Thursday, December 17, 2009

Message from Fr. Mike Klarer

We are now just a few days before opening. Fortunately the snow storm has not caused any problems with rehearsals. We are looking forward to the final dress rehearsal and our premiere on Saturday, December 12 at 7:30.

The costuming by Susan Nanning-Sorenson and Aidan Bobo is stunning as are the sets by Suzanne Miller.

We met Tuesday evening at the Stage Building for a line run and to discuss questions regarding the small details of bring the show to perfection.

We have rehearsed with Instrumentalists from the Monroe High School Bands as well as our carolers who appear throughout the show.

The excitement is building. The snow has fallen in abundance. I think this will be a great show and I hope many will be able to share the joy of the reformation of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Message Fr. Mike Klarer

Now that Thanksgiving is over we resume our final round of rehearsals at the Stage building. A week from today we should have completed the load in at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center. All of our actors are off book and with the help of Stephen and Katee Elliason we have truly developed some wonderful street scenes that greatly add to the show.

We are to the point of polishing the delivery of the lines, refining the blocking, finalizing the costumes and making sure everyone knows cues, entrances and exits. As this show takes shape I am so excited about what we will present to our community and all the guests who will see the show.

John Baumann and myself are in the midst of presenting the show to over 15 different groups, senior citizens centers, and our schools. I am often asked what is remarkable about this script and how we will present it. I believe it is that we have tried to remain true as best we can to the original work of Charles Dickens.

This book was published 167 years ago on December 19. That will be the second to the last show for us. In all of those years since 1843 this book has never been out of print. The presentation of Scrooge by Dickens was key in the development of our show. Scrooge is a complicated wonderful character. He is scary maybe because he reminds us of how materialism and the love of wealth can overtake any of us. Scrooge’s reclamation as the Ghost of Christmas Past says, is the principle concern of the whole show. We watch him encounter his past and take stock of the present before contemplating the future.

We will find ourselves two weeks out from our first show on Saturday, December 12. This will be the most trilling time of our preparation. We will try to keep you posted on how the last days go before it is “Showtime”. Buy your tickets and invite all you know to celebrate the Advent/Christmas season by enjoying Dickens great story, A Christmas Carol.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Christmas Carol YouTube Video is Up!

The promotional video for Carol is on YouTube! Check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xDe0YVIw50

or search "Come and See MTG's A CHRISTMAS CAROL!" on YouTube.

Pictures of Stage Building




photos courtesy of Teresa

November 29 Cast Party Update

The cast and crew party on November 29 at Pancho and Lefty's is now adult only due to space constraints.