The Actors Behind Zach Theater’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Share What Makes This Austin Tradition So Special
Cast members reflect on the joy, community and moments onstage that make them return to this musical holiday production
A moment exists just before the curtain rises when everything is possible. The theater is dark, the audience is quiet. Somewhere backstage, someone takes a breath. A cue is called. Then, as the stage lights up, the actors are illuminated.
Camila Abraham, the actress playing Belle in Zach Theater’s “A Christmas Carol,” says her passion for the stage erupts during those first moments of showtime: “When the curtain opens, I feel empowered. It’s like I’m 10 feet tall and bulletproof. All of the doubt and nerves disappear, and I feel completely confident in who I am and what I’m there to do. For those few moments, I feel like I can take on anything.”
Magic moments
For Abraham and her fellow actors in this production, that moment arrives again each holiday season. This is no ordinary take on Charles Dickens’ classic. Led by Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley, the show, which runs from Nov. 18–Dec. 27, weaves lively pop songs into a spirited musical adaptation that has become an annual Austin tradition.
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Broadway veteran and local jazz performer Kenny Williams has experienced that sense of theatrical magic in this production for 12 years, returning consistently since its start. “When the light hits me, especially on my entrance as the Ghost of Christmas Past, I feel loved and embraced.”
Eugenia De la Garza, who plays Martha, adds, “I feel most lit up when I’m singing with a live orchestra. Those moments where I stop thinking and analyzing, and I tune into what the music is telling me, are when I feel most alive.”
The story of “A Christmas Carol,” of course, is one of transformation. Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to look backward, forward and inward before he can understand the life he has been living. But for the actors who return to this production year after year, transformation isn’t confined to the script. It is part of the reason they keep coming back.
Courage to dream
When asked when they feel most alive, these actors’ answers have surprisingly little to do with fame, applause or the glamour of the spotlight. Instead, they talk about music, community, belonging, courage and possibility — and about the younger versions of themselves who once dreamed of becoming who they are today.
Reflecting on Scrooge’s journey through his past, present and future, De la Garza considers what she might say if given the chance to visit her younger self: “I would love to tell my younger self to trust the journey. I was born and raised in Monterrey, México, and my family moved to Austin in 2017. I was so scared and hesitant about the move. I was 14, leaving the only home I’d ever known, my best friends and my school behind, was terrifying. Slowly but surely, I found my place. I was lucky enough to go to a high school that has an amazing theatre program. If we hadn’t moved to the U.S., I probably wouldn’t be doing theatre as a career right now. If it weren’t for the move, I never would’ve met some of the people who have changed my life for the better. I wouldn’t be as confident and independent as I am. I’d tell her to say ‘yes’ to the things that scare her and to trust that she’s becoming exactly who she’s supposed to be.”
On that same theme, Williams shares, “If I could sit across from my younger self, I’d want to tell him that, YOU ARE ENOUGH! Don’t doubt it! You have everything you need within you to do and be all that you dream!”
A holiday tradition that celebrates life
For the actors, the reason to return to this production each year is deeply connected to what the story gives back to its audience. Will Mallick, who plays Fred, says it adds meaning to his holiday season: “Sharing a story that inspires people to change for the better and to be more generous and giving is something I would’ve never imagined I’d get a chance to do for so many people.”
Laura Hussman, assistant choreographer, adds, “I think people come to ‘A Christmas Carol’ looking for joy and community. This show is filled with beauty and celebrates life. It is almost impossible to watch this production and feel alone.”
Perhaps that is the magic of this annual tradition: in a season that can feel hurried and uncertain, the theater offers a place to pause, gather and reflect. For Williams, that is what brings audiences back year after year: “I think they’re looking for joy and stability. With so much uncertainty in the world, the show offers an opportunity for theatre-goers to come together with their family and friends. It’s become a holiday tradition for so many … a constant moment they can depend on and look forward to every year.”