December 3, 4, 10 & 11^th, 2021

By Jackie Mills

Dicken’s would be proud!   His name and his works live on and on via Tablerock Amphitheater!  Twenty-nine years is a long run for a show and this is a short historical catalog of the happening:    After several years of winging it on A Christmas Carol script, I contacted Harry Sweet and asked him to “Please write a stage play for Tablerock that is true to Dicken’s original story.” Harry produced the play for the stage and left his master piece to Tablerock in his will.   Harry directed the play for 15 years and then left Shannon Ashe, his Assistant Director, with the duty of following his directions.  Shannon moved out of town after a wonderful 12 year run of the show and left Thom Wilson, her very talented Assistant Director, to carry on for the past 2 years with Dicken’s tale told to a capital “T”. 

The cast and crew of A Christmas Carol have been in rehearsal for two weeks.  The 50 members in the cast and crew grows every day.   Thom is a good natured Director and “no” is not in his vocabulary!   Thom’s Assistant Director, Beth Correa, is a polished director in her own right, but she too has a hard time when it comes to telling a willing volunteer that the cast and crew are full to overflowing!   The show will keep rehearsing for another month.  

One man in the show, who has been the same character for twenty years, is Dr. Howard Horton of Bartlett, Texas.   His  role of Marley is one that is so fine-tuned that no one dares to audition for Dr. Horton’s famous character that is actually called….”Howard’s Marley.”   Dr. Howard Horton retired from teaching at Mary Hardin Baylor, but can’t relax enough to completely retire and so is now teaching again at schools in the area.

Whole families volunteer to perform in A Christmas Carol.  The Paul Vaccaro family, from Florence, Texas, have the parents and four children in the play.   The Gary  Maki family, from Salado have the parents and four children in the play.  Many of the teens use their roles in “Carol” to earn Community Service for clubs they belong to in High School and then there are the seasoned actors from New York and Hollywood who moved to what they thought was a sleepy little town to retire and find themselves needed at Tablerock!   All the above helping Tablerock,  themselves as well as their fellow actors. 

Come join us at Tablerock Amphitheater for A Christmas Carol this December 3, 4, 10 & 11, 2021.  You may purchase tickets ahead of time via  www.CentralTexasTickets.com or you may purchase tickets at the door on the night of the performance with cash or check.  The Bell County Sheriff’s Posse will be on horseback guiding you as you park your car in our free parking lot. Doors to the Ticket Office and the Concession Stand and indoor restrooms will be open at 6:15 p.m.   Adult tickets – $15.00, Children 12 and under – $3.00, Student Tickets – $5.00.  The show begins at 7 p.m.  The Concession Stand volunteers will serve ham and cheese sandwiches, hot coffee and cold drinks, nachos and hot dogs, a cheerful smile and a Merry Christmas!.      

The list of cast and crew members for this year’s (2021) performance of A Christmas Carol are as follows: Thom Wilson– Director of the play;  Beth Correa – Show Manager;  Parker Ihler as Lamplighter, Young Boy Dancer, Traveler # 2 & Jonathan the Funeral Apprentice; Gunter Wilson as Ebenezer Scrooge; Kim Leitner as Bob Crachit; Cody Chiarelli as Nephew Fred; Allegra Yauk as Solicitor # 1, The Welch Miner Family & Make Up Design; Kathy Ackerman as Solicitor # 2;   Mark Vaccaro as a Young Caroler, Running around Scrooge; Malcolm Davis as Caroler, Miner & Traveler #1; Selestte Hubbard as Caroler, Miner, Girl Dancer # 4, Associate # 2 & running around Scrooge;  Micah Cazier as Caroler, Young Boy Scrooge; Dr. Howard Horton as Jacob Marley; Gabby Vaccaro as Ghost of Christmas Past; Robert Purtlebaugh as Traveler # 3, John Crachit & Boy Dancer # 4; Chloe Maki as Traveler # 4, Lucy Crachit; Ally Ihler as Traveler # 6, Girl Dancer # 3 & Martha Crachit;  Reagan Maki as Little Fan & Belinda Crachit; Jimbo Moore as Mr. Fezziwig & Old Joe; Riley Montgomery as Young Man Scrooge, Welch Milner # 2 & Boy Dancer #1; Michael Johnson as Dick Wilkins, Peter Crachit & Boy Dancer #3; Tonja Moore as Mrs. Fezziwig & Mrs. Pratt; Jack Cabaniss as The Fiddler & Merchant # 1; Katie Feutz as Girl Dancer # 1, Ginger & Young Belle; Caleb Antum as Boy Dancer # 2 & Merchant # 2; Evelyn Cazier as Girl Dancer # 2, Millie the Maid &  Associate #1; Susan Maki as Older Belle & Caroline; Gary Maki as Older Bell’s husband, The Poulter & Caroline’s husband; Alex Ihler as Ghost of Christmas Present; Laurie Cahoon as Mrs.Crachit; Ethan Maki as Tiny Tim; Malcolm Davis as Ignorance; Lillie Moore as Want; Michael Montgomery as Ghost of Christmas Future; Marcia Chiarelli as  Mrs. Dilber;  Guy Vaccaro as the Turkey Boy; Betheny Vaccaro – Costume Mistress;  Michael Cahoon – Lights; Mardeana Purtlebaugh & Olivia Kelley – Spotlights;  Jackie Mills – Publicity and Programs; Richard Combs-Sound; Hailee Vaccaro – Photos; Maria Perez– Backstage Parent;