Scrooge! The Musical
Winter, 2025
“Chance Theater this season delivers a new, extremely well-directed production of Leslie Briccuse’s Scrooge! The Musical.”
“Add to that James Michael McHale’s supremely inventive direction and the inestimable design contributions (projections, in particular those that turn a stageful of sheet-shrouded specters into the scariest of future ghosts) and you’ve got the Christmasiest December musical Chance Theater has done in I don’t know how long. I’ve lost count of all the different versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol I’ve seen over the years, but I daresay not one of them can top Scrooge! The Musical where fun is concerned.”
“This is a production in which every part works, it’s entertaining and infectious.”
“Seeing ‘Scrooge! The Musical‘ for the first time at Chance Theater in Anaheim, CA, turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and heartfelt theatrical experiences than I had anticipated. I expected a cozy holiday story; instead, I was treated to a fully realized, deeply thoughtful production where every performer and every creative choice worked together beautifully.”
One of the things I most appreciate was the production’s visual storytelling. The glowing projections of printed pages from Dickens’ original novelette was a beautiful touch, turning the stage into something that felt like a living storybook.
This world was shaped by a creative team that deserves just as much recognition as the cast. Director James Michael McHale guides the story with a streamlined vision
I was impressed by the attention to detail, the performances, the atmosphere and the creativity packed into every moment. It’s a warm, engaging, beautifully made production and unquestionably one to be revisited.”
“With soulful tunes, timeless message, engaging character performances, and signature staging, this production has set a high standard that will be hard to beat. The meticulous detail in story and character development sets it apart and on its own.
Musical numbers feel justified and earned not only to push the story but also the characters forward. Nothing feels like it overstays its welcome.
Regardless of knowing what scene is to be played out, in other productions they felt hurriedly glossed over for the sake of having been written in the book. But here at the Chance Theater, extra care has been taken to really flesh out key moments that should not be overlooked. As if to tell the audience, read between the lines. Or in this case, the pages.”
“Under the direction of James Michael McHale, Chance Theater’s staging leans into both the intimacy of the venue and the expansiveness of Charles Dickens’s tale.”
