MOUNT CARMEL - Just in time for Christmas in July celebrations, Anthracite Citizens' Theatre (ACT) will present "A Christmas Carol," story by Charles Dickens and adaptation by Sharon Glassman and William Sanders, 7 p.m. July 25 to July 27 in the Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School Auditorium.
The play, narrated by the storyteller, Conor Stefanowicz, of Coal Township, features Dan Heiser, of Girardville, as Bob Cratchet, Scrooge's humble and dedicated clerk and the head of a large and very poor family that includes Barbara Malick, of Mount Carmel as his wife; Michael Spotts, of Frackville, as his son, Tiny Tim, and his daughters Martha, Liz, Belinda and Mary, respectively played by Emiliee Barnhardt, of Kulpmont, and Katy Horsfield, Sandy Horsfield and Alivia Miller, all of Mount Carmel.
Some people from Scrooge's past encourage him to lighten his behavior. Mr. Fezziwig, played by Joseph Revenis, of Mount Carmel, was known for his wonderful Christmas parties along with his wife, played by Kathleen Gadinski, of Ashland. Another strong influence is Jacob Marley, played by Bill Fisher, of Ashland, Scrooge's deceased miserly partner who is attempting to save him from the same fate he experienced.
The three spirits who visit Scrooge are the Ghost of Christmas Past, which represents memory, played by Loretta Murphy, of Ashland, the Ghost of Christmas Present, which represents celebration and charity, played by Rose Zimmerman, of Ashland, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, which represents death, played by Erica Sechler, of Elysburg.
Street urchins who are constantly creating mischievous behavior on the stage include Nastissja Lapotsky and Krystof Lapotsky, of Trevorton, and Tyler Barnhardt, of Kulpmont. Angela Kane, of Ashland, portrays Nancy, and Katianna Lapotsky, of Trevorton, is Belle Fezziwig.
The cast is rehearsing three nights per week, under the direction of Christopher Olson, in preparation for the premiere. The stage crew has spent a number of hours transferring the stage into a fantasy. Hours of labor have been spent in an un-airconditioned environment, drawing, stapling, building and painting scenery that will bring magic to the performance.
Volunteers include Sean and Barb Malick and Maryann Palovick, all of Mount Carmel, Jason and Margaret Barnhardt, of Kulpmont, Chris Zimmerman, of Ashland, Donna Spotts, of Frackville, and Tom, Dawn and Dan Heiser, of Girardville.
Tickets, which are $10 each, can be purchased at the Mount Carmel Area Public Library, Community Pharmacy in Mount Carmel, Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library, Beverly's Flower Shop in Shamokin, from any cast member or at the door.