To purchase tickets, click here.
The Holy Redeemer Drama Department has been busy preparing this year’s play, A Christmas Carol, and now they are proud to announce that this year’s main stage production will online!
“The students have been working extremely hard,” says Drama Teacher Peter Taylor. “It seems life is throwing everything at us, but these students are amazingly resilient and no matter what will be ready to perform.”
The school was given the go-ahead in August that extra-curricular programs will be a go again this year after taking last year off to navigate the COVID pandemic. From there it was announced that Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol would be the play. “We performed this show back in 2007 and it has stood as one of our most popular plays we have ever done,” says Taylor who added that the school wanted to do a more familiar play because of all the unexpected things they might encounter over the process of getting the show ready.
That said, the story is one that everyone loves as it captures the magic of Christmas, while at the same time having some thrilling elements as Ebenezer Scrooge meets the three ghosts trying to change his ways. “People just love the show,” says Taylor. “Not only that, we’re having a blast getting all the effects together to make our ghosts as spooky as possible.”
As mentioned earlier, the play will be streamed online, meaning audiences will be able to watch the performance from the comfort of their homes. By purchasing a ticket, audience members will receive a link to specific show they have requested. 24 hours prior to the play beginning, audiences will receive the link and be able to tune in to watch the show from anywhere. “So be sure to get your snacks ready and if you can, connect your computer to your television set for an optimal experience,” says Taylor.
The show is set to perform nightly at 7 pm from December 1st to 4th, along with a special 2 pm matinee on December 4th. Each performance will be live giving audiences and the actors the thrill of performing it as it were live theatre. The Drama Department has even hired the services of Spencer Richard (Srvent) to produce the livestream so that it is professionally done.
Over 45 grade 7 to 12 students are set to part in the production that will still have all the elements of a traditional HRH production – fantastic costumes, brilliant set, and exceptional acting.
“This process has been really different,” says grade 12 student Ethan Toner who is playing Scrooge, a duty he is proud to split with fellow grade 12 student Jesse Cesario. “That said, it’s great to be back acting. It’s been far too long.”
Katie Blue is very happy to be performing in her grade 12 year as the Spirit of Christmas Present. “Some of my friends who graduated the last two years weren’t able to have a play, so doing this is pretty exciting.”
Another new element this year is that audiences will be able to purchase their tickets online by going to the Holy Redeemer website, holyredeemerhigh.ca. “We’re very excited to introduce this system,” says Taylor. Tickets are $15 per household link.
Now the cast and crew return to their rehearsal schedule to prepare for the first week of December. Needless to say, the cast and crew are looking forward to having their first virtual audience!