A Christmas Carol Synopsis 

At long last, the ghosts of Ebenezer Scrooge’s past, present, and future have caught up with him. Now London’s most infamous miser must take a transformative journey as he faces the worst parts of himself and discovers unexpected redemption. Michael Wilson’s wondrous adaptation has delighted more than one million audience members throughout the country. The New York Times hailed it as “rousing” and “crowd-pleasing.” The Rep and COCA are proud to partner on this production of A Christmas Carol through an educational exchange that includes Youth Ensemble casting and artistic mentorship.

Youth Ensemble Rehearsals at COCA

The Youth Ensemble rehearsals will begin in September under the direction of the Youth Director Adena Varner. Students will rehearse at COCA at the start of the semester through the first Rep full company rehearsal in October.

Professional Company Rehearsals at The Rep

The Repertory Theatre’s professional adult cast will begin rehearsals on October 25, 2022, and the COCA Youth Ensemble will join them following their first day of rehearsal and continue to rehearse and perform with the adult company until the production’s closing date on December 30. The Youth Ensemble members receive a stipend for the professional rehearsal process.

Performance Requirements

The production will open on November 18, 2022 and close on December 30, 2022. The entire company will have Mondays off. There will be rehearsals during Thanksgiving Break and no performances on Thanksgiving and December 24 & 25. There will be two rotating Youth Ensembles to rotate performances, but the full rehearsal hours will be required of both companies throughout the process. Students should hold all rehearsal dates until confirmed.

Student Agreement & Time Commitment

A commitment to the full rehearsal and performance schedule must be made prior to auditioning. Upon receiving casting status, a student agreement must be signed and returned to COCA’s registration team to initiate the registration process. The tech and performance process includes missing extensive daytime hours during the school year and a letter for approval must be reviewed by your school prior to the first professional rehearsal. Conflicts only will be approved for major school and family events, at the discretion of the director. Due to the extensive rehearsal, tech, and performance process, it is strongly encouraged that Youth Ensemble members do not participate in additional productions outside of A Christmas Carol.

COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Program

Students ages 10–13 who are cast in The Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol are encouraged to enroll in COCA’s Pre-Professional Division (PPD) Theatre Artist Program which includes rehearsals and classes at COCA. The PPD program runs on a school semester model and includes Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer training and performance opportunities. A Christmas Carol is a professional performance placement opportunity for PPD students but not a requirement for casting. COCA’s team is available to advise on course selection and financial assistance through the registration department.

Vaccination Status

All students are required to show proof of vaccination to the Rep Company Management Team to be cast in this production due to the requirements of the Actor’s Equity Association. They should be two-weeks post second vaccination shot by first rehearsal with the adult cast, October 25. This rule does not currently apply to COCA productions for the 2022–2023 calendar year that are held onsite at COCA but are subject to change.

Casting

All casting and role tracks are subject to the director’s discretion and may not reflect the exact breakdown listed below. The tracks are designed to meet the needs of each individual ensemble and can evolve throughout the rehearsal process. All Youth Ensemble members, no matter casting status, could be asked to participate in ensemble scenes.