A cast of 31 actors is eager to bring a holiday tradition to life this weekend at Belle Starr Theater, as it performs “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens. The play runs from Dec. 1-3. Show …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
A cast of 31 actors is eager to bring a holiday tradition to life this weekend at Belle Starr Theater, as it performs “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens.
The play runs from Dec. 1-3. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Saturday, Dec. 2 coincides with Hometown Christmas in Warrenton, the city’s annual holiday event sponsored by the Warrenton Downtown Association.
“We used to do this every year, recasting some of the people in their same roles,” said Director Jim Mossop. “The past couple of years we haven’t had a Hometown Christmas show.”
Belle Starr Theater, 112 E. Main St. in downtown Warrenton, is host to a few performances each year and just finished its showing of “Play On.” With just one a month to prepare for “A Christmas Carol,” actors have been practicing diligently to learn their roles.
“There’s a lot of new talent on stage,” said Mossop. “We have a few a returning who have done Belle Starr performances before. We have a lot of family members on set together, including three sets of sisters, a couple of father and son acts as well as a mother and two daughters. That’s something that doesn’t often happen.”
Vince Fallert, who took up acting 12 years ago, plays Scrooge for a second time during his 21st performance.
“I enjoy acting and telling a story, interpreting it in my own way,” said Fallert. “I want to make it believable.”
Evangeline Van Houten was so excited about the opportunity to perform that she agreed to drive from her hometown of O’Fallon to for the auditions. She will be playing the Ghost of Christmas Past.
“Now I get to be part of this amazing community theater,” said Van Houten. “Everyone is so great, and we’re having a really good time. This is my favorite Christmas story, and I’m excited for people to see it and share it with the community.”
This year’s cast is one of the biggest in Belle Starr’s history, featuring many locals alongside Van Houten.
Mossop says he is excited about bringing a holiday performance back to Warren County.
“Come out and enjoy the Christmas story about Scrooge and a change of heart and how everyone has the Christmas spirit within them,” said Mossop.
From left, Penny Lavy, Tammy Duncan and Don Boyd rehearse a scene of "A Christmas Carol" before opening night Friday, Dec. 1. Record photo/Derrick Forsythe.
