In an exclusive interview, we caught up with Sam Henderson, the mastermind behind the direction at Dock Street Theatre for our latest rendition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Explore the intricacies of his artistic approach as he guided the magic of this timeless holiday classic!
In an exclusive interview, we caught up with Sam Henderson, the mastermind behind the direction at Dock Street Theatre for our latest rendition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Explore the intricacies of his artistic approach as he guided the magic of this timeless holiday classic!
What initially drew you to direct A Christmas Carol for Charleston Stage?
I’ve worked closely with Julian on the previous 3 productions of A Christmas Carol and he and I wrote the new version together, so it was a natural transition to take over directing it when he retired. Plus, its a fun show to direct!
How do you plan to continue bringing a fresh perspective to this classic story, while staying true to its traditional themes?
This is handled mostly in the re-write we did for 2022. The music, choreography, costumes and sets were all recreated with a more modern and whimsical feel.
What do you hope audiences take away from this production?
I hope audiences continue to grasp on to the timeless themes and lessons presented in Dickens’ original text while embracing the joyful nature in which it is presented by our spectacular cast and production team.
What unique elements and new interpretations are you excited to incorporate into the performance?
This year, we have several new surprises up our sleeves that will delight even the most die-hard Charleston Stage A Christmas Carol devotees…but I’m not spoiling those here.
How do you approach casting for such iconic characters?
We approach casting in this piece the same way we do for all of our productions…we work to find the best fit for each role while utilizing our Resident Acting Company members combined with our fabulous local talent, creating a superb cast that reflects the community in which we all live.
Can you share a bit about your process for working with the cast to bring the characters to life?
This cast in particular has been a joy to work with. They all came with ideas of who their character(s) are and were open to playing and experimenting with my ideas to bring them to life in unexpected ways. I blocked the show according to technical requirements that must be set a certain way and then we’ve had a great time letting the actors explore and create within that framework to give you the piece we’ll be presenting this season.
A Christmas Carol has a strong message of compassion and transformation. How do you emphasize these themes in your direction?
My favorite way to highlight many of the themes in the story is through humor. Scrooge is really the only one who takes himself seriously, and we let all the characters around him exist with humor and joy (often at his expense) to help convey these lessons and ignite his transformation.
What are some of the challenges of staging a production with such well-known scenes and characters?
I’d probably say creating the magic. But that’s all I can say about that! Second to that is probably keeping the scenes and characters fresh. With such a well known story, surprising the audience is a challenge, but I think we’ve met that challenge year after year.
How do you think A Christmas Carol resonates with audiences today, especially during the holiday season?
Based solely on it’s popularity year after year, I thinks it’s clear that it resonates with audiences more than ever. My favorite feedback is always the people who have seen our A Christmas Carol numerous times over the past 47 years and continue to look forward to the holiday tradition for their families.
What part of the production process are you most excited about, and what can loyal Charleston Stage patrons look forward to?
I’ve been most excited this year about the magic, of course, but also our expanded partnership with our friends at Dance Lab Charleston. Jenny Broe Quinn and Naquan Villega have revitalized and polished the existing choreography and added new choreography that is so much fun. I’ve had a blast working with both of them and watching them bring their gifts to share with us at Charleston Stage.
SAM HENDERSON (Resident Music Supervisor and Artistic Associate)
Sam (he/him/his) is Charleston Stage’s Resident Music Supervisor and Artistic Associate and holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Instrumental Music/Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX, as well as a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre/Opera Music Direction from Arizona State University. He has over 25 years experience teaching music professionally, and has been working as a theatre music director and conductor for the past 20 years. Professionally, Sam has worked for Phoenix Theatre, Childsplay, The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Lyric Opera Theatre and Copperstar Repertory Company prior to coming to Charleston Stage. At Charleston Stage, Sam oversees all musical aspects of our programming and works with Artistic Director, Marybeth Clark on season planning, artistic oversight and general artistic operations of the company. He is also the Facility Manager for our wonderful West Ashley Theatre Center.