College of DuPage Theater will present “A Christmas Carol,” a show for the whole family over Thanksgiving weekend.

COD’s Theater Department had a tradition of putting on the show every couple of years, but that tradition was broken by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast and crew are excited about bringing back a mainstay of the holiday season.

“This process of putting this show together has been amazing. Getting to meet so many new people and engaging with the kids has been wonderful.” said stage manager Elmeka Elme. 

This year marks the first year the show is back and performed in person. The last time COD theater presented this play was virtually in 2020, via the Zoom platform. However, now the cast features over fifty actors, comprising both college students and community members, including children, and is overjoyed to be physically back in front of audiences at the MAC after two months of rehearsal. 

On the cast of this play, Elme said, “I will not lie, as a stage manager it was scary because of the amount of people I had to manage.”  

“A Christmas Carol” is directed by Amelia Barrett, COD professor and director of Theater.

According to Elme, what really helped set the play in motion was the script itself, written by the late William J. Norris, whom the play is dedicated to. Norris was the first actor to play the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Goodman Theatre’s annual “A Christmas Carol” in Chicago. 

The story deals with the well-known tale of cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by three spirits (Christmas Past, Present and Future) overnight to reconsider his attitudes towards the world, and, in particular, Christmas. The play adaptation stems from the original novella written by Charles Dickens in 1843. The story is a heartwarming tale of redemption, and leaves the message of generosity as the true spirit of Christmas. 

Elme added, “Watching all of them rehearse was very interesting because they all are trying to bring this (Christmas) energy to Scrooge in their own way. And watching Scrooge fight them just as hard, but in the end nothing beats the joy of Christmas.”

The show lasts 70 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the MAC’s official website.  There will be five performances open to the public at  7 p.m. on Nov. 25, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 at the Belushi Performance Hall in the McAninch Arts Center. Besides, there will also be a behind-the-scenes look at “A Christmas Carol” during a pre-show discussion at 5:45 p.m. with the play’s production team on Nov. 25. There’s an opportunity for a post-show discussion with the director and cast on Nov. 26 after the 7 p.m. showing. 

In an effort to kindle the Christmas spirit, starting Nov. 24 everyone is asked to donate non-perishable food and other items at the MAC Giving Tree for COD’s Fuel Pantry and the People’s Resource Center (PRC). Donations are received in the MAC lobby.

“I can’t wait for our audience to see the production and share the Christmas joy with them,” Elme said.” So, please bring your Scrooge with you so they can experience this Christmas joy.”