A couple of New Westminster families are taking centre stage for a professional reading of A Christmas Carol at Anvil Centre.
The Dickens classic, adapted by Michael Shamata, is onstage at the Anvil Centre on Dec. 21 and 22 as part of the Anvil’s Winter Celebrations. The staged reading will feature a cast of 15 New Westminster performers, directed by Colleen Winton and starring Russell Roberts (who happens to be Winton’s husband) as Scrooge.
Five of the other cast members are members of the same family. Brian and Laura Drummond, co-founders of Urban Academy in New Westminster, are taking to the stage with their three children: Aidan, Brynna and Ashlyn.
Brian is well known as one of North America’s most prolific animation voice actors, having voiced thousands of characters in hundreds of animated shows over the past 25 years – including Wolverine in Marvel, Geronimo in Geronimo Stilton and Dr. Claw in Inspector Gadget. Laura, a professional actor and graduate of Studio 58, is known locally as the host of New West Flame Storytelling events. She has appeared on various stages and in TV shows such as Riverdale, Travelers, The Man From the High Castle, The 4400 and Stargate.
The three next-generation Drummonds also have extensive performing resumés.
Aidan has been acting in the film, TV, theatre and animation industry since the age of six. His very first theatre roles were as Michael Darling in the Royal City Musical Theatre production of Peter Pan, and as Tiny Tim in the Vancouver Playhouse rendition of A Christmas Carol. He’s a recent graduate of Studio 58. Brynna, who’s currently a theatre production student at Studio 58, has acted in commercials and stage productions and recently as a voice actor in a number of animated series and features, including My Little Pony, Dinosaur Train, Barbie Rock ’n’ Royals and Ninjago. Ashlyn, who’s in her first year at SFU, has acted professionally with roles in Martha Speaks, three Barbie features and Marly & Me: The Puppy Years.
The rest of the cast is also made up actors of all ages from New Westminster: Vince Metcalf, Nigel Brooke, Cole Howard, Jesse DeCoste, Suzanne Ristic, Paige Fraser, Jolene Bernardino, Benjamin Longford and Lola Marshall.
Andie Lloyd is the stage manager, and Gower Roberts is the sound designer.
A Christmas Carol is onstage Friday, Dec. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Anvil Centre Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children, available through www.ticketsnw.ca and 604-521-5050.
