The Nutcracker Christmas Carol: A Holiday Musical

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol: A Holiday Musical. December 6, 7, 8, and 13, 14, 15 - Friday and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol: A Holiday Musical returns to Chattanooga State for two weekends, opening Friday, December 6th at 7:30. An annual offering by the Chattanooga State Repertory Theatre, the original musical has been deemed "a holiday classic", “innovative”, “a hoot”, “original and captivating” and “phenomenal” by reviewers. The Nutcracker Christmas Carol combines all the great Christmas stories into one holiday musical for the whole family.

What happens when all the popular Christmas stories are mixed into one hilarious, heartfelt hour? Will Ebenezer Scrooge save the ballet? Will his critics finally acknowledge the genius of Charles Dickens? Will Tiny Tim's dream of becoming a dancer come true? Will Fritz get a Red Ryder carbine action BB gun? Will Bob Cratchit get to spend Christmas at home? Learn the answers at the Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre this holiday season.

How did this musical come to be? Rex Knowles explains, “I asked myself this question: what if I found in the back room of the British Library a first draft of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and within those pages were the seeds of every Christmas story we know today?” So he started writing his first draft of The Nutcracker Christmas Carol. “I started with A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker. I had so much fun combining the two that I added snippets from It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Gift of the Magi, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Director Sherry Landrum continues, “We created the piece as a lighthearted spoof and gave Charles Dickens credit for all of it. But as we worked, we realized how much all Christmas stories owe to A Christmas Carol - Dickens’ great story of human transformation and redemption. The theme of Scrooge, the penurious tyrant and his worker Bob Cratchit, the thoroughly good human being, resonates throughout all the stories. The Grinch steals Christmas from Whoville. Mr. Potter takes Bedford Falls from George Bailey. Fred Gailey fights the psychologist, Mr. Shelhamer, to protect the name of Santa Clause. The innocence of childhood in the archetype of Tiny Tim runs through all as well in the characters of Little Cindy-Lou Who, George Bailey’s children, and young Susan Walker. It’s A Wonderful Life even brings in a ghost, Clarence Oddbody, who gives George Bailey the chance to see the future and realize that goodness is its own reward.”

Knowles, who wrote the book and the lyrics, joined with Landrum and Allan Ledford to collaborate on the music. Together they created ten original Christmas songs – ranging in style from the humorous “I’m Gettin’ Everything for Christmas” to the heart-warming “My Christmas Dream.”

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol: A Holiday Musical (book and lyrics by Rex Knowles; music by Knowles, Sherry Landrum, and Allan Ledford.) Landrum directs. Lindsay Fussell is the choreographer. Allan Ledford is Musical Director. The cast includes Jeffrey Parker as Charles Dickens, Rex Knowles as Ebenezer Scrooge, John Thomas Cecil in the dual roles of Bob Cratchit and the wealthy Dr. Stahlbaum, Maria Sager in the dual roles of Caroline Cratchit and Clara Stahlbaum, and Eric Phillips as both Tiny-Tim and Fritz Stahlbaum. Cast members include Jennifer Arbogast, Bridgett Bryant, Chris Defore, L-Shanté Faunteroy, Stan Furlow, Lindsay Fussell, Kimberlin Lacy, Savannah Mazda, Daniel Meeks, Mariah Rinkel, Brenda Schwab, Jeremy Wilkins, Terrance Wright, and Eric "Red" Wyatt.

December 6, 7, 8, and 13, 14, 15, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30.Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre, 4501 Amnicola Highway.

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol is appropriate for all ages. Reservations are not needed. Call 423-697-3246 for further information. Tickets are $15. Students, $10. Children, $5. Chattanooga State students, faculty, and staff are admitted FREE with I.D.