Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Kyle Mason

Meet Kyle Mason

I’m currently a junior at Indiana University Bloomington, receiving my BFA in Musical Theatre. I love what I do and what I study, and something that inspired me to pursue a career in performing was my experience in A Christmas Carol back in 2013. I was in my eighth grade year and it was my first regional theatre experience. I only did Carol for one year, and in that year I played the roles of Boy Caroller, a Belle Child, a Mourner, and Turkey Boy. It was a blast, and I still keep in touch with a lot of the other kids I worked with since it was such a special experience. After A Christmas Carol, I decided to pursue performing and did nothing but that in high school. I performed in many shows with Avon Players, Rochester Adams High School Theatre, and RCS Summer Music Theatre, all in the greater Rochester area. Since coming to school and starting to receive my degree, I have also discovered a passion for directing and picked up a minor in Arts Management. Some of my notable experiences in the last few years have been performing in Spring Awakening, Pippin, In the Heights, and soon I will be performing in American Idiot. I also have gotten to direct Next to Normal through a student-led theatre group at IU, and assistant directed Little Shop of Horrors and a new musical workshop called Stardust Road through the summer theatre season IU runs yearly. I am very much looking forward to a career ahead creating theatre and impacting others.

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Hannah Mathers

Meet Hannah Mathers

I played Tiny Tim in 2000 & 2001 and played Fan in 2003. I'd like to say that my favorite line in the play was "God bless us everyone" which I do admit, I loved that big moment every show. However, the line that has always stuck with me for some reason was "the potatoes are bubbling the potatoes are bubbling." I loved that moment in the show! I remember small pranks behind stage with the two carolers as Fred left the scene talking to Scrooge. I remember loving getting the makeup smeared all over my face during the "poor child" scene. I remember Uno games, Mongolian BBQ cast trips and so much kindness. I do believe that these times increased my confidence on stage but perhaps more importantly with the way my life has gone, off stage.

I did theatre a bit in high school but ultimately studied Communication Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit. After graduation, I traveled a bit (visited friends in Egypt and India) and then joined the Peace Corps where I taught English to 6th graders in rural Zambia. My funny voices to get the students' attention, vocal exercises we did as a class, and the theatre prop games that my students loved ("This isn't a water bottle! It's a mustache!") prove that theatre is and always will a part of me. I am currently in Dublin, Ireland helping with a group of study abroad students.

I often wonder if our accent lessons during A Christmas Carol contributed to my desire to learn an Irish accent while here. Every once in a while I will hear someone talking and remember the scene where Old Joe is selling Scrooge's items. Those accents, those scenes, and that acting always stuck with me. My years in A Christmas Carol always have and always will be with me. I have vivid memories of both my adult friends and kid friends. Aside from these memories, I know the effects on my confidence cannot be measured. I'm so grateful for MBT and my time on cast. Hope you have a wonderful Carol season everyone and as always "the potatoes are"... oops, I mean "God bless us everyone."

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Stephanie Hamood

Meet Stephanie Hamood

I was Fan, Want & others in 2001 & 2002 and am a musician and singer/songwriter currently living in Nashville. I have toured and worked with various acts over the years (from Anita Baker to The Black Keys). I'm working on my own solo project now, with an album produced by Alabama Shakes producer Andrija Tokic! We are aiming for an early 2020 release (single release Feb, album March).

Here are a couple blurbs from music reviewers, if any of this is helpful in describing the music we're making -

"Stephie James resurrects the heart-stirring soul of her legacy artists that span the roots gamut. Summoning the melancholy melodies of Roy Orbison and the vigorous spirit of Billie Holiday, she makes good on delivering an EP that is every bit as riveting as the on-stage displays that she has gifted the Nashville scene with for years. Somewhere in-between elements of country, soul, and jazz is a dedication to progressive rock 'n' roll, proving James' artistic know-how beside a staunch passion for delivering sincere messages through robust hooks." -Jonathan Frahm, PopMatters

"The EP itself is a perfect distillation of the best elements Detroit rock has had to offer over the last two decades: timeless leather-cool, thanks to the resurgence of Iggy Pop and the omnipresence of Jack White - and, above all else, great songwriting. From the Americana rock churn of EP opener, “These Days,” the album puts your expectations on the backfoot immediately: one part Phil Spector crooner and one part howling-for-blood rock as James snidely intones “The tide is turning, but some things never change.” Only three songs later, the album closes its five track suite with “Will You Be,” a heartbreaking ode to the enigmatic nature of waned love." - Bobby Cleveland, Brooklyn (baby robot media)

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Michael Canu

Meet Michael Canu

I was Peter Cratchit for 2 years in a row, 2010-11. I’m currently in my senior year at CCM (BFA). Last summer I worked at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre where I played SnowBoy in West Side Story and Sky in Mamma Mia! Then this summer played Mark in A Chorus Line at Cape Playhouse. This year I’m doing Andy Lee in 42nd Street as one of my last shows on the CCM stage.