Carols familiar and forgotten

Christmas is a time for carols, both familiar and new, and for stories of redemption and healing. These songs and stories will be coming to multiple stages in Sweetwater County in the coming days with the productions of "The Forgotten Carols" by The Horizon Theater and "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" by the Actors' Mission.

The Forgotten Carols

Coming back for their second year producing a Christmas musical, the Horizon Theater is bringing "The Forgotten Carols" to the Broadway Theater stage.

"It is a story of a nurse named Constance meeting a man by the name of Uncle John, and John kind of shows her a different perspective on life and Christmas as a whole," Director Raif Nettik explained.

Bringing the story to life has come with interesting challenges, especially for Nettik. He was originally going to assistant direct the show, just as he assistant directed the Horizon Theater's previous production. This time, however, Nettik was asked to take the helm as the director for the large and challenging musical. While the process has had its challenges, it's also had its rewards.

"I've absolutely enjoyed directing this," Nettik said. "I spent so much time thinking about this show that it's hard to express it in words. I can only put it visually now. And that's the one thing I love about directing is that it's a bunch of people coming together to help create a vision that I can't express fully myself."

With a cast of roughly 30 actors, in addition to crew members, Nettik has plenty of help expressing his vision. He also said he has about 10 more people to "wrangle" for this production compared to last time. The cast of "The Forgotten Carols" also includes a number of children, who can be especially energetic, Nettik pointed out.

Creating the set and lighting came with challenges as well. Even though previous productions of the musical have used a "bare bones set," Nettik wanted something more engaging. Horizon Theater cofounder and Technical Director Cory Schaeperkoetter also felt it was important for the set to be part of the story. He and Nettik wanted to use it to "be another catalyst for people to engross themselves" in the story and create their own metaphors and analogies.

Another important part of the production is the carols themselves. The story "uses music incredibly effectively," according to Nettik. Horizon Theater cofounder Sarah Schaeperkoetter is helping out as the music director for the show, which is important with a large choir as part of the cast.

For Nettik, the music is like the "cherry on top," the sweetness that finishes off a powerful story.

"It's a musical about second chances and coming to terms with your past," Nettik explained. "I was just very drawn to Constance as a character because she is someone that, while guarded at first, learns...that life isn't only in the past."

With a Christmas story that focuses on learning from the past, this musical has some similarities to The Horizon Theater's production of "A Christmas Carol" last year.

"I would say the most similar aspect from 'A Christmas Carol' to 'Forgotten Carols' is that it is a story about growth," Nettik said. He pointed out that Uncle John helps Constance on her journey, much like the Ghosts of Christmas help Scrooge on his journey. "Both very much are stories about growth, they just go different avenues about it."

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge

The classic story of "A Christmas Carol" is coming back to Sweetwater County again this year as well, but this time with a twist.

"The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" is a spin-off of the Charles Dickens classic. In this version, set after the events of the book, Ebenezer Scrooge files a lawsuit against Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future for assault, attempted murder, kidnapping, pain and suffering, and the like. The play follows the courtroom proceeding as the characters make their cases.

"It's a lot of fun," Director Rick Cozad said. "There's a lot of artistic liberties."

Cozad explained that one of the fun aspects of a spin-off is the freedom of not having to stick strictly to the original story, while also having plenty of respect for and references to the source. Much of the dialogue in the play comes directly from the book, Cozad noted, and the play has an ending in line with the heart of the story.

"It's not such an offshoot from the original that it would be off putting," he said.

Bringing such a well-known story and classic characters to life in a new way was one of the best parts of the production for Cozad, particularly in working with the cast.

"The rewarding part is to see a script that is nothing but words on paper come out on stage," he said. "I direct these guys, but I also allow them to be comfortable in their character, and give some feedback... These guys have had a lot of impact into how this play is going to come out."

Watching the actors make the characters their own has been especially rewarding for Cozad.

"Fortunately I've got a very talented cast that, whether by accident or on purpose, they are cast perfectly, I think," he said.

With several veteran Actors' Mission members in the cast, this production also brings back the practice of doing a Christmas play, which the Actors' Mission hasn't done for several years. Cozad hopes there might be more AM Christmas productions in the future, too - especially as there are other plays that can follow and connect to this one, so there could be a related show next year.

One of the challenges that comes with putting on a show at Christmas time, however, is finding a venue. With other theater companies putting on their own productions, and the Actors' Mission building in downtown Rock Springs still going through renovations, Cozad and his cast and crew had to find a space for the performance. The show will be performed in the Bunning Hall Freight Station in downtown Rock Springs, which will lend itself well to the classic, up-close Actors' Mission style.

"We're fortunate in getting the hall because to me it's more intimate, like a black box theater," Cozad explained.

Being up close will allow the audience to fully experience the humor of the show, which Cozad described as "very funny," as well as the emotions of the story.

"It'll bring a tear to your eye," Cozad said.

The power of community and theater

One of the main take-aways that both Nettik and Cozad hope audiences get from their shows is a chance to see productions put on by fellow community members.

"I would like people to come to the show to see, firsthand, their neighbors and their neighbors' talent," Cozad said.

Nettik explained that even with the challenges that come with doing community theater, it also brings the benefit of being able to rely on the community.

"It just feels like if we need something, there will be an avenue of finding it, and that is something that I appreciate greatly," Nettik said. "And it's also a reason why I want the community to come out and see this. I want people to engage with all sorts of arts, whether that be our own [company] or going up to the college or Upstage or Starling Company or Actors' Mission, all of them, I think it's all so very important. I'm glad I have this support, and I'm glad that the Schaeperkoetters and the Horizon Theater have the support from the community."

Seeing performances put on by friends and neighbors also adds an extra level to the power that theater itself has, both for those who produce it and those who enjoy watching it.

"I believe a lot of people underestimate the arts as a tool to learn about themselves," Nettik said.

Both "The Forgotten Carols" and "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" present fun stories that delve deeper into the human experience and present powerful lessons.

"It's about Christmas spirit and caring and giving and all those things that come with the holidays," Cozad said of "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge." "I guess I would want [audiences] to understand that that's still alive and well. It hasn't gone anywhere, no matter what's going on around us."

"One thing I want people to take away from the show as a whole is that it never hurts to be more open," Nettik said of "The Forgotten Carols." He said putting on the show has helped him grow personally and realize that there's always more to learn and always something other people can bring to the table. "I hope at least just one person can come to this show and realize that for themselves, because it never hurts to grow and learn."

Both directors also said that these productions are not ones that should be missed.

"The Forgotten Carols" opens tomorrow at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs and will have performances at 7:30 p.m. on December 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16, as well as matinees at 2 p.m. on December 9 and 16. Tickets are $10 for children and seniors and $15 for adults, and can be purchased at broadwayrs.com, by calling (307) 352-1434, or at the door.

"The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" opens next week at the Bunning Hall Freight Station in Rock Springs and will have performances at 7 p.m. on December 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, and a matinee at 2 p.m. on December 17. Admission is free, and a complimentary meal will be served one hour before each performance.