scrooge is really just an iconic character, especially around Christmas time,” O’Neill, a senior, said of his character. “Everyone knows ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Scrooge, so it’s really fun to show my interpretation on such an iconic character.”

According to O’Neill, the cast has rehearsed four to five times a week, for four to five hours each day. The most challenging part for him, he said, has been memorizing the lines, since there are very few scenes that do not involve Scrooge.

“This is the first fall play they have done here at Clearview in awhile, and a lot of people are curious to see what it’s about and if it will live up to the standards of the spring musical,” O’Neill said. “I’m really excited to show them the hard work we’ve put into it.”

The production is comprised of approximately 35 high school students, as well as 15 middle school students, an opportunity Sommers said would allow the fall production to stand out.

“We’re very excited to have a show that allows middle schoolers to come in. They bring about a life in this show,” Sommers said. “A lot of them are in seventh grade, just transitioning from elementary school to middle school, and here they are right on our stage.”

Members of the community will have the chance to see the show with six performances being held at Clearview Regional High School. The play will open on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., followed by a production at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. The following weekend, show times will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, as well as 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Tickets may be purchased online, at www.a-christmas-carol.ticketleap.com, for $10 general admission, as well as $15 for premium, on-stage seating. Tickets will be sold for $12 at the door if seating is available.

For more information, visit www.clearviewregional.edu, or contact Sommers at sommerspa@clearviewregional.edu.

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