Aloha Performing Arts Company

Casting is complete and rehearsal has begun for the holiday classic "A Christmas Carol," the next production by the Aloha Performing Arts Company's Aloha Teen Theatre. "A Christmas Carol," adapted by Christopher Schario from the book by Charles Dickens, is a timeless tale and a delight for family audiences. ATT's production of "A Christmas Carol" has a cast of 15 members, and is directed by Sandra Burck and produced by Erica and Gayle Keller.

Leading this youthful cast as Scrooge is Kini Depontes, best known to APAC audiences as Mercutio in "Romeo and Juliet." The eight other cast members play a variety of roles in this non-traditional staging of this holiday classic. Kevin Novotny will portray both Scrooge's long dead partner Jacob Marley as well as the more jovial Fezziwig. Alec Lugo makes his APAC debut in his role as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's long suffering employee. Alec's sister Miranda Lugo, also making her debut, will be portraying Charwoman and a Gentlewoman. Sara Frazier portrays Mrs. Cratchit as well as a laundress. Veteran performer Delaney Ross has the roles of Christmas Past and Actor 1. The Ghost of Christmas Present and Actor 5 are portrayed by Sarah R. Weiner, who audiences will remember as Juliet in APAC's production of "Romeo & Juliet." Another newcomer to the Aloha stage is Ashley Raleigh who will portray both Mrs. Fezziwig and Scrooge's sister, Fan. Jaquelynn Collier will undertake the role of Scrooge's lost love Belle as well as Actor 4. Jed Bryant takes on the dual roles of Fred Scrooge, Ebenezer's nephew, and Peter, eldest son of Bob Cratchit. Caitlynne Johnson will play Martha Cratchit as well as a Gentlewoman. Another newcomer to the stage, Geoffrey Hand, rounds out the Cratchit Clan as Tiny Tim and will also be seen as Dick Wilken, an apprentice in Fezziwig's shop. Other cast members include Louis Jaeger as Old Joe and Actor 3, Kaipo Kaluau as Turkey Boy and School boy, and Stephanie Vancil as the fiddler.

"A Christmas Carol" opens December 21, at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, and plays through December 29, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The final day, Saturday, December 29, features a "double header," with both a 2:30 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. evening show. Tickets, which are $10 senior and students and $12 for adults, can be purchased online at www.apachawaii.org , by phone at 322-1648, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to performance time. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.