‘A Christmas Carol’ comes to St. George with brand-new ‘powerful’ story, all-original music

Written by Jessi Bang
November 29, 2022

ST. GEORGE —A new twist on “A Christmas Carol” is coming to the Electric Theater, featuring an 80-minute show filled with professional actors, rising child stars and all-original music. 

A flyer for the upcoming performance of "A Christmas Carol" is shown | Photo courtesy of Adam Record, St. George News
A flyer for the upcoming performance of “A Christmas Carol” is shown | Photo courtesy of Adam Record, St. George News

Since St. George News last spoke with the nonprofit Encore Performing Arts about the fundraising efforts for the upcoming show, Executive Director Abigail Pearson said they’ve cast an eager group of kids who’ve grabbed onto expectations along with character development and storytelling, bringing it all together for one incredible show.

“The audience is going to leave feeling happy,” Pearson said. “Like they can change the world and be better tomorrow than they were today. And they’re going to be singing these songs and tapping their toes to the music Adam has created.”

Watching his songs go from their original creation to a full production infused with personality and character, Artistic Director Adam Record said he couldn’t be more thrilled to showcase “A Christmas Carol” to the community – a show with plans to be an annual tradition.

“To watch the songs that Adam has created and produced and made and flourished and cultivated from his own mind is beautiful,” Pearson said. “I’m constantly hitting him with tears coming down my face.”

(Left to right) Actor/Director Rhett Guter, Encore Artistic Director Adam Record, Actor/Director Corbin Allred and Abbey Pearson, Encore Executive Director, pose together for a photo, St. George, Utah, September 6, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
(Left to right) Actor/Director Rhett Guter, Encore Artistic Director Adam Record, Actor/Director Corbin Allred and Abbey Pearson, Encore Executive Director, pose together for a photo, St. George, Utah, Sept. 6, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Professionals involved in the upcoming “Show with a Pro” production include Corbin Allred, a professional actor of three decades that will play the lead role of Scrooge, and actor/director Rhett Guter, who wrote the script for “A Christmas Carol” and will be directing the play.

From castings and workshops to performing on stage, Allred said he’s enjoyed getting to know each of the kids in the show. And he has the unique privilege of performing in the upcoming production with his 14-year-old daughter.

“Artistically, professionally, this has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Allred said. “And that’s saying a lot. I’ve been doing this a really long time and here in this little theater in St. George, Utah, with these kids, it’s been one of the most influential, important experiences of my career.”

Through fundraising efforts, Guter said he’s seen the community become excited to see an original play created in St. George that also doubles as an educational opportunity. While he’s directed several new shows, this is the first time he has done his own adaptation and directed it.

Actors rehearse "A Christmas Carol" on stage at the Electric Theater in St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Actors rehearse “A Christmas Carol” on stage at the Electric Theater in St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“It’s really easy to overdo this and make Scrooge this awful villain that everyone sees and thinks, ‘No one is really like that,’ but the truth is, it’s a real person, and there is a tiny bit of Scrooge in everyone,” Guter said. “What Corbin is doing so beautifully is making it a human being so we can really connect, and it’s a more powerful story when we’re able to see that reflection and go through that transformation.”

The upcoming Encore production, “A Christmas Carol,” will be 80 to 85 minutes with no intermission, allowing people of all ages to enjoy the full show.

Guter said the script pulls out various original scenes and transforms them into different modes of storytelling – such as Jacob Marley’s face in a doorknob – allowing for a fun and unique version you won’t see anywhere else. 

“It’s just a great story that you can adapt to your own life – whatever your situation is, whatever you’re experiencing,” Pearson said. “It’s told in a way that you can apply it to you. And the person next to you is going to apply it totally differently in their life than you would in yours, and it’ll be equally as beautiful and totally needed.”

Event details

  • What: Encore Presents: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A New Musical 
  • When: Thursday, Dec. 1, through Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Electric Theater, 68 E. Tabernacle Street in  St. George
  • Admission: Tickets are $23 for adults and $13 for children 12 and under.
  • Purchase tickets here

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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