UA Little Rock employees, student part of “A Christmas Carol”

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty member, staff member, and student are in “A Christmas Carol” opening Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock. Dr. Greg Robinson, associate professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at UA Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, plays the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He also serves as the cast’s dialect coach and has helped the actors perfect accents suitable for 1843 London. This is Robinson’s third show at Argenta Community Theater where he previously appeared as Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and as Archibald Craven in “The Secret Garden.” He has performed extensively in central Arkansas, including performances at The Arkansas Repertory Theater, Arkansas Shakespeare Theater, Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, The Weekend Theater, and The Studio Theater. In “A Christmas Carol,” Robinson portrays Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. What the ghosts reveal helps transform Scrooge into a kinder, gentler man. “To me, Scrooge is fighting a battle that a lot of us fight at this time of year. It’s getting colder. The daylight hours are getting shorter, and many of us may have sad memories that become even more painful during this season,” Robinson said. “Like Scrooge, we all have to accept that those memories of the past are a part of who we are now. In the present, we can reach out to others who are in need and maybe make ourselves feel a little better, too. Those actions of compassion will, in turn, create a future that is brighter for everyone, even in the darkest time of the year.” Tracy Courage, news director in the Office of Communications and Marketing, plays multiple ensemble roles, including that of Belle, a love interest of the young Scrooge. She has performed at The Weekend Theater, the Benton Royal Theater, and Community Theater of Little Rock. Jacksonville High School student Sabrena Kertz, who takes classes at UA Little Rock as a concurrent student, is part of the crew and works behind the scenes as a costume dresser. She has studied stagecraft and also assists with set pieces at Argenta Community Theater. She will graduate in May and has applied for admission to UA Little Rock in fall 2018. “A Christmas Carol” is produced by Judy Tenenbaum and directed by Vincent Insalaco from an adaptation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic by Little Rock playwright Judy Goss. The show runs through Dec. 23. Tickets here In the top right photo, Dr. Greg Robinson gets into character for his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.”