A new holiday tradition will hit the streets of historic Uptown Westerville when Uptown Scrooge premieres on November 26. Presented by Good Medicine Productions and the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association (WUMA), this interactive walking tour performance of A Christmas Carol will take audience members on Scrooge’s journey, with plenty of laughter, drama and surprises along the way. Guided through the charming streets and unique shops of Uptown by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, audiences will enjoy the magic of Dickens’ classic tale like never before. The show is suitable for ages 5 and up.
Uptown businesses including Graeter’s Ice Cream, Java Central, Pure Roots and The Parlor will serve as both set pieces and performance venues for the play’s various scenes. Theater professionals will lead this performance as well as students of Generations Performing Arts Center and Otterbein University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
Uptown Scrooge creator and artistic director Kristie Koehler Vuocolo, a Westerville South graduate, returned to Westerville after two decades working professionally in Chicago theaters and across the country as a performer and teaching artist. She is the founder of Good Medicine Productions, a non-profit theatrical performance company with a mission of bringing transformative joy to audiences through programming rooted in innovative storytelling and improvisational and comedic performance. Uptown Scrooge is Good Medicine’s inaugural production.
The show also stars fellow South alumnus Eric Johnston ('93) as well as current Walnut Springs student Jenny Tupper and Westerville South student Allison Weidmann. Tupper and Weidmann both play Tiny Tim (to hilarious, overwrought effect) and Johnston, an internationally-acclaimed opera singer, brings his amazing voice and over-the-top facial expressions to the heavy-lifting role of Marley’s Ghost/Ghosts of Christmases Past and Present/Guide.
Uptown Scrooge will run Saturday and Sunday afternoons from November 26 - December18. Tour times are 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Each performance lasts approximately 90 minutes. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and children. Tour check-in is at 23 E. College Avenue. A portion of?proceeds from Uptown Scrooge directly benefits the signature programming of Good Medicine, which serves pediatric and senior living?facilities. For tickets and more information, please visit www.GoodMedicineProductions.org or call 614/776-4082.