MOUNT VERNON – A local pastor, the Rev. Scott Elliott, is preparing for a unique sabbatical after Easter.
He will be working on a play to be produced on the Woodward stage for the holidays. Elliott is the minister of the First Congregational Church and serves on the Winter Sanctuary board of directors. In 2019, the last year before the pandemic struck, the church's Community Family Players theater ministry teamed up with the homeless shelter to present a very successful production of "A Christmas Carol," raising over $31,000 for the shelter.
"We had three goals for that production: to connect youth and the community through the performing arts, to provide a meaningful Christmas event for the community and to raise money for Winter Sanctuary," said Charlotte Watson, who helps lead the Community Family Players and stage-managed the 2019 effort. "I am very happy to say we met all three goals in remarkable fashion. Scott has a theater background that includes a lot of work with youth and adults and it sure paid off. I look forward to doing this again with this new script."
The Community Family Players and the Winter Sanctuary had planned to repeat the project in 2020, but late last July they were informed the rehearsals and performances would be unsafe during the COVID-19 pandemic. So the team turned their focus to 2021. Elliott knew he had a sabbatical coming up this spring and decided to use it to re-work the production for 2021, including writing a new "A Christmas Carol" script just for the Knox County production.
"A scheduling conflict at the Memorial Theater caused us to look for another venue," Elliott said. "I was already thinking I might write a new script, but when we found out we'd likely be able to change the venue to The Woodward, that cinched it. The Woodward was built around the time Charles Dickens wrote 'A Christmas Carol,' and that inspired me to think it'd be fun to have Dickens in the play. The idea I have is for him to narrate the play and maybe step in and act out a part or two. I also plan on adding a few characters and scenes from the book which we did not have in 2019."
Elliott indicated that he already has a working draft with those ideas taking shape.
"I was honored to be asked to read Scott's working draft of his adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol,'" said Cate Blair-Wilhelm, who played Scrooge in the 2019 production. "I so loved being a part of our 2019 project, and I am very much looking forward to joining Scott and Community Family Players in creating this next iteration. I am eager to be the originator of a role in Scott's version of the play."
"I've read the early draft and am thrilled with the direction Scott has taken with the play — lots more action and fun!" said Courtney DeCosky, who was also in the 2019 production. "I am also incredibly excited to be on the beautiful, magical Woodward stage with this new script and new-to-me role. When Scott offered me the role, I enthusiastically accepted and then immediately reached out to Cate to express my excitement that we would be working so closely together in that amazing first-act scene. Hint, hint. I am equally excited that both my twin boys jumped at the opportunity to be in the show this year. I anticipate it being an amazing family experience to cherish!"
"The 2019 production was a grand slam home run," said Dave Perry, president of the Winter Sanctuary. "It was great theatre and great for the community and, of course, fantastic for Winter Sanctuary and our guests. We love that Scott is already working on the 2021 version and appreciate very much his spending time on his sabbatical working up a play just for Knox County. I can't wait to see the new version."
"(I expect to dedicate the script) to the Winter Sanctuary and others in Knox County who tend to the well-being of those in need," Elliott said. "This is a very caring community, and the very least I can do is honor those who offer so much kindness and care to those experiencing homelessness and hunger."
"A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Scott Elliott, will be performed at year-end, on Dec. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The acting pastor while Elliott is on sabbatical will be Knox County resident the Rev. Dr. Mearle Griffith.
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