What character do you play in this year’s fall play, A Christmas Carol, and which character do you relate to the most?

“I am playing Ebenezer Scrooge in the fall play, A Christmas Carol.  He is a stingy man towards the beginning of the show with no joy [or] love in his life.  As he goes on a journey of self-discovery, he realizes there is so much in his life to find joy [in] and realizes that he has the ability to be happy and embrace Christmas.  I wouldn’t say I relate directly to one character.  I think each offers something meaningful: Bob’s kindness and mercy, Scrooge’s ability to change and discover joy, and Fred’s love and persistence.  I couldn’t pinpoint just one character because I admire different qualities from each.”

What is your favorite part of participating in the production?

“My favorite part, as cliche as it sounds, is the people.  They are the most dedicated, kind, [and] hardworking people who support each other and lift others up.  Doing a show is truly a group effort[.] I have seen this time and time again with [being a part of] seven productions at Sacred Heart.  Every minute counts, and everyone knows that, which makes the time really special.  It is the willingness and enthusiasm to [do well] and make others feel good about it too.  I think that those little moments lining up for mic checks, hyping each other up for a challenging part of the show, giving words of encouragement, and valuing each other backstage [are] meaningful and personal.  There is an unspoken, and deep connection, which means a lot to all of us.”

What is the most challenging aspect of performing in every scene in the show?

“The most challenging aspect is putting energy into the scenes to make them consistent and captivating.  I love performing so much, and Ms. Gorman has been there for me every step of the way.  She calls some of my scenes ‘sprints within the marathon,’ where I have to put double the amount of energy and acting, as it will enhance the scene to make it stronger.  My cast, however, makes the time on stage fly and makes it so that it doesn’t feel as stressful or overwhelming.  Every time I go on stage, I put all of my work out there.  I am so excited for everyone to see all of our hard work on this production.  We have had a really fun time creating this story and hope to see everyone there.”