SOCORRO, N.M. – The holiday season classic that celebrates giving, forgiving, kindness, and redemption is coming to New Mexico Tech’s Macey Center. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be staged on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for youth, available online at nmt.edu/pas or at the door. Tickets are free for New Mexico Tech students.

A “Donation Dress Rehearsal” will be held Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m., with donations accepted at the door for the opportunity to attend the open dress rehearsal.

The story of elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his nighttime visits from the three ghosts of Christmas – the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come – will be presented as a community production in collaboration between Socorro Community Theater, Socorro Consolidated Schools, the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series (PAS), Macey Center, and the Betty Clark Memorial Endowment.

The production is timed to take place during the Festival of the Cranes, which is the first in-person Festival since the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildlife photographers and enthusiasts will flock to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro Dec. 1-3 for a series of seminars, tours, and other activities. Many of the visitors are expected to attend holiday events in the Socorro area during their stay, including the Luminaria Art Stroll, the Candy Cane Parade, and “A Christmas Carol.”

According to PAS Director Ronna Kalish, a group of Socorro high school students who previously were involved in the school’s production of “Clue” and the recent community theater production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” also are involved in this year’s holiday production of “A Christmas Carol.”

“Those same backstage crew members are almost all in this play, what a wonderful progression,” Kalish said. “We hope in the future that there will be more students participating in theater and music in the Socorro Schools, and then participating in community productions.”

With musical theater veterans Eileen Comstock and Warren Marts at the helm, plus a host of experienced local thespians, teachers and stage crew, Kalish expressed confidence that  “A Christmas Carol” will be a quality production this year.  

“It will be excellent entertainment for the holiday season for the local community and many visitors coming for the weekend to Festival of the Cranes,” she said. 

Cast:

New Mexico Tech students: Santiago Montoya, Daniel Vonderhaar, Rio Sessions, Patrick Duane, Jalethzie Peña, Tanya Makhnina

Socorro High School students: Paige Avery, Finn Pias, Andrew Moellenbrock, Belen Padilla, Sky Sessions, Addison Spitz, Antonia Saavedra, Abagail Watkins, Rem Jaquez Quiñonez, Natalia Sierra, Lyzz Moellenbrock, Bethany Arndt

Cottonwood Valley Charter School students: Dru Cadol, Allison Harris, Abby Cadol, Kailyn Woods

Community members: Jayme Avery, Warren Marts, George Moellenbrock, Cindy Madrid, Katya Makhnina, Haley Hanson, James Cosentino, Minnie Mao, Isabel Morris, Rachel Kirby, Sharidyn Cosentino, Laura Edwards, Sara Demorest, Diana Kent-Hoke, Jay Blanchard, Dominique Gomez

Crew:
Heather Sanchez, Laurie Ware, Pamela Vega, Juan Rueda, Madi Bennett, Liam Demorest, Freya Hansen, Christie Smith, William Anderson, Beth Cadol, Dan Cadol, Theresa Apodaca, Jane Beckstead, Malcolm Thompson, Julian Romero, John Leeper

Orchestra:
Eileen Comstock, Taffeta Elliott, Jewels Edeal, Marcus Navarra, Allan Stavely.