‘A Christmas Carol’ returns: 5 things to know about the 2017 staging

2017 has been a year full of ups and downs, highs and lows. But despite what we’ve been through as a nation, we can’t help but feel a tiny bit hopeful during the holidays for what the future has in store.

Globe LIVE and 9 Works Theatrical is set to bring Menken & Ahrenn’s A Christmas Carol back on stage this holiday season. It tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Miguel Faustmann), a stingy old man who changes from being greedy and selfish to compassionate and generous after being haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

Scrooge’s transformation will hopefully encourage us to look for the good in everyone, and remind us that love can soften the hardest of hearts and that light will always outshine darkness. 

Want to know more about this run of A Christmas Carol? Here are 5 things you need to know about it:

1. It’s the same musical but a different show. If you saw A Christmas Carol last year, chances are you’ll think twice about seeing it again. Director Robbie Guevara, however, promised to give everyone an even better experience this time around. From set design to choreography to bringing in new members of the cast, they made sure that this production is bringing something new to the table.

“The preparation is like mounting a new show. I had to remind the cast that if you saw the show last year or you’re a part of it last year, chances are, very little of that will be brought back on stage, especially the dancing. I think maybe 15 percent, at most, will be the same,” he explained during the press launch. 

2. 9 Works Theatrical and Globe LIVE are hoping to create a new tradition for Filipino families by staging shows on Christmas. Inspired by the same idea as New York’s annual staging A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden, their goal is to recreate that same sense of tradition in the Philippine setting. 

“We decided that we want to do A Christmas Carol because it is the best Christmas property musical in the world. Period. It wasn’t like, ‘A Christmas Carol was successful [last year] let’s do this again.’ It was always planned from the very beginning to create a new tradition in the Philippines,” explained Joe Caliro, Globe head for Creative Marketing and Multi-Media Services.   

3. A Christmas Carol marks the return of Franco Laurel to theater. After his stint in Grease in 2014, Franco took a break to focus on his career as an editor. Three years later and he’s back to doing what he loves most.

“I knew that this is where I’m meant to be and I’m just glad that I’m singing and dancing and acting again,” Franco said. 

4. For the first time, Franco will be working on stage with his daughter, Mariella. He will be playing the Ghost of the Christmas Past while Mariella will take on the role of Scrooge’s mother.

“I’m just there to support her then I’ll give my notes after. But I just let her be, ‘cause I just want her to go and fly and grow on her own,” he said when asked about being a stage father. 

5. They partnered with HERO (Help Educate and Rear Orphans), a non-profit organization that helps send military orphans to school. Ornaments will be sold at the venue for guests to purchase and place on the “Wall of Miracles” display. Proceeds from the ornament sales, along with an additional donation from Globe LIVE, will be turned over to the HERO Foundation. 

Catch Globe LIVE and 9 Works Theatrical’s staging of A Christmas Carol starting December 7 at the Globe ICONIC Theater, BGC. Click here for more details. – Rappler.com