A new community theater is up and running in Ramsey, with a broad cast of actors preparing for its curtain-raising production in early December.
The Ramsey Community Theater, under the direction of Philip Bologna, will be staging "Ebeneeezer," a remake of Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol."
Bologna, drama director at Elk River High School and a veteran opera singer, puts an emphasis on the "community" in community theater: The operation aims to cast everyone who auditions for its plays, he said.
A mix of novice and experienced actors will be onstage at the PACT Charter School for "Ebeneeezer!", which was written by Bologna.
Bologna said he became involved with producing community plays because he wanted to help others have a rich theater experience.
His work in opera didn't give him that feeling, he said. "I didn't feel that I was really having too much of a positive impact on the lives of others. Now I have a perfect opportunity to do that. It's about enriching the community and the lives of others."
Among his other experiences, Bologna is former artistic director of the Lyric Arts Theater in Anoka. He also has dabbled in children's plays, including writing and performing a piece called "Silvio Macaroni," which he said has been presented to more than 75,000 school-age children across the state.
Bologna said he envisions the new theater as something that enhances the sense of community in the area. Part of that is the idea of casting everyone who auditions.
The all-inclusive organization, Bologna said, "reinforces the lessons that older people have of working together and develops that idea for younger people."
The 40-member cast for "Ebeneeezer!" ranges in age from 6 to 70-something.
One of the cast members, playing a janitor, is veteran actor Michael Kruchten. Involved in both community performances and commercial acting since the 1980s, Kruchten said he helps bring a practical viewpoint to the Ramsey Community Theater, helping Bologna shave corners as finances are tight this year. "Funding is an obstacle," he said.
For example, Kruchten said, the play is set in modern times so that most characters can wear their own clothes as costumes. In addition, many children have been cast and will be performing in their first play -- a factor that may attract more family members and friends to the production.
"This being an infant theater, we're starting from the ground floor," he said. "You do whatever it takes to make the play turn out well."
From helping find an auditioning space to creating buzz about fundraisers, Deputy City Administrator Heidi Nelson said the city is happy to have a new outlet for the arts in town.
"I think this is a great start to something that could potentially become a larger theater company," she said. "It's a great addition to the community."
Bologna said he believes casting performers of all abilities is important in a community play. "Everyone has something to say," he said. "There are many more aspects to quality, and I think that quite frankly, this adds to the quality of the show."
Ebeneeezer! will be playing at the PACT Charter School at 7250 Ramsey Parkway East in Ramsey on Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13. Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Kathryn Nelson is a Twin Cities freelance writer.
Mark Coon (playing Eb Matthews) woke from a dream during a rehearsal of “Ebeneeezer,” a modern take on “A Christmas Carol.” The