Starting tonight (Thursday) and for the next two weekends, The Premiere Playhouse will be putting on "The Christmas Carol," which is being heralded as a "Broadway-level production." With a script from The Guthrie, a cast of 54, and a professionally-built set, it promises to hold up to that standard, and two Garretson School students will be participating in the production.
Garretson High School senior Morgan Moritz has had a love for acting since she was young, and now she's gotten her 8 year old brother, Leif, involved as well. Leif (pronounced "Layf") is a third grader at Garretson Elementary.
M. Moritz began dance at age 4, and got her first taste of the stage at recital. Each year, recital was the best part, because she could get back up on stage and perform. When there was an opportunity to participate in Missoula Children's Theatre's "Z is for Zebra" at age 9, there was no turning back. She has been dancing, singing, and acting ever since, winning accolades and awards.
When Moritz found out that The Premiere Playhouse (formerly Sioux Empire Theatre Company) was going to be putting on a production of "The Christmas Carol," she wanted to try out for a part. This was the year her dance schedule would allow for participation in a larger production. Prior participation in competition dance left little time, though she's been a part of Garretson's one-act plays and honor choir as well as summer camp productions since middle school.
M. Moritz was given the part of Dierdre Fezziwig in "The Christmas Carol," and at the first few rehearsals learned they were still on the hunt for an 8-10 year old boy. Even though his only stage experience was being a part of a gymnastics recital this past June, she knew her brother would be perfect.
Since then, L. Moritz has begged to go to practice, and has made friends easily with other children in the production. He has a triple part as a city child, street urchin, and as a school child, and will be participating in singing carols on-stage.
"It's definitely been an experience," M. Moritz said of her participation. Her part involves an entire ballroom dance scene, which her dance background has made her perfect for. She was showcased by the director to her castmates on how to make the dance look good on stage.
Veteran theater director Lary Betten stated that the cast ranges in age from 8 to 92, and practice has been made interesting by not having a single night when the whole cast could be in one place at the same time until dress rehearsal.
The playbill states that, "'A Christmas Carol' recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man."
The part of Ebenezer Scrooge is being portrayed by local author and actor Tom Roberts, who is also known for his children's books, including "Twas the Night Before Christ" and "The Christmas Journey." Bob Cratchit will be played by Bart Workman, and Rick Weiland will be the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Both have been a part of the local theater scene in the past, and Weiland serves as President on the Board of Directors for Premiere Playhouse.
The final pieces are coming together, and so far M. Moritz is pleased with how it looks. The Premiere Playhouse website describes the set as "intricate" and costuming as "lavish and highly detailed." While she was still waiting on hers to be completed, M Moritz raved about her brother's costumes.
"He looks like a little prince," she said of his school child costume.
"A Christmas Carol" is being held at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux Falls Dec 2-5 and 9-12 with both evening and matinee performances. Tickets can be purchased on-line at ThePremierePlayhouse.com, WashingtonPavilion.org, or by calling the Pavilion box office at 605-367-6000.
