IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – In the bustling atmosphere backstage at the Braumart Theater, actors are preparing for the holiday play of the season.
Dress rehearsals are in full swing for the much-anticipated “Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge,” adding a new twist to the classic tale, ‘A Christmas Carol’. Jeremiah Garrigues-Cortelyou, starring as Ebenezer Scrooge himself, reflects on the play. “It’s fun. It’s a good way to have a new play, but still recap the story and hit on some new ideas, and we get a fun surprise,” he shared.
Costume designer Mary Yeadon reveals the meticulous effort behind the scenes. Recombining costumes from the original ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Yeadon mentioned, “It went a lot easier because I’d already created rehabilitated sewn costumes for that. And so it was hemming and tweaking, and finding accessories.”
Jana Vish, cast as Sarah Anne Wainwright, expressed her excitement about playing a character with emotional depth. “I hope that they especially if they’ve seen the Christmas Carol before, which most people have, I hope that they just get like hey, you know, there is more to the story. When you’re watching anything, there’s always more to the story, so this is the end of that story.”
Vish shared her favorite line in the show: “So I put on me coat, me hat, me mittens, and me new mink muffler”
Garrigues-Cortelyou, who has been acting since the age of seven, emphasizes the play’s enduring holiday spirit. “It really does hit on a nice point about. I mean, in the original Christmas Carol we learned about – oh the spirit of Christmas. It’s great, and then also, but maybe we could be great all the year.”” he muses. “This character is a lot of fun, because I grew up listening to Patrick Stewart read the book, and so just getting to find the opportunity to channel Patrick Stewart is always a delight,” he commented.
The play’s costume designer, Mary Yeadon, shares insights into her creative process, stating, “I want to make my actors attractive, appealing, and comfortable with their role so that they can focus on their lines.” Her dedication is evident in the two weeks it took to perfect the costume for the Ghost of Christmas Future, a character she describes as “really creepy.”
As the backstage energy builds up, the anticipation for Friday night’s opening show grows. The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge promises a captivating blend of tradition and innovation, reminding the audience that even in a classic tale, there’s always more to be revealed.
Showtimes are this Friday through Sunday. Friday’s opener starts at 7:00 CST with doors opening at 6:00.
Saturday includes two performances, a Matinee starting at 2:00 CST and an evening show at 7:00 CST.
Sunday will include a 2:00 Matinee.
Tickets can be found at:
