Christmas time is filled with special concerts and events to get people in the Christmas spirit. One of these events is Hays Community Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” a play based on the classic Charles Dickens novel.

Senior Megan Zeman is one of the cast members.

“I wanted to audition for this show because I wanted to spend time with my friends and I love community theatre,” Zeman said. “I like the wide range of people we get to perform with. You’re working with elementary school kids, people in their forties with jobs, and it’s just a great acting experience to get to act with people of all these ages. And in general, I like the feeling of performing, putting on a show with your friends, and making memories, because when you do a show, you’re like family.”

Former student Katarina Rorstrom had a different reason for joining.

“A lot of the reason I joined “A Christmas Carol” is because I wanted to be part of a theatre production, because I miss doing the Hays High ones,” Rorstrom said. “Also, I was familiar with the story, and community theatre is a lot of fun.”

Rorstrom said her favorite part of theatre was the ability to create a story in a unique way.

“I think you can touch people more with theatre than you can with other types of art, because they’re seeing real people perform these stories,” Rorstrom said. “It’s also so much fun to be a part of. Theatre people are my favorite people in the world.”

Fort Hays State University freshman Spencer McCue also gave his reasons for participating.

“The Christmas Carol was the first show I ever saw, so I’ve always wanted to be in it,” McCue said. “What I love most about theatre is the freedom that a stage brings to the world. You can do anything on a stage. You can be the most arrogant person or a fool in love, but when you go off the stage, you go back to being you.”

Director Samie Pfeifer also shared her introduction to theatre.

“My first show was Hays Community Theatre’s production of Christmas Carol when I was 11 years old,” Pfeifer said. “I played the character Fan by accident. The girl who played her never showed up, so the director gave me the role.”

Pfeifer said her reasons for joining theatre came from her love of Indiana Jones.

“I wanted to be Indiana Jones when I was younger,” Pfeifer said, “and when I found out he was an actor, not a real archaeologist, I then wanted to be an actor, too.”

Pfeifer said her favorite part of this production was the cast.

“They fit the parts so perfectly,” Pfiefer said. “That’s one of the really magical things about stage productions. Lots of different people are all doing lots of different things.”

“A Christmas Carol” performances are Dec. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. at 12^th Street Auditorium. Admission is a non-perishable food item or a free will donation.

14nfeyerherm@usd489.com