Manhattan Arts Center
Phyllis Shanline and Vesta Sargent.
2
A Christmas Carol: stage plays, musicals, films, of course
including sequels and prequels. Many simply bear the
same title as the original, but there is also The Gospel
According to Scrooge (a musical), The Scrooge Diary, and
even a steampunk-inspired adaptation: 3 Ghosts. How
about Dolly Parton's Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol,
in which Scrooge is the owner of a mining company town—in
Tennessee?! We even have our own version here at MAC, an adaptation
for children written by K-State’s Sally Bailey.
It‘s not easy putting on live theatre at present—or live anything else,
come to that. With only 40 seats in the Grosh Performance Hall (usually
145) and art classes of eight at most, it is almost impossible to cover
expenses, so we are extremely grateful to all our donors and for several
life-saving grants. We are also grateful to you for coming to this
performance or viewing it online. The latter may not be quite the same
as seeing it live, but we remain optimistic that live theatre is not too far
down the road now!
We appreciate your help in keeping everyone in our building safe by
wearing your mask at all times and observing social distancing and our
other guidelines. If you want to help MAC in other ways, please consider
becoming a Friend of MAC, or if you are a Friend, inviting your friends to
join you in supporting your local arts center in this way. It takes as little
as $25. Upper limit? There isn’t one! Thank you!
Penny Senften, Executive Director
Welcome to MAC Theatre
To subscribe to our weekly emails, send your name and email address to office@manhattanarts.org. Follow us on social media and
check our website often throughout the year as we are always adding more events, classes, and workshops!
The Manhattan Arts Center is funded in part by the City of Manhattan, the
Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, the Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl
Endowed Fund and the YES! Fund at GMCF, and the Kansas Creative Arts
Industries Commission. Additional support comes from our generous
sponsors and Friends of MAC.
T h
a n
k y
o u
the National Endowment for
3
The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge is produced by special arrangement with
DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
Originally produced by the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, Orlando, Florida, on
December 3, 2004, Jim Helsing, Artistic Director, Mary Ann Dean, Executive Director.
by Mark Brown Directed by Kim Riley
Setting & Time:
The story takes place in the courtroom, Dec. 24, 1844.
This play is performed in two acts.
There will be a brief intermission between acts.
Cast
Solomon Rothschild ....................................... Brent Weaver
Ebenezer Scrooge ...................................... Donald Houston
Bob Cratchit ................................................. Steven Bennett
Mrs. Cratchit/Belle ................................. Clairen Donaldson
Fan ................................................................ Maddy Signore
The Translator ............................................. Holly Emmerich
Jury ......................................................... Tonight’s Audience
Cell phones DARK AND SILENT throughout the performance please.
The videotaping or other video or audio
recording of this production is
strictly prohibited.
Rich Senften
Thanks to Special Friends & Supporters
Acknowledgements
Several months after the tragic events of 9/11, Mark Brown found himself
longing for the days immediately following 9/11. Not the tragedy and horror, but
the kindness and generosity shown by mostly everyone in the world. It was a truly
wonderful time.
Eventually, though, that kindness and generosity disappeared and we were
back to our old ways. He imagined that’s how Scrooge must have felt around
April. Scrooge had made a vow to keep Christmas in his heart all year long, but
those who chastised him for not having the Christmas Spirit were just as guilty.
When you think about it, Scrooge’s nephew only comes around every Dec 24th to
wish his uncle Merry Christmas. Where is he the other 364 days of the year? The
solicitors collect money for the poor but never show up any other time of the year.
“I feel those characters are self-righteous and hypocrites for not showing up
any other time of the year. Why can’t Scrooge’s nephew stop by some random
Friday just because he wants to see his uncle? Why don’t the solicitors come by
to collect money in summer. The poor and destitute need help all year long, not
just at Christmas,” writes Brown.
So with that in mind, he wrote this play.
- Adapted from MarkBrownwriter.com
About the Playwright
Digital Guestbook Due to social distancing requirements, we regret that we will not be able to host a meet & greet with the cast and
crew at the end of the performance.
Please share your greetings and comments for cast
and crew on our social media pages or in our
theatre blog post about this show:
http://manhattanarts.org/blog.aspx?CID=1 Click on “comments” under The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home for sponsoring the
arts calendar on KMAN
MAC is grateful for the dedication and friendship of Stephanie Morris and her family, Jeremy, Adeline & Noah. Our hearts go out to Stephanie’s family.
5
I had this whole set of notes in the works that talked about seeing The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge at a regional theatre and what a positive reaction it got from the audience and the cast involved. I liked that it had variations from the more traditional Christmas stories, but didn't actually wander too far away.
Then the challenges of life in 2020 hit us. Not just the rehearsal conflicts. You get used to the fact that having the entire cast at any given rehearsal is a luxury. You get used to the little surprises. The big ones, though, are another thing. Quarantine. Testing. Projecting through a mask. House occupancy limits. We played most of this by ear and became a very opportunistic group of people. What you see tonight is the result of a lot of creative work by some very creative people. Chief among them is our stage manager, Cherrine Scott. She dreamed up more solutions than any of us ever thought we'd be needing. We had actors rehearse over speaker phone (which works much better than Zoom). We had to make changes and alterations that they don't really warn you about in grad school.
They did it. The cast and the crew came through it all. As a result of their imaginations, improvisations and work that went above and beyond, we have live theatre for you. Please know that the people you see, the ones you don't see and
even their families have done an amazing job. Enjoy the show. Kim Riley
Director’s Notes
Phyllis Shanline and Vesta Sargent.
Phyllis Shanline In May this year we lost another great supporter of Manhattan community theatre. Phyllis and her husband Rix were founding members of Manhattan Civic Theatre, helping it survive and thrive with their active participation and financial assistance. Among Phyllis’s roles on stage was the Dowager Empress Marie in Anastasia in 1972, a role she memorably reprised in a staged reading in the 1990s. Later on, until Rix passed away in 2016 it was rare for the two of them to be missing from their front row seats on opening night.
Vesta Sargent Vesta’s involvement with community theatre goes back many years. She ventured into theatre while at KSU and just kept going, usually as stage manager. From 2006, she worked for several years in the MAC office, where her good nature and inimitable laugh made everyone feel welcome. Staff used to joke that whenever we needed e.g. a rare prop, a seamstress, Braille program notes (!), all we had to do was ask Vesta to call one of her cousins or a friend of a cousin’s. Vesta passed away in October.
Kim Riley (Director) has appeared in many plays at MAC including All My
Sons, Moon Over Buffalo and Arsenic and Old Lace. His directing
credits at MAC include Our Town, The Fox on the Fairway, Boeing
Boeing, and last year’s Miracle on South Division Street. He also
acts and directs at various regional theatres and has performed
over 250 shows for the Michigan-based American Immersion
Theatre Company. He is a proud father and grandfather.
6
7
Set Designer ....................................................................................................... Jimilee Riley
Set Construction Crew ....................... Cherrine Scott, Donald Houston, Steven Bennett
Susanne Renberg, Junii Renberg, Anthony Belin, Natalie Cook
Kim Riley, Joe Nilges, Kelvin Belin, Maddy Signore
Kelsey Thomas, Mary Siegle, Penny Cullers
Costumer .................................................................................................. Peggy Riley
Props Master ..................................................................... Cherrine Scott, Kim RIley Lightboard Operator ................................................................... Meladen Champion
Soundboard Operator ........................................................................ Nellie Bucholtz
Evening Box Office ............................... Dianna Horner, Rhonda Machin, Paula Goldwyn
MAC STAFF
Development Director ......................................................................................... Anat Eshar
Technical Coordinator................................................................................. Brandon Jansen
Creative Team
What’s the rest of the 2020-21 theatre season
and why can’t I buy a season ticket?
Here’s what we are planning to present, if all goes well:
As You Like It—Feb 19-21, 26-28, 2021 Auditions: Jan 10 & 11, 7-9pm
Spring Show…April/May
compelling and sometimes challenging plays in between.
We will do what we can do safely. Seating for all shows will be
very limited to allow for social distancing.
8
Audrey Artis (Judge Syliva R. Pearson) is excited to be in her eighth show at MAC! You may have recently seen her as Officer O’Hara in Arsenic and Old Lace. She thanks her family and friends for their support. She hopes
everyone enjoys the show!
Anthony Belin (Fred) began his career on stage with two major roles in musicals while in seventh and eighth grade. As a freshman at MHS he was in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. He currently is enrolled in Advanced Drama at MHS and
is in Varsity Choir. This is his debut at MAC.
Steven Bennett (Bob Cratchit) is a native to Charleston, SC exploring a new side of his personality. This is his first theatre play and he is looking forward to starting a new custom. Steven has always been interested in film and theatre. He is a soldier on Fort
Riley and is excited to be part of the show.
Penny Cullers (Artistic Director) is thrilled to be working on her tenth play since July 2020. Penny is also finishing up post production for her film Last Supper Cafe, and is in rehearsals for a new film project as co-director, co- producer, as well as playing
three roles in the film The Xenophobes.
Clairen Donaldson (Mrs. Cratchit/Belle) is majoring in communication at KSU. She is also pursuing a concentration in creative writing, and a minor in leadership. She enjoys singing, writing, and
theatre!
Holly Emmerich was recently seen at MAC in Men on Boats. She spent six years teaching drama in Africa and South America and is now studying Drama Therapy as a graduate student at KSU; her dream is to own and operate a creative
arts therapy center for adolescents.
Steve Galitzer (Set Construction Manager) enjoys many roles at MAC. He runs the MACbar, creates those clever drinks, raises funds, builds sets, and serves on the Board, Lately, he and Jan, have begun providing and raising
funds for new LED lights.
Donald Houston (Ebenezer Scrooge) is excited to be a part of this fantastic production. He appreciates the love and support of family, friends, and of course this wonderful community. He can’t wait to bring this role to life. Bah Humbug! Past roles include
Arsenic and Old Lace (Teddy), The Little Mermaid
(Chef Louis), A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley).
Sherri Minick (Ghost of Christmas Past) is thrilled to be appearing again on MAC’s stage. She has worked professionally at both Great Plains Theatre in Abilene and Maples Repertory in Macon, MO. Some favorite roles have included Wicked Witch in WOZ, Tzietel in
Fiddler on the Roof, and Charlotte in Charlotte's Web.
She sends much love to all her grandbabies!
Joseph Nilges (Jacob Marley) previously appeared at MAC in 2018's Inspecting Carol, and The Wrong Brannigan at the 2019 Sheldon Edelman One Act Festival. He has also performed in the musical Purlie. He thanks his wife, Sandra, for her
support.
9
Susanne Renberg (Mrs. Dilber) is delighted to be back in the theatre after a 30 year hiatus! She was especially excited to get this part because she has always wanted to try a cockney accent on stage. She is very grateful for the loving support of her husband and
daughter.
Peggy Riley (Costumer) loves taking a "thrift store" article of clothing and turning it into a stage costume. An old prom dress becomes Christmas Past; a choir robe becomes Christmas Future. Or maybe finding a treasure in the costume shop that becomes
Jacob Marley!! She also loves being part of the
production crew with Kim and Cherrine.
Cherrine Scott (Stage Manager) is excited to be back at MAC during this trying time. Some of the shows she has worked in include The Games Afoot (Stage Manager), Jekyll and Hyde (Props), and Inspecting Carol (Director). She hopes that you enjoy every
minute of the show today!
Mary Siegle (Sara Wainwright) is thrilled to be on stage at MAC with her husband Frank, who she met doing summer theatre. She’s helped backstage for a couple of shows but is making her MAC stage debut in this production. The last play she was in was 13
years ago, and anything before that is lost in the
mist of time.
Frank Siegle (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) is happy to be performing at MAC. He has appeared in many shows here since he played Oscar in The Odd Couple in 2006. Previously he appeared at KSU, the University of Colorado, the
University of Minnesota, summer theatre venues,
and productions in other community theatres.
Maddy Signore (Fan) is excited to be in this production. She is glad that she got the opportunity to audition for this show as it’s a great learning experience! She was in
the Wizard of Oz last fall.
Kelsey Thomas (The Bailiff, Ms. Connolly) is excited to be back on the stage after a short hiatus. Past MAC shows include The Addams Family, Our Town, My Fair Lady, and Mary Poppins. Please stay orderly and socially distant in the theatre, or she
may have to remove you from the courtroom!
Brent Weaver (Solomon Rothschild) is a KSU graduate who now works at the university. He has performed in MAC shows including: Spring Awakening (Melchior), My Fair Lady (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Our Town (George Gibbs), West Side Story (Tony), Damn
Yankees (Sohovic), and The Addams Family (Lucas). He’s so thankful to be back on stage, and hopes you enjoy the show! Follow him on social
media @brentjweaver
10
MAESTRO ($1,000+) Blueville Nursery Mel & DonnaDee Chastain Sandy Chastan Jennifer & Bob Edwards Steve & Jan Galitzer Karen Hummel Mark & Ann Knackendoffel Ward & Brenda Morgan Dan & Mitzi Richards Steve & Debbie Saroff Dick & Martha Seaton Gary & Sandra Stith Edith L. Stunkel Foundation Gabrielle Thompson
& Larry Weaver
MASTER ARTIST ($500-$999)
Kelly & Therese Adams David & Rosemarie Alexander Penny Alonso Mimi Balderson Chris & Craig Beardsley Mary Cottom Jack & Peggy Flouer Janice & Fred Gibbs Rebecca & Marvin Gould Jo Lyle Teresa & Ernie Minton Brian Niehoff & Usha Reddi Debbie Nuss & Brad Fenwick Carol Oukrop Jeremy & Gina Platt
Mark & Donna Rose Frank & Mary Siegle Bill & Sharon Snyder
DIRECTOR ($250-$499) Greg & Denise Biberstein Stefan & Katharina Bossmann Missy & Steve Brewer Ben & Jo Brunner Lyle & Chris Butler Kenneth & Kathleen Buyle Nancy & Myron Calhoun Gary Coates
& Susanne Siepl-Coates Lew & Enid Cocke Anthony Crawford Elizabeth Dodd & David Rintoul Jackie Macdonald
& Michael Donnelly Tom Phillips & Debra Doubek Shawn & Kate Drew Mark & Annette Duff Pat Ekart Clyde Ferguson Tom Fish & Scott Schlender Flint Hills Association
of REALTORS, Inc Tom & Angie Fryer Rick & Beverly Fulton Ned & Barbara Gatewood Patrick & Susan Gormely Mary Lee Graham Mike & Tina Greim
David & Karen Gustafson George & Alice Ham Jim & Connie Hamilton Chris & Tom Herald David & Dianna Horner James Jones & Judith Major Lowell & Stacy Kohlmeier Monica & Bryant Macfarlane S. Lee Meigs Dori Milldyke Kim Morgan & Judy Roth Deborah Murray
& Jerome Dees Susan & Duane Noblett Livie Olsen & Bill Pryor Ed Olson John & Karen Pence Verlyn Richards Cheryl & Jurgen Richt Richard & Penny Senften Don Setser Mary Renee & Jeremiah Shirk Joan Shull Bruce & Leslie Snead Cathy & Randall Steiner Randy & Shari Tedford Dick & Wann Towers Phil Nel & Karin Westman Robert & Diana Williams Fred & Lorraine Willich Dean Zollman
& Jacqueline Spears
Friends of MAC Friends at the Director level & above, as of 11/05/2020
For a complete list of Friends of MAC, please visit our website and see the Friends of MAC lists in the Clarenburg Foyer.
MAC Officers & Board of Directors
Kristin Brighton
Kitra Cooper
Samantha DeChant
Clive Fullagar
Steve Galitzer
Julie Gibbs
Kendra Kuhlman
Sue Maes
Jeremy Platt
Jeff Sackrider
Jennifer Smith
11
MAC
who will always be with us!
Sponsors 2020-21 Silver level & above, as of 11/05/2020
Season Sponsors Theatre: CivicPlus MACademy: SPS
Companies, Inc. Education: Keating &
Associates, Inc. Special sponsors:
Brian Niehoff & Usha Reddi
Platinum Level Sponsors Anonymous Blueville Nursery, Inc. Jan & Steve Galitzer Greater Manhattan
Community Foundation Gregory P. St. Amand Memorial
Fund Kansas Creative Arts Industries
Commission Mark & Ann Knackendoffel Manhattan Breakfast
Optimist Club Deb Nuss & Brad Fenwick Professional Planning Services SNW Gallery & Custom Frames The Trust Company
Gold Level Sponsors Susan Adamchak Kelly & Therese Adams Addair Thurston, CHTD. Mimi Balderson Ballroom Dance School
Manhattan Bayer Construction Co., Inc. BHS Construction Commerce Bank Mary Cottom Tony Crawford Fenceline Fabrics Jack & Peggy Flouer Joann Goldstein Rebecca & Marvin Gould Jim & Connie Hamilton Hayden & Kohlmeier
Orthodontics C. Clyde Jones Little Apple Veterinary Hospital Sue Maes
& Dennis Hemmendinger Bruce McMillan Architects Carol Oukrop Realty Executives,
Jerry & Linda Weis Steve & Debbie Saroff Martha & Dick Seaton
Michelle & Alan Sink Sharon & Bill Snyder Varney & Associates,
CPAs, LLC
Silver Level Sponsors Sydney Carlin Charlson & Wilson Bonded
Abstracters, Inc. Mark & Annette Duff Linda Duke Joe & Robin Edmunds Jennifer & Robert Edwards Steven & Cheri Graham Carole Ann Harbers Tom & Diane Hawk David & Dianna Horner Lowell & Stacy Kohlmeier Bob Kruh KS State Bank Les & Kendra Kuhlman Jackie Macdonald
& Michael Donnelly John & Karen McCulloh Richard & Mary Jo Myers Michael & Kathleen Oldfather Bill & Linda Richter Bill & Erma Riley Karin Westman & Phil Nel Don & Jan Wissman
To become a sponsor contact Anat Eshar, MAC Development Director,
development@manhattanarts.org , 785-537-4420