The Bordentown Ballet Theatre will present its fifth annual performance based on Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol".
By: Eve Collins
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP The large room in the dance studio is lined with young ladies in pink tights and black leotards. Some are beginners with tiny feet in little dance slippers and others wearing professional pointe shoes are more experienced, but all are giggling.
The Bordentown Ballet Theatre is in rehearsals for its fifth annual performance of "Scrooge," a production adapted from Charles Dickens’ lovable, yet miserly character, in "A Christmas Carol."
This year, 49 children from ages 5 to 18 and five adults make up the cast of the production, which now will be performed at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College and the Burlington Township Performing Arts Center for the first time.
Previous productions of the show had been performed at the Bordentown Regional High School auditorium.
"It feels good," said Fred Walker, the theater director. "It’s a recognition of the hard work the kids have put in."
It is also an indication of how the production has grown over the years. "We went from being able to move everything with three vans to needing a 17-foot truck, Mr. Walker said. "It’s grown little by little. We’ve added elements each year."
The production also will be presented at the Burlington Township Performing Arts Center on Dec. 6. For now, the cast is rehearsing at the Jaztabal Dance studio on Ward Avenue and held its first full run of the play two weeks ago.
Workers are still making sets and more than 100 costumes. "It’s a boatload," Mr. Walker said. His wife, Heather, the owner of the studio, rushes around giving notes and hugs to the rehearsing dancers.
One of those dancers is Chelsea Kreiser, 16, of Bordentown, who plays the Ghost of Christmas Past. Chelsea has been taking classes at Jaztabal since she was 4 and has been involved with "Scrooge" since it started, playing different parts over the years.
"I love it," she said and explained that she also takes tap, hip-hop and lyrical dance classes at the studio. "I want to keep doing it, but (I want to ) be a teacher to teach kids how to read," she said.
The Walkers wrote the script for the ballet and have put together production notes for other companies who want to do the show. "We have given them everything they need to produce the show," Mr. Walker said.
They ran an advertisement in Dance Teachers Magazine for their product and received a response from producers at the Alabama Dance Company East at Auburn University in Alabama. "They will be taking the concept and doing a production," Mr. Walker said.
Meanwhile, the stars of the show continue to practice and applaud their co-stars. Maria Laurenti, 11, of Chesterfield has been dancing at the studio since she was 3 and has been a member of the cast for four years. "It’s a lot of fun to do it," she said. "It’s something else for me to do."
Maria and fellow "Bed Ghost" Gina Laureti, 10, of Florence dance almost perfectly in sync to upbeat music during the scene in Scrooge’s bedchamber before he is visited by the other spirits.
"It’s fun," Gina said. "I like performing and I like acting."
"This show is all about the kids," Mr. Walker said as he scanned the room full of pupils.
Bob Lever, 44, of Hamilton who plays the title role, tends to agree. Having participated in community theater since he was 13, Mr. Lever is starting his fifth year in the role of Scrooge. "I enjoy seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces," he said. "I’ve seen the kids grow up so much."
Mr. Lever’s daughter, Amy, 15, also has a part in the ballet. Amy has the part of the school teacher, which she shares Meghan Chorba. The girls will be performing the part on different nights.
Other parents get involved as well, Mr. Walker said. A committee of 25 parents volunteer "thousands of hours" to doing fund-raising, advertising, public relations and ticket sales, he said.
"They make this show happen," Mr. Walker said.
"Scrooge" will be performed at the Burlington Township Performing Arts Center on Fountainwoods Avenue and Jacksonville Road on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. The production will be at the Kelsey Theatre on Dec. 20 and 21 at 2 p.m. and at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $8 per person. Senior and Ggroup discounts are available at the Burlington Township Performing Arts Center. Senior discounts are available at the Kelsey Theatre.
For ticket information call (609) 581-3845 or (609) 499-9246. Additional information for tickets at the Kelsey Theatre is available at (609) 586-4800 ext. 3586.