A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2024)

By Charles Dickens
Adapted & Directed by Wesley J. Colford
Music Directed by Barb Stetter
Choreography by Cynthia Vokey

Re-live the magic of Highland Arts Theatre's beloved stage adaptation of this timeless tale, for it’s 10th Anniversary Year! Cape Breton's finest conspire to transport you to Christmas past, present, and future with theatre, dance, and music. This annual fundraiser for the Highland Arts Theatre is the perfect gift or holiday family tradition!

Featuring a cast of over 40 local actors, singers, and dancers plus the musical underscoring of Belkolora.

HERE’S WHAT PATRONS ARE SAYING:

“I can’t explain the magnitude of excellence this show offered. I was completely in awe from start to finish.” -HMP

“FANTASTIC SHOW !!!!!! You can travel anywhere and not find better.” - CS

“Amazing! If you want a night out that you’ll talk about for a long time, go to the HAT!” -SC

“Different from all other years, but this has been my 9th
time I saw it
and I will again next year.
Thank you for doing this!!!” -NCS

TRAILER

CAST & CREW

  • George Mackenzie (he/him) – SCROOGE

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    The Wakowski Brothers (Jim), Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), Drawer Boy (Angus), Spelling Bee (Leaf), Christmas Carol (Scrooge), The Penelopiad (Odysseus) and many more...

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Sound of Music, Into the Woods, Miracle on 34th Street (Savoy), Death of a Salesman, Fiddler on the Roof (Boardmore), Marx in Soho (Touring)

    Training:
    Graduate of the Acting Program, Dalhousie University

    Other:
    Hope you enjoy the show!

  • Robbie Simms (he/him) - BOB CRATCHIT

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    As You Like It (Duke & Fred Senior) Jack and the Beanstalk (Glen the Giant) Little Shop of Horrors (Voice of Audrey II) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Comfort Councillor), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (B.B. Wolf)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    The Rocky Horror Show, Grease (Savoy Theatre)

  • Garren Denny (he/him) - BANKER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Christmas Carol (Banker), Story of tonight (Soloist), Best of Broadway (Soloist)

    Training:
    Adult Resident Company at the HAT Academy

  • Alex MacLean (he/him) - MERCHANT & TOPPER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    THAT Debut!

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    24 Hour Play Project 2024 (Parking Lot Players)

  • Shashwat Trivedi (he/him) - FRED

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cabaret (Victor, Sailor), Christmas Carol, Tell Your Story

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    6 Feet (Boardmore Playhouse)

  • Amber White (she/her) - CORNELIA & CHARWOMAN

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Christmas Carol

  • Kristen Woodford (she/her) - ROSALIND

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Herstory, Heart of Steel, A Christmas Carol, The Confidential Musical Theatre Project, We’ve got Magic To Do, Cheers to 10 Years

  • Kearah Smits (she/her) - ORPHAN GIRL

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Christmas Carol, Spongebob the Musical JR, The Wizard of Oz JR

  • Chris Corbett - MARLEY

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Funny Girl, The Drowsy Chaperone, She Loves Me, A Tribe of One, The Penelopiad, Cheers To 10 Years!

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Liars (Stephenville Festival Theatre in the Schools), Vandals and Victims (Mermaid Theatre), Miracle on 34th Street (Savoy), Ghosts (Boardmore Playhouse)

    Training:
    Extensive one on one training with Marguerite "Didi" MacDougall

    Other:
    Chris Corbett started performing in 1984 (Jesus Christ Superstar at the Savoy Theatre.) Since then, he has worked for the Stephenville Festival in Newfoundland, Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary, Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay, the University of Toronto, Mermaid Theatre in Wolfville, Dalhousie Theatre School and Neptune Theatre in Halifax, and several productions at the Boardmore Theatre, The Savoy and, most recently, the Highland Arts Theatre. He was the Artistic Director of Festival on The Bay and is the owner/Artistic Director of Two Hoots Productions.

  • River Young (she/her) - GHOST BALLET

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cheers to 10 Years, Seussical the Musical

  • Rory-Grace MacDonald (she/her) - GHOST BALLET

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cheers to 10 Years! (Ensemble), Mary Poppins JR (Chimney Sweep), Matilda (Primary Kid), Frozen JR (Snow Spirit)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Cyrano de burger shack (Kostume Kapers), Beauty and the beast (Kostume Kapers)

    Training:
    The HAT Academy, Cape Breton School of the Arts, Northside Dance, Kostume Kapers

  • Sasha Young (she/her) - GHOST BALLET

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Sister Simon), Dream: Dinner and a Show (Waitress Ensemble), Seussical the Musical (The Cat in the Hat), Christmas Carol '22 (Ghost Dancer), Cheers to 10 Years! (Ensemble), Matilda (HAT/Savoy), Funny Girl (Dance ensemble), Dream (Dance Ensemble)

  • Milania MacIntyre (she/her) - PAST

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Spongebob the Musical Youth (Sandy), Mary Poppins JR (Mary Poppins) Shrek JR (Pinocchio) The Story of Tonight (Featured Duet) Tribute to the Rotary Show 2018 (JR. Ensemble)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (School Drama) Band Geeks (School Drama)

    Training:
    The HAT Academy

    Other:
    I’m so honoured to be working alongside so many talented people!

  • Callie Doyle (she/her) - LITTLE FAN

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cheers to 10 Years!, Tribute to the Rotary Show, Mary Poppins JR

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Mamma Mia (Riverview High School), The Drowsy Chaperone( Kostume Kapers)

  • Mike Keating (he/him) - FEZZIWIG

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Christmas Carol

  • Susan Gallop (she/her) - MRS. FEZZIWIG

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    The Drowsey Chaperone, All Together Now (Choreographer and Performer), The Confidential Musical Theatre Project, Tribute to the Rotary Show, Cheers to 10 Years!

    Other:
    I was owner/operator of The Cape Breton School of the Arts for 48 years and now work part- time for Northside Dance under the direction of Kim Roper. I started performing at a very young age in Rotary Shows with performers like Bill Walker, Louis Mann and Choreographer/performer Don Gilles. Also performed with “Festival On The Bay” with Fred Penner and did choreography with his wife Odette. Over the years did many dinner theatres under the direction of Todd Hiscock. Performed on the CBU stage and the Savoy stage. Currently singing with The Alara Group under the direction of Robyn Cathcart. For the Last 2 years have performed with Dancing with the Stars, fund raiser for Hospice Cape Breton. This will be my 4th year in “A Christmas Carol” (Mrs. Fezziwig & Ensemble)

  • Darius Fell (he/him) - DICK WILKINS

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Overdue (Jordan), Tribute to the Rotary Show (Pirate King), Frozen Jr. (Olaf), Shrek Jr. (Lord Farquaad), Mary Poppins Jr. (Mr. Banks) Cheers to Ten Years (Ensemble)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    HMS Pinafore, The Sorcerer, Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe (International Gilbert and Sulivan Festival Youth Production)

    Training:
    5+ Years at the HAT academy

  • Arianna Boakye (she/her) - BETSY

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Tribute to the Rotary Show, The Story of Tonight, and All Together Now

    Training:
    D&R Dance Ltd

  • Oscar Helbig-Reimer (he/him) - TINY TIM

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    HAT Debut!

  • Rachel Colford (she/they) - BELLE

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Heart of Steel 2015 (chorus), Alice in Wonderland 2015 (Queen of Hearts), Into the Woods 2022 (Florinda), Confidential: Spamalot 2023 (Lady of the Lake), Christmas Carol 2023 (Belle), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy 2024 (Mayor Maynot)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    BIID (Elizabeth Boardmore One Act Play Festival), Congratulations! You Need Glasses! (Tarragon Theatre, Paprika Festival), Wilkinson, Roberts & Hodge (Sydney Fringe Festival), Uncle Vanya (Etobicoke School of the Arts)

    Training:
    CBSA, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Tarragon Theatre Paprika Workshop,

    Other:
    Excited to be back for the tenth anniversary performance of this show! I was fortunate to be in the first Christmas Carol in 2014 and this will be my third year in total. Thank you to the amazing cast and crew!

  • Kiersten Penny (she/her) – PRESENT, FUTURE, & DANCE CAPTAIN

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Jack and the Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy Pantomime (Harpie/Dance Captain), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Cat of the Woods/Dance Captain), Cabaret (Kit Kat Dancer), Funny Girl (Ensemble), Shrek Jr. (Choreographer), A Christmas Carol (Dancer/Dance Captain), Into the Woods (Lucinda), Dream: Dinner and a Show (Waitress Ensemble), The Confidential Musical Theatre Project - The Producers

    Previous Credits Elsewhere:
    The Nutcracker (Savoy Theatre), Chicago (Savoy Theatre)

    Training:
    Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester, BA Dance/BKIN University of Calgary

    Other:
    I am so excited to be back on the HAT stage surrounded by such a talented team!

  • Claudia Bowers (she/her) - EMILY CRATCHIT

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Funny Girl

    Other:
    Enthusiastic newbie, whose only claim to fame, is both her kids' involvement in HAT since our arrival in Cape Breton and my legendary sense of humour.

  • Kylie MacDougall (she/her) - MARTHA

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cheers to 10 Years! (Ensemble), Mary Poppins Jr. (Mary Poppins), Alice in Wonderland (Alice), A Christmas Carol (Martha & Belinda), A Tribute to the Rotary Show (Featured Ensemble), Wizard of Oz Jr. (Senior Ensemble)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Cyrano De Burger Shack JV (Kostume Kapers), Matilda (Savoy Theatre/HAT), Mamma Mia! (Riverview High School)

    Training:
    HAT Academy & Kostume Kapers

  • Annie Kate White (she/her) - BELINDA

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Christmas Carol (Belinda Cratchet), Rotary Tribute Show (Chorus), Mary Poppins (Honey Bee), Hat Academy Shows

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    High School Musical Jr. - OVEC (Gabreilla Montez), Finding Nemo Jr. - Savoy (Peach, The Starfish), Glee Halloween Show: "The Possession Of Ma" - Miners Museum (Regina George)

    Training:
    Dance (10 years), Trumpet (4 years), Voice (2 years), Piano (1 year)

    Other:
    Being on stage at the HAT is one of my favorite things in this world! I am very excited to be part of another show this holiday season.

  • Evie Mount (she/her) - LILY

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Christmas Carol

  • ChiChi Egereonu (she/her) - GLADYS

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    TomorrowLove TM (Jordan), Mamma Mia! (Ensemble), Dream (Ensemble), Lay-Up workshop (Ensemble)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Controlled Damage, Mixed Feelings for You, Murder in the Cathedral (Boardmore Theatre)

  • Janine Christmas (she/her) – ROBERTA & SHELLEY

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy, Funny Girl, A Christmas Carol, Pride & Prejudice, Cheers to 10 Years!, Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Matilda the Musical, The Rocky Horror Show (The Savoy Theatre)

  • Anna-Sophia Gouthro (she/her) - CLAIRE

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    A Christmas Carol

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Finding Nemo Jr. (Savoy Theatre)

  • Ryan Davis (he/him) - STOCKS

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    HAT Debut!

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Chiaroscuro

    Training:
    10 years dance training, 3 years dance choreographer.

    Other:
    Have fun.

  • Mark Delaney (they/them) – OLD JOE

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Whitney Peerless), Funny Girl (Florence Ziegfeld), Jack and the Beanstalk (Dame Bella), Billy Bishop Goes to War (Billy), Glace Bay Miners Museum (Neil Currie), As You Like It (Jackson), TomorrowLove TM (Mischa)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere, the Savoy Theatre)

    Training:
    Concordia University

  • Kiera Evely (she/her) – LAUNDRESS

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me (Nicky), Jack and the Beanstalk (The King), Cabaret (Helga), Tribute to the Rotary Show (Ensemble), Funny Girl (Maude/Mrs. Vance), Dream: Dinner & a Show (Waitress Ensemble), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Matilda, Mamma Mia (Savoy/HAT)

    Training:
    CBU - Theatre Arts Certificate, Dancing with D&R Dance since 3 years old, in all styles of dance!

  • Jemma Bowers (she/her) – UNDERTAKER’S ASSISTANT

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Mary Poppins, Story of Tonight, All Together Now

  • Joel MacIntyre (he/him) - OLIVER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Tricky), A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim & Oliver), Androcles & The Lion (Androcles), Prompter Boy (Bernard), The Happy Prince (The Little Prince), Seussical (Sam I Am & Cadet), Confidential Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Tricky)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Oliver Twist (CBU Boardmore), Matilda (The Savoy/Highland Arts Theatre), Cyrano de BurgerShack (Kostume Kapers), Mamma Mia! (Riverview), The Drowsy Chaperone Jr (Kostume Kapers)

    Training:
    Kostume Kapers Children’s Theatre: July 2015 - Present, Highland Arts Theatre & HAT Academy: July 2017 - Present, D&R Dance Ltd: September 2019 - Present, Dance Artistry: September 2023 - Present

    Other:
    I am very much looking forward to do this super fun production and to work with such an awesome group of talented people once again.

  • Veglia Hogan (she/her) - ARTFUL DODGER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Jill), Jack and The Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy Pantomime (Jill), The Spongebob Musical JR (Spongebob Squarepants), Overdue (Addison), The Music Man JR (Charlie Cowell), A Christmas Carol (Artful Dodger), The Wizard of Oz JR (The Scarecrow/Hunk), Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Controlled Damage (Boardmore Theatre), Camp of Rock (Kostume Kapers)

    Training:
    HAT Academy

    Other:
    I’m so excited to be back this year! Happy Holidays!! ❄️🫶🎩

  • Wesley J. Colford (they/them) – ADAPTER & DIRECTOR

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    The Wakowski Brothers, A Christmas Carol, Heart of Steel, Dream, Disco Nights, She Loves Me, The Drowsy Chaperone, Jack & The Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy Pantomime, Funny Girl, TomorrowLove TM, Blow Me: A Big Bad Musical Comedy (Director)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Annie, Matilda the Musical (The Savoy Theatre)

    Training:
    Sheridan College Musical Theatre Performance, George Brown Theatre School

  • Barbara Stetter (she/her) – MUSIC DIRECTOR

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Funny Girl, Dream, Next To Normal, Cabaret, A Christmas Carol, She Loves Me, Jack & The Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy Pantomime

    Previous Credits Elsewhere:
    Les Miserables, Beauty and The Beast, Matilda (Savoy Theatre) My Fair Lady (CBU) Music Man (Festival On The Bay)

    Training:
    B.Mus (Susquehanna University), M.ED (St. Francis Xavier University)

  • Cynthia Vokey (she/her) - ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cabaret, Tribute to the Rotary Show, Little Shop of Horrors, The Drowsy Chaperone, Disco Nights, Heart of Steel, Dream, A Christmas Carol

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Peter Pan (Neptune Theatre); Grease, Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast (Savoy Theatre)

    Training:
    Master of Business Administration (Dalhousie University); Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (Cape Breton University); Teacher Certificate (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers); Toronto Dance Theatre; Dance for Health Seniors- Dance Nova Scotia

  • Jonathan Lewis (he/him) - STAGE MANAGER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    TomorrowLove TM (Pat), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Collins), West Moon (Aaron), A Christmas Carol (Fred)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    You Are Here (Boardmore Theatre), Elf (Savoy Theatre)

    Training:
    BFA Theatre Acting from Memorial University of NFLD

  • Kayla Cormier (she/her) – SET & COSTUME DESIGN

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    Cabaret (Costume), She Loves Me (Set), Little Shop of Horrors (Set), West Moon (Set), See Jane Run (Costume)

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Matilda The Musical (Costume Designer, Savoy Theatre); Pillowman (Set Designer, Boardmore Theatre); Hamlet (Scenic Painter, Boardmore Theatre)

    Training:
    Production Management (CBU

  • Ken Heaton (he/him) – LIGHTING DESIGNER

    Favourite HAT Credits:
    My recent lighting designs include almost everything produced at the HAT since 2014.

    Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
    Both Grease and Matilda (Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay)

    Other:
    It is great to be back at the HAT!