A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic comes to life on stage in A Christmas Carol. Follow the unforgettable journey of Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, leading him toward reflection, redemption, and the true meaning of the season. Filled with rich storytelling, timeless characters, and festive spirit, this heartwarming production is a must-see holiday tradition for audiences of all ages.

Photos courtesy of Martin Seelig, Catchlight Gallery

Director’s Note

My first real exposure to A Christmas Carol was in Becky Burgess’ 8th grade English class at West Jefferson school. We learned about Victorian England, Charles Dickens and the story. I have been enamored with the story ever since. Thanks Mrs. Burgess! The story reminds all of us to be kinder and more generous to our fellow human beings. There is hope for us all. I love theatre! Thank you to all those theatre influences: Julie, Wendy, Mr. Parker, Jay, Grady and many others. Thank you to a cast and crew who have worked so hard. Thank you to Baron for his endless creativity that inspires me, thank you to Olivia who kept me on my costume toes and thank you to my own Scrooge, Jim, whose love and support has been unwavering.
-Rebecca Williams

Assistant Director’s Note

I am very excited to present to you A Christmas Carol, In The Spirit. I want to thank all of the cast and crew that have dedicated so many long hours to bring this production to life. I am very proud of all of them. I want to thank Rebecca Williams for inviting me on this journey. It’s my first time working on a production with her and it has been a joy. I also want to extend a special thanks to Jim Williams (Scrooge.) He has taught me so much about theatre, whether it be lighting, directing or acting. I know that I would not be where I am today without his help. Last but definitely not least, thank you to all the members of our audience. Thank you for being here. Please sit back and enjoy the show.
-Baron Cooper

Who’s Who?*

Ginny White

Ginny is in sixth grade at Westwood Elementary School this year. She has been active in the church choir, and her school’s choir, and she loves art and performance. She has performed in The Wizard of Oz this summer as Dorothy, as well as Missoula Children’s Theater’s The Snow Queen, The Frog Prince, The Princess and the Pea, along with others. She has also been in Willy Wonka as Veruca Salt, and Murder at Fences Mansion as Tiffany Fences. She is so excited to be in A Christmas Carol!

Sarah Brandt

Sarah is a Senior at Ashe County High School. Her acting
repertoire includes performing in Missoula Children’s Theatre (2017-2023)and in Ashe County High School Theater (2020-2023). Sarah has also performed in the the Ashe County Little Theater productions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Secret Garden, Gypsy, Matilda, and Young Frankenstein The Musical. Her passion is singing. In her spare time Sarah enjoys volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, Ashe County Food Pantry and events sponsored by The Ashe County Art Council.

Olivia Cooper

Olivia is excited to appear once again on the stage with Ashe County Little Theatre She has previously appeared in ACLT’s Young Frankenstein, Gypsy and To Kill a Mockingbird. She has appeared in notable productions such as The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid at Wilkes Playmakers, Allegheny Community Theatre’s productions of Lizzie Borden of Fall River and A Christmas Carol, as well as Beanstalk Community Theatre’s High School Musical. She has appeared in numerous other shows. Olivia’s commitment
extends beyond the spotlight, as she has taken on responsibilities behind the scenes as well. She served as a stage manager for ACLT’s production of Angel Street and ACT’s rendition of Frankenstein. She’s helped with makeup, set building, prop creation, backstage tech and sound tech. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys expressing her creativity
through knitting, painting, and sewing.

Jocelynn Chatham

Jocelynn is 13 years old and goes to ACMS. Her hobbies
outside of theater are volleyball, playing fiddle and guitar and various art styles. “I am so blessed to be able to play in The Christmas Carol and am thankful to be able to play live music in this show. I hope to be in many more shows that come to Ashe County Little Theater.

Michael Howell

Michael is very involved in the High Country’s arts community, creating art and supporting art through service on several boards. Mike was hooked because of all the fun of being in Young Frankenstein The Musical and jumped into the Little Theatre’s variety show, performing in 2 short plays and directing one. He’s having as much fun in A Christmas Carol and thanks Rebecca and Baron for casting him as Fred. He definitely does not think Christmas is a hum-bug! Fun fact: During the Christmas holidays, Mike watches almost every version of A Christmas Carol that can be found on video, about 20!

Sally Kinka

Sally is a professional playwright, director, performer, drama teacher, production and costume designer, storyteller and puppeteer, with a special concentration in drama as therapy. She is also a co-founder of the non-profit
performing arts organization, ArtStream and recently ran bedside drama and storytelling programs at Duke University pediatric oncology and hematology, as well as UNC Children’s Hospital. Currently Sally runs the NC Playwrights Forum through the Ashe County Arts Council.

Delia Gambill

Delia was born to be in theater. It’s in her blood. Her mother and grandmother have had her involved in theater since she was a year old. She attends Blue Ridge Elementary School, loves to draw, and is always dressing up even when not on stage. She has been seen in many
Missoula Children’s Theater productions and was Matilda in Matilda The Musical. She has had a wonderful time with all her theater friends.

Jill Gambill

Jill has been active in ACLT since 2000. She has participated in more than 30 shows, including South Pacific as Nellie Forbush, The Mountain In Us where she portrayed her 6th great grandmother, and Matilda the Musical as Agatha Trunchbull. She has enjoyed sharing the
stage again with her daughter and hopes you enjoy the show.

HaLey Luster

“This is my first play and I’m super excited. I’m in 8th grade and I love reading.”

Edie Miller

Edie Miller is a veteran of 37 years of ACLT. She has been in numerous productions though the years. She loves working onstage or backstage. Her favorite roles have been Lennie in Crimes of the Heart and Alora in Walking Across
Egypt. Her last production was ACLT’s Young Frankenstein. This show has been fun with a great cast. Edie has been employed at United Chemi-Con for 54 years. She lives in Jefferson and is married to Eddie and they have a fur baby
cat named Stewball.

Gage Lambert

Gage Lambert attends school at Ashe County Middle school. He has been in a few productions such as Young Frankenstein. His hobbies outside of school are playing his saxophone and watching scary movies. He’s had a great time being in A Christmas Carol.

Tommy Sparks

Tommy Sparks is an 8th grader at the local middle school who enjoys games, technology, and acting. His recent roles include Michael Wormwood in Matilda and Sid in Murder at Fences Mansion, both productions of Ashe County Little Theatre. When prompted for more info he stated, “”Many people ask me who I am and what I want to do. In all honesty, I don’t know yet. I’m still figuring that out.”

Levi Walker

Levi Walker is making his debut appearance with the Ashe County Little Theater, but this is hardly his first time on stage. He has appeared in several productions at Westwood Elementary School. Levi is the older brother of two and lives with his family in West Jefferson. He enjoys playing video games in his free time and is a 7th grader at Ashe County Middle School.

Jim Williams

Jim Williams has been an active member of the Ashe County Little Theater since 2009, performing in, directing, and doing technical work for numerous plays. Recently, Jim directed the first Ashe County Little Theater performance of the 2023 season, Bell, Book and Candle. He has also directed Harvey, Wait Until Dark, Lost in Yonkers, and Bus Stop. He loves all aspects of theater, particularly lighting. Jim lives in West Jefferson with his wife and best friend, Rebecca.

Aiden Allison

Mason Blevins has been performing in theatre as long as he can remember. Some of his favorite roles include Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird, Ken in RED, George Gibbs in Our Town, and Andy Warhol in Andy Warhol’s Tomato. He is very excited to be back onstage with ACLT.

Mason Blevins

Mason Blevins has been performing in theatre as long as he can remember. Some of his favorite roles include Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird, Ken in RED, George Gibbs in Our Town, and Andy Warhol in Andy Warhol’s Tomato. He is very excited to be back onstage with ACLT.

Brant Burgiss

Ever since Brant’s father gave him an LP record version of A Christmas Carol back in 1967, the entirety of which he memorized and performed for his parents and grandparents on the occasion of the holiday, he dreamed of the day when he might actually get to perform this play on a real stage. This is Brant’s third stage appearance with this classic story from Dickens, but the first time he’s played this role. Favorite past ACLT roles include Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, Dr. Lyman in Bus Stop, and Dale Harding in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Brant has starred in various regional community theatre productions and also lends his voice to audiobooks on Audible.com. He is married to Amy, and they have two daughters, Ashley and Mary Beth. When not busy dragging chains and scaring Scrooge, Brant is the manager for Thistle Meadow Winery in Laurel Springs.

Baron Cooper

Baron Cooper began his theatrical journey with Ashe County Little Theatre and has also had the privilege of performing with Allegheny Community Theater and Beanstalk Community Theater. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to embody a wide range of memorable characters in various productions, including Bus Stop, The 39 Steps, Lost in Yonkers, Dracula, The Addams Family, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Christmas Carol. His most recent production was directing Young Frankenstein, The Musical. He has also directed productions such as Murder by Poe, Angel Street, and Frankenstein. The exploration of the intricate behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre and the joy of guiding fellow performers in bringing stories to life have been immensely rewarding for him. He would like to thank his wife, Vikki, and daughter, Olivia, for their unwavering support.

Kelly Halsey

Kelly Halsey is happy to be back on the ACLT stage after a few years away. She has been performing since she was 12, when she got her start as one of Fagan’s “boys” in Oliver! Some of Kelly’s favorite roles have included the title role in Annie!, Veruca in Willy Wonka, and Ermengard in Hello Dolly! Kelly was recently seen as Thelma in Blue Ridge Community Theatre’s The Trip to Bountiful. Kelly lives in West Jefferson with her perfect doggo LeeRoy and her two cats, Boo and Penny.

Malorie Harless

Malorie Harless, age 11, is no stranger to the stage. She began dance at age 2 and performed as a squirrel in ACLT’s Willy Wonka in 2017. Malorie has enjoyed performing in musicals like Gypsy and Matilda. She is thrilled to be playing Christmas Past in her first non-musical production, and being given a chance to work with her wig!

Khlea Turnmire

Khela Turnmire: “I’m a novice at acting; nevertheless, I’ve always wanted to try it out. Everyone here has been more than nice to me, so I’ve had a great support system. I work at United Chemi-con part-time. I live with my chihuahua, Oliver. My parents have been a huge support system to me as well. Thanks, everyone, for coming to see this play. I’ve made many new friends that I hope will remain for a long time.”

Maggie Harless

Maggie started her acting career as a mushroom (Grow roots!) in Missoula Children’s production of Rapunzel in 2016. With a background in dance and an interest in fashion, Maggie enjoys all aspects of the theatre. She has been thankful for the many opportunities she has had with ACLT and looks forward to many more.

Mike Kotula

Mike is very glad to have been cast as “Bob Cratchit.” The first play he was cast in was in high school as Tony in West Side Story. Then came a 42-year career in the railroad industry. Now retired, he is working on a bucket list of trout fishing, straight plays, and musicals. This is his sixth play since retirement.

Hanna Lasseter

Hanna is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. She has performed in The Princess and The Pea as a “Phony Princess” and “River Runner.” Hanna also took a theater class last year with HCPAA and performed as “Gumdrop Fairy” in Camping Catastrophe. She is very passionate about being on stage. Between competitive dance and theater, she is bound to be found performing! Hanna also loves to read.

Jerry Roman

Jerry is from Wilmington, DE. This is for my one and only, my skinny blondie, my wife—all the same person, still. “If not for you…” For Jo-Jo, my niece’s son. I didn’t get to know you (a deep regret). What I do know is that during your short time here, you brought joy and light not only to your father, mother, and sister, but also into the lives of everyone you touched. Rest in peace, kid…

William Smith

William is making his debut appearance with the Ashe County Little Theatre. His last big production was South Pacific in high school. He has previously performed with the V2 Theatre Company. He lives with his wife, Jodi, in Sparta, NC. They have three daughters and a granddaughter. William would like to thank the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol for making this such an enjoyable experience. Here’s to many more!

Production Staff

Director: Rebecca Williams
Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Baron Cooper
Master Carpenter: Jerry Brandt
Set Painting: Jerry Brandt, Olivia Cooper, Michael Howell, Mike & Jan Kotula
Lighting Design: Baron Cooper, Jim Williams
Lighting Operator: Juan Rodriguez
Spot Light Operators: Vikki Cooper, Kirsten Shumate
Lighting Assistant: Manny Kenn
Sound Design and Operator: Richard Edmondson
Costume Design: Rebecca Williams
Christmas Past Costume: Olivia Cooper
Costume Construction: Olivia Cooper, Maggie Harless, Malorie Harless, Sally Kinka, Tommy Sparks, Diane Tetterton, Rebecca Williams
Ghost of Christmas Future Constr.: Olivia Cooper, Tommy Sparks
Wardrobe backstage: Cynthia Harless
Wigs and Headpieces: Cynthia Harless, Charna Howson
Makeup Design: Charna Howson
Props: Sally Kinka, Edie Miller
Backstage Crew: Norma Allen, Jerry Brandt, Edie Miller and Cast
Poster Design: Baron Cooper
Program Design: Linda Dreyer
Publicity: Baron Cooper, Melissa Edmondson, Rebecca Williams
Front of House: Peggy Brandt, Jody Cheek, Cameron and Judy Current, Melissa Edmondson