The holiday season is often about traditions and one such tradition is “Scrooge the Musical” in Merrillville.
M&M Productions and Ross Music Theatre opened this year’s production Nov. 24 and it continues through Dec. 3 at Merrillville High School’s Reinhart Auditorium.
“It was one of my dad’s favorite Christmas musicals so he initiated it,” said Mike Reinhart about his late father, Jerauld Reinhart, who first staged “Scrooge the Musical” in 1981.
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The show featuring book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse was brought back in 1989 when Reinhart’s brother Bryan Reinhart, then of Merrillville, directed.
The current version has been staged every year since 2005, but that does not mean that each annual production is a carbon copy.
“We’ve changed the Ghost of Christmas Future a little bit. We’ve added a couple of different lighting things that people will notice. We also have a couple new characters,” said Mike Reinhart, who directs “Scrooge the Musical” and reprises the title role.
“This year we’ve taken the Christmas cheer out to the lobby. Our concession stand is also themed for the show. It’s actually selling things like Tom Jenkins’ soup. It takes the show right out into the lobby so it’s more of an event than just going to a show.
“We have a pretty loyal audience of people that this is how they start their Christmas season. It’s less than the cost of a movie so I really feel like that helps us a little bit because you can take a whole family.”
Despite the affordable ticket price, M&M Productions and Ross Music Theatre continue to strive for professional-quality entertainment.
“Our sets are gigantic. There’s so much lighting. We use front projection and rear projection. There’s a lot to look at and a lot going on,” said Reinhart, of Merrillville.
“Scrooge the Musical” was adapted from the 1970 film “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney and based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.”
“They’ve condensed a lot of things to make it move quicker. There’s all the music and all the dancing. They’ve taken out some of the dialogue,” Reinhart said.
“Rather than writing him as a two-dimensional character, they actually delve more into why he is the way he is. You actually feel bad. There’s been a lot of things, sometimes his fault and sometimes not his fault, that have made him the way he is.”
Featuring a cast and crew of more than 100 people, “Scrooge the Musical” includes Crown Point, Dyer, Hobart, Merrillville, Portage, St. John and Valparaiso residents.
“It’s a really good cast. It’s a good mixture of young and old,” said Reinhart, noting the ages range from 8 to nearly 80.
“The warmth of any Christmas story and the joy of telling a Christmas story is cool. It makes people forget what is outside. It shows the pretty part of winter, not the miserable part.”
Theatergoers who want to add to the holiday experience can buy a combo ticket for “Scrooge the Musical” and the Christmas radio show on Dec. 16 at Center Stage Studio Theatre, 227 Center St., Hobart, for $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $11 for children.
In addition to the traditional “Merry Christmas, George Bailey!,” the radio show also features “Miracle on 34th Street.” Tickets for the radio show only are $8.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘Scrooge the Musical’
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1-2; 3 p.m. Dec. 3
Where: Merrillville High School’s Reinhart Auditorium, 276 E. 68th Place, Merrillville
Tickets: $8-$10, $2 more at the door
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