Theatre Arts Program Reimagines ‘A Christmas Carol’ Hip Hop Style

The classic Charles Dickens story, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is being given the York College Theatre treatment, reimagining it hip-hop styleas “OG Scrooge.”

Opening of the play takes place this coming Friday, December 3 at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) at 7 pm. According to director/producer, Professor Thomas Marion, it will be a treat. 

“We all look forward to Opening Friday for one weekend, live on stage at the beautiful Jamaica Center for the Performing Arts: Original beats, songs and book in a rap'n, danc'n, sing'n funsical with eight wonderful York College students, two sent-from-heaven alumni, and nine awesome children from Cambria Heights’ PS 176Q,” says Professor Marion. “Come celebrate Christmas early and in-person!”  

Over the college’s 55-year history, the Theater Program has produced new, classic, and classical plays: dramas, comedies and musicals, including "Antigone," "Hamlet," "Aida" and "Rent." This latest production for York is a delightful take on a classic story by the 19th century novelist. Taking the play off-site to JPAC was necessitated by the fact that York’s Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center is undergoing an extensive renovation project. 

Asked how they are managing to do a major production in such a time as this, Professor Marion explained the team effort. 

“We auditioned last April not knowing what show we would do as we didn't know if school would be in person,” Marion explained.  “Getting rights for a play to be streamed online is very difficult, not the same as rights to perform in person.  We looked at a number of plays, but those who auditioned agreed that doing something fun would be best.  Also, a few who auditioned and liked the idea of building a show from scratch, including Joemal Rodrigues a Music Production major.” 

Marion says he had always thought an updated “Christmas Carol” could be fun.   

“Being in love with Hamilton, I quickly wrote an opening rap for Scrooge and sent it off to Dean [George] White, who created the course, The History of Hip Hop.  With his encouragement, I showed it to the cast, and they liked the idea too.” 

The Theater Professor says he “worked through the summer to create a skeleton script of some raps and dialogue filled in with excerpts from the play.”  They worked on Zoom through September working on rewrites and new ideas, with Rodriques building beats. They did not get together in person till the second week of October, leaving much less rehearsal time than usual.   

“Normally, York College Theatre shows rehearse at least 120 hours before opening night,” Marion explained. “Only able to meet twice a week in person, and once a week on zoom, we had a lot of work to do.  Luckily the show is 1.5 hours, and not like 'Julius Caesar,' our last show!  Still it's become a bigger production than we expected, with mic'ing, special effects, big sets, songs, and the difficulties of bringing in children, COVID and masking, off-site rehearsals, parking, moving to JPAC, and no money for a state manager till production week.  It's a miracle it's going to happen!” 

Explaining how the Performing and Fine Arts Department at York College was able to get children and young adults from the community to participate, Professor Marion indicates that it’s all about building and retaining relationships. 

“We connected with the after-school program at PS 176 back in 2015 when we produced Live, Laugh, Love, Cry! The poetry of Lindamichellebaron, as some of our students, including Eric Normil-Mendez, taught in the program. “One of the school children in that show, Noel Boone, is now about to enter high school and has joined us again!  The after-school program is run by Ms. Cheryl Caddle and Community Youth Care Services.   Eric, who is now a certified PS teacher at another school in Brooklyn, was willing to help out and get back in touch with Ms. Caddle to find the children needed for the show.  Then, Eric joined our cast as Bob Cratchit, and his son who goes to PS 176 joined too!  Then another alum, Vania St. Louis, now Vania Hope, volunteered to work with the children on their scenes during after school along with Eric who would make the trip in from Brooklyn each day. And Vania volunteered to play Mrs. Cratchit as well. 

Professor Marion wrote two songs for the play and his department colleague, Professor Mark Adams "recorded the piano music beats for the two songs. One is sung by eight-year old Chloe Callender and the finale sung by the entire cast.

“As I said, it's another one of those miracles that made this show possible,” he emphasized. 

Details on the show, including ticket purchase and dates/times can be found at www.york.cuny.edu/scrooge. Please support the production, the stars and York College