'Christmas Carole' is a musical extravaganza

By DAVID GUNTER

Feature correspondent

SANDPOINT — The people behind a new holiday musical titled “Christmas Carole” describe it as being based on the Charles Dickens classic — and that’s where the similarities end.

It’s an interesting literary premise, one the writers say promises to please.

“I think the plot points — the message — are pretty much the same,” said John Maio, composer and music director for the production, who added that the script also carries a little bit of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” feel along in the bargain. “The idea is that the time we spend on this Earth is about being with other people. We’re here to share.”

The musical will feature a cast of 12 local thespians, many of whom have become veterans of the Sandpoint stage. To a one, they showed up for auditions with acting in mind. It was only after they arrived that they learned there would be plenty of singing and dancing to go along with it.

“Once we had our auditions, then we knew what kind of singers we had,” said Becky Revak, who wrote the original “Christmas Carole” book that became the script. “They’ve also been learning how to ballroom dance. The talent here has taken hold of it all and done a great job.”

Structurally, the creative partnership of Revak and Maio resembles some of the writing teams of the glory days of the musical. Each of them took on a specific area, springboarding off of Revak’s vision for the story.

“She wrote the play and I wrote the words to the music,” Maio said. “Every team has a different method.”

Both writers came to the project with considerable experience in tow. Revak has written, directed and produced four short films and several mini-plays, while Maio has two feature films, a pair of musicals, video directing and film scoring to his credit.

“The combination of our talent works,” he said.

Revak did her deep diving into Dickens to prepare for the writing phase, reading the novel like someone boning up for a tough college final.

“And I watched every movie ever made of the story, as well as all the musicals based on the story — even The Muppets,” she said.

From there, the creative partners moved into the outline stage, using the text as a touchstone as they wrote.

“No matter what, you want to stay true to Dickens,” Revak said.

As the script came together, Maio was busy completing a total of nine original musical pieces for the production. The show starts with a choral composition that’s semi-classical in nature, followed by a jazz-tinged dance number, a ballad, another dance feature, a little bit of rock and roll and even a full-blown classical piece that spoofs the genre in a gentle way.

“That one’s almost Monte Python-ish,” Maio said of the latter score.

“Yes, it is,” Revak agreed, “but with a Dickens story line.”

The writers have designs on using “Christmas Carole” as a catalyst for additional local theatre productions, with the Panida Theater as their venue of choice. Not surprising, since Revak works directly with the theater’s executive director, Patricia Walker, and Maio is on the Panida board of directors. Additionally, Walker, whose professional background is in both theater management and musical theatre, has stepped in as executive producer for the upcoming holiday show.

Everyone involved with the December production — from the actors to the tech staff to the choreographer and rehearsal pianist — is working as a volunteer, something also designed to further the Panida connection.

“It’s to raise a pool of money for the Panida, hopefully to be able to do more musicals in the future,” said Maio.

According to Revak, such an approach also plays into putting a stronger focus on the arts in Sandpoint. In combination with current success stories such as The Festival at Sandpoint and the Sandpoint Film Festival, the two are confident that a vibrant slate of theatrical productions could further enhance the town’s reputation as a hotbed for the arts.

“All of these things bring people to Sandpoint,” Revak pointed out.

“It’s also a way to shake the tree and get the talent to come out,” Maio said. “The big thing is trying to get more things happening in theatre and musical theatre at the Panida.

“And the best way to make that happen,” he added, “is to make it happen.”

Along with Revak, Maio and Walker in their respective roles as writers and producer, “Christmas Carole” includes Deven Fredericks as stage manager, Mark Watson as stage engineer and lighting director, Heather Hutchinson as choreographer and Leo Hunsacker as assistant musical chorus director.

The cast features the acting, singing and dancing of Debbie Brown, Robert Moore, Miriam Robinson, Steve and Elizabeth Neuder, Ron Ragone, Megan White, Sky Palmer, Renee York, Leo Hunsacker, Nataliya Lieuallen and Ryan Durbin.

“Christmas Carole” will be performed at the Panida Theater on Dec. 16, 17, 22 and 23, with a matinee show on Dec. 18.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 1, and will be available online at www.panida.org.