The bells are ringing, singing the time.
Christmas is officially here.
But someone is unhappy.
Campbellsville University Theatre & Dance, in collaboration with the Town Hall Theatre and Community Trust Bank, are producing a new rendition of “A Christmas Carol.” Set in the Appalachian in the 1920s comes a fantastical telling of Scrooge’s night before Christmas with a theatrical twist – an immersive play. The scenes of this classic tale will be happening around the audience in an environment where guests can become a part of the Christmas experience.
The play will be held at the Turner Log Cabin on Campbellsville University’s campus, creating the natural look of an Appalachian Christmas. There are 19 shows, 40 minutes each, which will be shown in the evenings of Dec. 11-13. Show times are available and tickets can be bought at Ludus – Town Hall Theatre.
Alia McClendon has been working at Campbellsville University for six years as the community theater manager. A Christmas Carol, told in an immersive style, was her idea, and she worked with students and other offices on campus to make this dream possible.
“In order to be a theater artist,” she said, “you have to also see theater and immersive theater is really hot right now.”
After conversing with Starr Garrett, the professor of theatre at CU, the two of them believed they were capable of creating this special theatrical experience.
“We could easily do this,” McClendon said. “Taking the Dickens novel and making an immersive experience out of it. So, that’s what happens here.”
The Christmas Carol is a story of a man named Scrooge, a greedy and angry old man who hates Christmas. On the eve of Christmas, he is visited by four ghosts – his old friend and work companion and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The story tells the meaning of Christmas and reminds Scrooge, along with the audience, why Christmas is so special.
“I think it’s a story that everyone should see,” said McClendon. “There’s a lot to learn from Scrooge, even in today’s world. We can all stand to be a little kinder to one another.”
The flare of this play is that it happens around the audience in the setting of two log cabins and a gazebo, creating the ambience of Appalachia in the 1920s.
“The audience for the Christmas show will travel from location to location with the cast,” said McClendon. “It’s like a slice of life. It’s like watching a slice of their lives in their homes.”
McClendon explained this is not a musical play; however, there will be songs and dancing as well as a choir with live instruments to further the experience of an old timey story.
“We’ll have some guitars, some mandolins,” she said. “It’s just like what you would imagine if a group of friends are all together and they’re celebrating Christmas and singing together.”
The audience will travel together from scene-to-scene with the actors as they go from one cabin to the other. The actors will work with the audience to help them know when to move on or to follow the characters. Due to the spaces being tight, only a limited number of people can attend each play. Therefore, the play will be shown 19 times over the span of two weeks to give everyone enough access to view the story, and the time of each show is shortened to 40 minutes. To also account for the cold weather, a hot drink and hand warmers will be provided to the audience. However, McClendon said time spent outdoors is not long.
José Marrero, a cast member in the show, is a student at CU studying musical theater. Marrero fell in love with theater during his junior year of high school and has been pursuing it for four years.
“In my opinion, the Christmas Carol is the Christmas story,” Marrero said. “Being told with this type of style, I think, especially with how talented my cast and crew are…is really going to do it justice. It’s a really good story we’re telling.”
Since beginning his time in theater, he has done plays in the usual setting, from the stage, and now he will be experiencing a new type of performance.
“I have to be aware of where the audience is…taking them out of the scene,” he said. “Besides that, there’s not much of a difference. It’s still just acting, portraying my character as best as I can.”
Marrero said the skills needed for this type of play are “self-awareness.”
“You’re very up close and personal, at least with this production,” he said. “So, you have to be aware of yourself at all times. They [the audience] notice the small things because they’re right there watching you.”
As intimidating as this type of theater has the possibility of being, there is also a magical element to it.
“I think the most exciting part is the audience experiencing from the proximity, seeing it from that close up, because it’s a different world,” Marrero said. “You’re walking with them through the story and through the space. So, it feels like you’re there and a part of the story.”
To buy your tickets, go to Ludus – Town Hall Theatre. General admission is $15. Tickets for seniors, children under 12, CU employees and students are $10. You can find more information and discounts to the show on the CU theatre’s Instagram page at cutheater.
