Church will stage 'Scrooge'

Stevens Creek Community Church again will tell the Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge in a musical production.

The church's performance of Scrooge, its seventh in the past nine years, is based on the original A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, said Tyffani Chaney, drama director at the church.

"But our version has a few twists. Instead of three ghosts, we have three angels in our production," she said. "It's more of a musical comedy. Scrooge is still a mean old miser. And in our production, Jacob Marley doesn't come back."

Chaney said the story is still about the transformation of Scrooge but is also a story about God changing him.

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"At the very end when he sees his name on the tombstone, he says, 'Oh no, God. What am I to do?' and then he turns to his Bible," Chaney said. "So on Christmas morning, he is a changed man."

Performances at the church will be 7 p.m. Dec. 4-7, with a 3 p.m. matinee Dec. 6.

Todd Sturgell, the creative worship pastor at Stevens Creek Community Church and producer of Scrooge, says the classic tale is timeless.

"People have made Scrooge a tradition," Sturgell said. "At Christmastime people are more open to spiritual ideas than at any other time, and it's a very key time for people's lives to change. Maybe they can see themselves a little in Scrooge."

Last year, more than 2,500 people attended the church's performance of Scrooge.

Tickets for this year's performances cost $5 for general admission and $10 for reserved seats. Tickets are available at the church or online at www.stevenscreek.net. Family Christian Stores on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway also will sell general admission tickets.

More than 100 choir members, cast and behind-the-scenes workers are behind the production, Sturgell said. Rehearsals for the production began in August and will continue through opening night.

"Some of the musical selections may change from year to year," Sturgell said, "but the dialogue is pretty much the same."

The church choir will sing traditional Christmas favorites such as O Holy Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and new Christmas songs for the season.

"This year we are adding one from the Grinch and instead of You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch we've changed the words a little bit and it's You're a Mean One Scrooge, Sturgell said.

A special song selection by the "three cackling ladies" will end the show, which usually draws a lot of applause, Sturgell said.

"This production, to me, just encompasses everything," Chaney said. "It's a classic Christmas tale, so when people come, they are familiar with it but also are surprised with the changes.

"The story of Scrooge is a story of such great transformation and hope and I think that's something all of us are searching for at Christmas; especially at Christmas,"

If you go

What: Scrooge, a musical production from Stevens Creek Community Church

Where: 600 Stevens Creek Road, Martinez, 863-7002

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 4-7; matinee at 3 p.m. Dec. 6.

Admission: $5 for general admission, $10 for reserved seats, available online at www.stevenscreek.net or at the church; general admission tickets may be purchased at Family Christian Stores.