Family Christmas Show Opens at Town Hall

A family-oriented presentation of “A Christmas Carol” opens Dec. 2 at Julian Town Hall and plays Friday and Saturday nights through Dec.17, with one matinee on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Ticket prices have been reduced this year to $10 for adults and $6 for children.

“It’s a family show,” said producer Debbie Kinney. “We just want to make it more affordable for kids.”

Based on the classic tale by Charles Dickens, it is an adaptation by local writer Don Winslow. The first adaptation by Winslow was for a fundraiser 17 years ago for a church in Connecticut.

Winslow’s version is a musical, incorporating traditional Christmas carols to fit in with the storyline. The audience is more involved with this production.

“It kind of surrounds the audience,” Winslow said of the play. “The people that come to it will feel they’re part of the whole experience and they’re welcome to sing along.”

The play is set in England in Victorian times. Poway attorney John Culver reprises his role as the banker, Scrooge, an old curmudgeon who doesn’t recognize Christmas as a holiday but has a change of heart after being visited by ghosts during the night.

Joe Romano will play the bank clerk, Bob Cratchit, this year, with his son, Joey Jr., as Tiny Tim.

Others in the cast are Gary Pellechia, Simon Hansen, Sandi Bennett, Alice Froyecke, Mickayla McDowell, Kayla Wyatt, Barbara Keresztury, Jerry Sladkey, Julia

Adams, Callie Myers, Martha Meyers, Calen Bole, Thomas Winslow, Adam Crosswhite, Robert Drewery, Sandra Sladkey, Kait Mushet, Kymm Hansen, Hannah Ashlock, Sela Sladkey, Sarah Linthicum, Diane Linthicum, Ian Kinney and Ronnie Klauger.

Anne Hubbell choreographed the Fezziwig dance. Garnette Riney is the musical director and pianist is Kathie Olsen.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. Performances are in the upper level at Julian Town Hall, 2129 Main St. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling (760) 765-1688.