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David de Vries, the actor playing Ebenezer Scrooge in the Alliance Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” is today’s Around Atlanta guest on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio! This production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” marks the 25th year the theatre has produced this show, and the first year de Vries will have the opportunity to play the transformative Scrooge character.
As the largest producing theatre in the Southeast, the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre produces 11 to 12 shows each year, many of which have gone on to Broadway. The Alliance Theatre houses an amazing collection of artists, costume designers, set builders and painters, actors and producers, and every aspect of a production is done in-house, including “A Christmas Carol.”
This perennial favorite show will undergo a few changes this year, including de Vries playing Scrooge for the first time. Chris Kayser retired from playing Scrooge at the end of 2013 after 16 years, giving a new actor the opportunity to take over this challenging role. The Alliance Theatre’s current adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” honors and preserves the original story, as many of the lines are taken directly from Dickens’ classic story. However, they’ve also intermingled great special effects into the story, as well as wonderful music that helps to move the story along while also getting the audience in the Christmas spirit.
When asked about the excitement and challenges of playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, de Vries said the role is fun because it’s a chance to be mean while in character. He adds that it’s exciting to play up the transformation that Scrooge undergoes from a dark, miserable person to someone who views the world in a completely different manor. However, de Vries also says that this role is a deeply personal one, as the character is asked to look at oneself in reflection. To do this successfully, the actor must use their own experiences to make the character real. On a daily basis, de Vries must ask himself to look back at his own life and the choices he’s made, and to think through how they may have affected those around him.
Because of this personal introspection, de Vries says that “A Christmas Carol” is a show that everyone should see beginning from a very early age. The story is able to get into the hearts and minds of young people, and pass along a message that we all need to hear over and over again. The story of Ebenezer Scrooge invites the audience to reframe their world, and rethink the way they see and interact with other people. There is no better time than the holiday season and the beginning of a new year to encourage people to use a little more compassion as they view the world around them.
The Alliance Theatre is part of the Woodruff Arts Center, and it is located at 1280 Peachtree Street NE in Atlanta. With one or two performances scheduled from tomorrow, Dec. 19 through Christmas Eve, attendees are running out of opportunities to see “A Christmas Carol.” Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 404-733-5000, or you can visit www.AllianceTheatre.org.
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