But the children and young people who perform in the Rep’s largest production of the year, with a cast of 36, have a much friendlier guide through Mark Clements’ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story.
After more than 40 consecutive seasons of live “Christmas Carol,” Milwaukee Rep could not perform the show in 2020 for safety reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning to the “Christmas Carol” tradition from that disruption has made many people involved emotional, Hoffmann said during a recent interview.
She’s seen or read many versions of Scrooge’s saga.
Dickens went on popular tours giving dramatic readings of “A Christmas Carol,” she said.
In past seasons Hoffmann could spend as much as a month working with the casting director on casting children for roles .
Hoffmann said rapport in rehearsal between the adult professionals and young performers is good, and can become especially close with the actors playing the Cratchit parents — Reese Madigan and Rána Roman this year.
Everyone — cast, crew, directors — is on a strict testing schedule that ramps up closer to opening night, Hoffmann said.
As an example, she mentioned a Fezziwig party scene, where people are dancing, with one girl played by Paxton Haley off to the side, smiling and following along with the music.
The Rep’s care for young performers extends to their entrances and exits, too.