Bringing the Spirit of Christmas in More Ways than One

Chuck Dick sat in a big wing chair with 16 kids on the floor at his feet.  Eight other adults stood or sat on the perimeter of the room. 

All are dressed in their costumes for the first scene of Catonsville Dinner Theatre's last dress rehearsal for A Christmas Story.  Dick, the director of the play and artistic director of the Pasadena Theatre Company, finishes his pep talk to the cast.

"This is what we do it for.  The audience is coming, and we're going to give them a great show."  But then the pre-show warm-up takes an unusual turn, one that reflects a perhaps unique aspect of this production.  "I want you to remember that we are in a church.  It is not ours and we need to show some respect," he said. " The building is old—older than me."

Many community theater groups rely on the good will of churches or schools or colleges to provide them with space so they can operate on a low budget.  However, several years ago, Dick turned the tables and decided to do a dinner theater show of the Pasadena Theatre Company at the West Baltimore United Methodist Church at 5130 Greenwich Avenue to breathe some new life and revenue into the old church and its dwindling congregation. 

Since then, more shows have been added, and Dick also runs the Catonsville Youth Theatre workshop for kids ages 10-18 years old at the church during the summer.  Last summer's production was Footloose, and this summer's will be Grease.

Many of the actors and audience members who had supported performances at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Anne Arundel County followed the company to its additional location. 

Rhonda Weeks, who plays Mrs. Parker, said, "This is a good cast. Chuck has an eye for picking the right person for the right part."  

The tickets for A Christmas Story, which opens tonight, have almost sold out.  The play is a stage adaptation of the 1983 movie. Set in Indiana in the late 1930s or early 1940s, at the end of the great depression, the story represents a more simple time in American life.  Ralphie Parker, 9 years old, who is the brunt of some bullying, wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Encountering opposition, Ralphie sets out to convince his mother and father, his teacher and even Santa that he is old enough not to "shoot his eye out" with a gun.

Chris Carothers, who plays Ralphie's father or "the old man" as he is called, not only remembered watching A Christmas Story as a kid, he said the movie was so legendary with his family that someone gave his father a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, and Chris used it to shoot at targets. 

Noah Allen, who plays Ralphie, seemed very collected for a boy in his first lead.  He said he is not nervous, that he loves the part and especially looks forward to the scene in which he gets to wear the pink bunny costume.

Props and costumes were all laid out backstage and order was kept by the "behind-the-scenes moms."  Some of the more iconic elements of the movie, like the leg lamp, were procured from a special website.  Trish Brannock volunteered backstage because her daughter Lucy wanted to become involved in a play.  She said she wishes she had the courage to perform herself, but for now she is happy helping behind the curtain.

As the rehearsal began, volunteers spread the last of the red and green tablecloths and Dick barked light and sound cues.  The magic was about to begin in the basement of the 100-year-old West Baltimore United Methodist Church.

 People interested in auditioning for the next show, My Fair Lady, can call Chuck at 410 917-2911. The shows are tonight and Saturday, with dinner before the show Saturday at 7 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m.

The play is also next weekend on Dec. 10, 11 and 12, with Saturday and Sunday shows also including a dinner. For more information, go to cdtshows.com.