FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Actor and alum John Ratzenberger will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Sacred Heart University’s production of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, Dec. 16-18 at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts.
The cast of theatre arts students is excited to welcome Ratzenberger to the set and rehearse with the star, who is known for his roles in Cheers and 22 Disney Pixar movies, including the Toy Story and Cars series.
“I’m thrilled to visit my alma mater and work with Sacred Heart’s talented theatre students,” Ratzenberger said. “This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.”
Students and faculty in SHU’s theatre arts program are starting a new holiday and fundraising tradition with this adaptation of the timeless holiday tale. The production will benefit SHU’s nationally recognized and award-winning collegiate theatre program with 100% of all proceeds going toward the program.
Grace Curley ’23 put her own spin, an intergenerational approach, on the 1840s story as student-playwright. She incorporates musical elements while staying faithful to the text. The production also involves several SHU theatre alumni who will appear in the performance and work backstage on tech.
“Audiences can look forward to a new, modern and empathetic perspective on the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge in my adaptation of A Christmas Carol,” said Curley, a senior studying theatre arts and English. She added she is eager for audiences to see this fresh perspective. “I look forward to having the SHU community come together and experience this tale of humanity and Christmas spirit.”
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2022 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu