Date: November 1, 2010
Contact: hpac@andrews.edu
Website:
Phone: 269-471-3560

Scrooge: The Stingiest Man in Town will come to the Howard Performing Arts Center just in time to usher in the holiday season. Fashioned after the beloved Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, this musical production presented by the Andrews University class Topics in Opera has five shows scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 5–7. All performances take place in the Howard Performing Arts Center located on the campus of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich.
 
On Friday, Nov. 5, two performances, 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., are offered free of charge to area schoolchildren. Over 1,000 elementary and high school students from primarily the Berrien Springs area will attend one of the two performances. Schools or home school students interested in participating can make arrangements by calling Carlos Flores, chair, at 269-471-6342. Space is available for the 1 p.m. performance.
  
The community is invited to attend one of three other performances: Saturday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. or Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and free to students. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Howard Performing Arts Center box office at 269-471-3560 or 888-467-6442.

Cristina Piccardi (second from left), a graduate student in choral conducting and Katie Drexler (right) are both playing the role of Belle along with junior voice performance major Anthony James (center) who plays Scrooge. Teresa Macdonald, a senior music major, (far left) fills the playful role of Jack-in-the-Box. (Photo by Ed Mack)

  
Adapted by Fred Spielman, this performance of Scrooge will feature a blend of Andrews University voice majors, other University students and members of the community. Scrooge, portrayed by junior voice major Anthony James, is a man synonymous with “Bah Humbug!” Intent on becoming wealthy, along the way Scrooge loses his beautiful fiancée, Belle, portrayed by Cristina Piccardi, a graduate student in choral conducting and Katie Drexler, a senior voice performance major. Through a series of dreams, Scrooge discovers there is more to life than obtaining wealth and how much happiness comes from helping others. When he awakens from his dreams, he buys toys (portrayed by actors), food and gifts to share with those around him. The Toy Chorus includes a toy soldier, a clown, an elephant, a Jack-in-the-Box and a ballerina.
 
This is a Department of Music production directed by Julia Lindsay, assistant professor of music and coordinator of vocal studies, with James Hanson, retired faculty. Instrumental accompaniment is provided by Linda Mack, associate professor of library science, and the production was choreographed by Patricia Smith, a member of the Berrien Springs community. Costumes are provided by Julia Lindsay.