Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Austin Joseph Reynolds

Meet Austin Joseph Reynolds

When I was ten-years-old, my first audition for anything was Meadow Brook Theatre's A Christmas Carol. I remember the day I auditioned so clearly, reading sides from the Cratchit dinner scene - "... the potatoes are bubbling! ..." For the years 2004 and 2005, I performed the role of Scrooge as a Boy and the Boy Caroler. For the years 2006 and 2007, I performed the role of Peter Cratchit. I will forever love this production. In fact, I think I could still recite nearly every line from beginning to end. After A Christmas Carol, I attended Interlochen Arts Academy for high school. In 2017, I graduated from The Juilliard School with a BFA in Ice. In May of 2017, I joined a contemporary ballet company called Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and traveled to and around France, Israel, Canada and the U.S. for two years. In June of 2019, I decided to move back to New York at the end of August. The week I moved back, I auditioned for the National Tour of Cats. Less than a week later, I got an offer to join as a Swing and as the Dance Captain. We are currently at the Kennedy Center and my heart is so full. I would not be here today if many people had not shared their love and wisdom with me at Meadow Brook; especially Terry Carpenter, Judy Dery and Tom Mahard. There are many different kinds of people in this business, so the fact that my first experience could be so wonderfully special and loving means the world to me.

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Cheryl Zeese

Meet Cheryl Zeese (now Denenberg)

I think I was in the show 1984, 1985 and 1987. I played Fan and Belinda. Some of my best childhood memories are from those three productions - Sunday meals from the Chinese restaurant, sugar cubes on the coffee table and Secret Santa. 1987 was my heyday for theater as I did not continue. I have a Bachelor of Science in speech pathology from Michigan State University - and a Bachelor of Science in nursing and finally a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State law school. I live in Grand Rapids with my husband and our two children. One fun fact is that in 1998 one of the first dates with my husband was to see A Christmas Carol. Booth Colman was still in it at the time. We have Broadway Grand Rapids tickets and go to Chicago & New York a lot to see shows - still love the theater!

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

Meet Michael Roberts

I played Matthew Cratchit for one year and Peter Cratchit for two while I was in middle school, back in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Man, it's been a while! Since then I graduated with a Bachelors and then Masters degree in computer science from the University of Michigan. I'm now living in San Francisco and working at Fitbit (with my twin brother!) to help make the world a healthier place.

Meet the Cast of A Christmas Carol's Past: Adam Carpenter

Meet Adam Carpenter

From 1989 - 1998, I performed every male child role in A Christmas Carol except for Matthew Cratchit.  I never got to say “The potatoes are bubbling!  The potatoes are bubbling!” It is one of my greatest regrets.  However, I did get to say “Not BLOODY likely!” at the top of my lungs at age 4.  So you win some, you lose some. I grew up backstage at Meadow Brook Theatre with my father Terry Carpenter as head stage manager and my mother Linda working in the costume shop.  I was, I hope, a very cute and constant presence on and offstage during my childhood, hanging out with actors in their greenroom, in the rehearsal room, and outside while they chain smoked.  Or inside while they chain smoked. It was the late 80s and 90s. But those 9 fall/winters of performing in A Christmas Carol alongside Booth Colman, Mary Benson, Paul Hopper, Tom Mahard, and countless others who came through year after year cemented my love for the theatre and the direction of my life and career. 

From 2003 - 2007, I attended Hope College in Holland, MI where I received a BA in Theatre with a dual focus in Acting and Lighting Design.  Upon graduating, I returned to Meadow Brook Theatre as an acting intern for the season and performed in my 10th year of A Christmas Carol, this time as an adult.  So still no bubbling potatoes for me. 

In 2008, I was accepted to the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota, FL.  In three years I received my MFA in Acting. I had also met my to-be wife Alicia. We were in the same class of 11 people and saw each other for roughly 16 hours a day.  So really it was a lack of options and time to see other people. We graduated and got married in the spring of 2011, and moved to New York City that summer. 

Since moving to NYC, Alicia and I have worked with several different theatre companies including Project: Theatre, Smith Street Stage, High-Five Productions, Titan Theatre Company, and the Pearl Theater both on and offstage.  I do lights. Alicia takes care of props. We love when we get to work together.

For the past 7 years Alicia and I have been part of Our Bar (www.ourbarnyc.com) as writers, performers, and directors.  Our Bar is Dive-Theatre - original site-specific theatre for less than a shot and a beer.  This November Our Bar celebrates its 10th Anniversary. If you live in NYC, come check us out and/or like us on Facebook and Instagram @OurBarNYC.  Our Bar performs the first Wednesday of every month, tickets are $10. And you get a beer. It’s been the same price, same deal for 10 years. Not many companies in NYC can say that. 

In 2018, Alicia and I welcomed our first son Kieran to the world.  He is a charmer, but not yet destined for the stage. He only says, “Hi!” “Bye!” and “Car!” so we’re still a couple years away from “Not BLOODY likely!” on command. 

Meadow Brook Theatre and “A Christmas Carol” will always hold a special place in my heart.  And my nightmares. The only “actor’s nightmare” I ever have takes place on the set of “A Christmas Carol,” ...and I can never remember the line, “The potatoes are bubbling! The potatoes are bubbling!”