Scrooge, The Musical in Manahawkin

A Christmas Carol turns into Scrooge, The Musical! 

The newly formed Shore Repertory Theatre Company (formerly the Strand Theatre Ensemble), presents their 9th annual production of the holiday musical extravaganza, Scrooge the Musical this year at the 800 seat, state of the art Ocean First Theater at the Stafford Township Arts Center (STAC) in Manahawkin.

Scrooge, previously presented for the last 8 years at The Strand Theater in Lakewood, is now at The Ocean First Theater/STAC in order to provide more family friendly ticket pricing as well as plentiful parking for audience members.

Scrooge is based on A Christmas Carol, the novella by Charles Dickens first published in 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim.

 The book was written and published in early Victorian era Britain when it was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced.

The tale was pirated immediately, was adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and somberness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.

This years Scrooge is directed by New Jersey Association of Community Theaters award winner Jan Topoleski and features viewers favorite Gary Alan Powell reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge for his ninth consecutive year.

Scrooge boasts a cast of nearly 50 adults and children. Audience members will be delighted by the same elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects that have made Scrooge an Ocean County tradition for thousands of theatre-goers.

Performances are on December 17 at 7:30pm & December 19, at 1:30 pm & 6:00pm.

The Ocean First Theater/STAC is located at 1000 McKinley Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 Seniors & Children and $14 for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased online at www.njstac.com or by calling the box office at (609) 489-8600.

If you're interested in buying, selling or investing in real estate in Manahawkin, or anywhere in Ocean County, please go to www.myjerseyshorehomefinder.com

Karl Hess, Your Real Estate Agent on The Jersey Shore