SCROOGE   Role: Bob Cratchit   Production Info: Dec. 16-19, 1998 @ The Lamb’s Theatre Book, Music, Orchestrations, Vocal Arrangements: Philip Stern Conductor:Philip Stern Director: Lisa Hopkins

Scrooge, a new musical version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, had its New York City premiere at the Lamb’s Theater on 45th Street during December of 1998. I was particularly excited about this production because I had been part of the original cast in the winter of 1996 (see the listing for Scrooge in the Regional Theatre section of the Gallery to get the full story). This was an expanded and revised version of the one-act show we had performed in Michigan, although this time around (due to time and budget constraints) we performed the show “concert-style” . . . full costumes and full orchestra, but with minimal staging and with microphones at the front of the stage. They made some recordings through the sound system during the performances and later edited and compiled them into a double-CD set . . . so I guess I could say that this was my first Original Cast Recording! Click on this link to read more information about Scrooge.

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That’s me as Bob Cratchit. This picture was taken during the Christmas Future section of Act II. The song I’m singing is a lullaby to the deceased Tiny Tim.

Chet Carlin (as Scrooge) lifts Tiny Tim onto his shoulder for the Finale . . . “God Bless Us, Every One!”

 
 

. . . from James Hullinger, The Lamb’s Theatre, NYC   [Scrooge is] a musical show so unpretentiously joyous in its message and so irresistibly generous in its outpouring of talent, that it became a holiday gift to all who entered the theatre.... (The) orchestrations and vocal arrangements not only set a new level of achievement at The Lamb’s Theatre, they in fact raised the standard of comparison to which future productions will be judged.