Area native to return home for 'Christmas Carol' performance

Carly Schneider of Kelso, Missouri, will perform as Belle and a member of the ensemble in this year's rendition of the Charles Jones adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus.

"A Christmas Carol" tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an ill-tempered curmudgeon, and features a score of traditional Christmas carols, Scrooge's heartwarming transformation and an important lesson for the whole family.

Schneider, 25, is in her first year as a member of the traveling Nebraska Theatre Caravan, which is part of the Omaha Community Playhouse, a not-for-profit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska.

This year, the playhouse celebrated its 90th anniversary and the caravan its 40th.

As a newcomer to the production, Schneider said the support of veteran castmates is essential in the learning process.

"Fortunately, too, the caravan, they're really great to their actors, and they have a lot of returning people who come in and they really excel at hiring good, hardworking people," she said. "And even us newbies, I think there are five or six of us this year who have never done this show before. Everyone just takes you under their wing and helps you out. ... It's been a whirlwind, but it's very, very rewarding, of course."

Belle, the main character Schneider plays, is young Scrooge's love interest and is introduced to the audience when the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back in time to review his memories.

Schneider said she enjoys the role because it's challenging and demands a broad range of emotion in a short time.

This will not be Schneider's first performance with the caravan, but it will be her first role in the beloved Christmas classic.

She also performed as Beth March in the caravan's in-house spring production of "Little Women, the Musical."

Schneider spoke of touring with "A Christmas Carol" as a sort of rite of passage for a number of fellow actors she has met or worked with.

"There are so many people in the industry who have taken part in this tour at some point or another," she said. "I have so many friends who are like, 'Oh, I've been on this tour,' or, 'This tour was so great, and I loved it -- great experience.' And I'm excited that I get to be a part of it, too."

She mentioned many of the show's actors hold dual-purpose roles -- holding several cast titles or working as an ensemble member along with their main role.

Although Schneider holds the role of Belle, she also is in nearly every dance number, sings in an eight-part performance of "Coventry Carol" and is an understudy for several of her castmates, among other responsibilities.

"When we're on the road, people can get sick. So while we're in the rehearsal process, after the first week and a half, they decide who you're going to be understudying as well as the roles you're already doing, so I have three understudy roles as well that I have to make sure I can pull out of my hat," she said.

Schneider said she is looking forward to coming to Cape Girardeau on Dec. 3 because it will give her a chance to perform near her hometown. The closest she has performed to Cape Girardeau since she was in college is in Omaha, an eight-hour drive.

"To be able to actually come so close to home -- not St. Louis, not Columbia, but actually to be in Cape, oh my gosh, I can't even tell you. My mother is so thrilled," Schneider said.

Beginning Nov. 27 in Columbus, Ohio, the caravan will tour around the country, ranging from Paducah, Kentucky, to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Pensacola, Florida.

On Dec. 23, the caravan will end its tour with its 24th performance in Sarasota, Florida.

Even with a busy production schedule up to Christmas, Schneider said she plans to make it home in time to celebrate the holiday with her family.

"I have somehow managed to book myself a flight on the morning of Christmas Eve, where I go from Sarasota to Atlanta [to] St. Louis, and then I'm taking Cape Air back down to get back to the airport in Cape at like, 3:35 p.m. on Christmas Eve, just in time for Grandma's Christmas Eve celebration at 4 o'clock, which is awesome," she said with a laugh.

After a short break with her family, she will return home to New York City before New Year's Day to prepare for the spring audition season.

Tickets for "A Christmas Carol" at the River Campus are $38 or $44, depending on seat location, and can be purchased at rivercampusevents.com/specialevents or at the River Campus box office.