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Presents |
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL |
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| The Secret Theatre, 10-10 44th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 | |
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Directed, Adapted by, and Starring Richard Mazda
The Secret Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol features a brand-new adaptation by our Artistic Director Richard Mazda, who also takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Though not a musical, this fresh take on Dickens’ timeless tale weaves in beloved Christmas carols performed live, bringing warmth and spirit to the stage.
On a cold Christmas Eve, Scrooge is his usual miserly self—snapping at his clerk, scorning charity, and rejecting his nephew’s invitation to celebrate. But when he returns home, he’s confronted by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley… and then by three more unearthly visitors: the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
Together, they take Scrooge on a haunting journey through his life—his lonely childhood, the love he lost to greed, the family he overlooks, and the grim future awaiting him if he does not change.
By dawn, Scrooge awakens transformed. Filled with newfound joy and generosity, he celebrates Christmas with open arms—proving it’s never too late to rediscover the true spirit of the season.
Songs Performed
- In the Bleak Mid-Winter
- Good Kings Wenceslas
- Twelve Days of Christmas
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Jingle Bells
- Winter Wonderland
Who's Who in the Cast
Cast
*GREG HORTON
Charles Dickens / Fezziwig
Christopher Hoppe
Bob Cratchit
*RICHARD MAZDA
Ebenezer Scrooge
MILES MESSIER
Fred
TRAVIS JOHN MARTIN
First Charity Worker / George
XAVIER BURNS
Turkey Boy / Boy Scrooge / Dick Wilkins / Peter Cratchit
*J.B. ALEXANDER
Jacob Marley / Old Joe
NICOLE HEPBURN
Ghost Of Christmas Past / Lily
WILLIAM CHO
Boy Scrooge / Peter Cratchit
ALEX JANGER
Boy Scrooge / Peter Cratchit
SUSAN WALSH
Mrs. Cratchit, Mr. Fezziwig, Charwoman
CALUM GILES
Young Scrooge
MARINA MATERASSO
Belle
MIA SOLEIL JACQUEZ
Ghost of Christmas Present / Mrs. Dilber
VICTORIA MUNOZ
Fan / Belle's Friend / Martha Cratchit
ELLIE BLAINEY
Sally Cratchit
RUBY JANGER
Belinda Cratchit
WALTER KAPLAN
Tiny Tim
Actor's Equity
Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.
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Meet our Cast, Crew & Creative Team
*GREG HORTON
Charles Dickens / Fezziwig
Greg Horton most recently appeared as Sir Peter Teazle in Hudson Classical Theater Company's The School for Scandal. Other favorite roles::Adult Male, With Glee, Prospect Theater Company; Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, Hudson Classical; Buddy, Follies, APAC; Mr. Carney, A Man of No Importance, (2012 NYIT Award), Gallery Players; Ko-Ko, The Singapore Mikado, (2006 NYIT Award), Theater Ten Ten. Regionally, he played John Adams, 1776, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Cortland, NY. As always, for Roxann.
(*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association)
Christopher Hoppe
Bob Cratchit
Christopher Hoppe is an educator, director, and actor whose work spans theater, media, and cultural criticism. He teaches American Literature and leads an after school theatre program as well. Last June, he co-directed The Little Mermaid. A former radio personality and longtime DJ, he has appeared on HBO’s The Deuce and frequently guests on film-criticism podcasts. His artistic work—shaped by a deep fascination within the realms of Gothic Horror —centers on storytelling across mediums in any way he can situate Batman, punk rock and David Bowie into his English classes.
*RICHARD MAZDA
Ebenezer Scrooge
Richard is an actor, director, and producer. Recent roles include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Fagin in Oliver! (for which he also designed the set and lighting), and Justice Wargrave in And Then There Were None. His favorite role was Richard III. Mazda is an A.S.C.A.P. award winner for writing the Billboard R&B number one hit "How Long." He is also the owner and artistic director of The Secret Theatre, The Secret Theatre Academy, and Vital Art Studios. Mazda adapted the script and designed the set for this production.
(*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association)
MILES MESSIER
Fred
Miles Messier: Secret Theatre Debut!; Off-Broadway: Pinkalicious; Regional: Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Forever Plaid (North Country Center for the Arts), Pinocchio (Emerson Colonial Theatre), Shrek (Yorktown Stage). MD Credits include Something Rotten!, Kinky Boots, Heathers, Matilda, The Sound of Music, and multiple production shows for Royal Caribbean International. He has written several musicals, including To the Fairest and Shudder (Best Score nom. NYTF). Miles is a voice/piano teacher for the Secret Academy! BFA in music theatre and composition minor from the Hartt School. Website: milesmessier.com
TRAVIS JOHN MARTIN
First Charity Worker / George
Travis John Martin is a versatile actor, who soon after moving to Manhattan, made his Off-Broadway debut in A Therapy Session with Myself as Henry/Ensemble and his film debut as Tony in Dickie K. Graduating from Hofstra University with a BA in acting and film, Travis recently completed two years training in the Meisner Technique at the Acting Studio - New York, and studied stage combat with Robert Westley and Shireen Yehya of Sordelet Inc. Other notable theatre roles include Michal in The Pillowman, Millet in Fuddy Meers, Julian Muller in The Leopard and the Lynx, Biondella in The Taming of the Shrew, Paris in Romeo and Juliet, Count Bellair in The Beaux’ Stratagem, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and the titular Cyclops in The Cyclops. Noteworthy film roles include Doug in Always Faithful, Alex in Unfiltered, Linus in Slow Boil, Nolan in T-Minus, Nathan in Sitting Shiva, and Andrew in First Glance. Travis directed the short play Where’s Avis, and has written and directed short films, The Resident and Afterthought. Check out his first novel, Lion’s Heaven, and look out for the sequel. See more on his website: www.travisjohnmartin.com
XAVIER BURNS
Turkey Boy / Boy Scrooge / Dick Wilkins / Peter Cratchit
Xavier Burns is a student at IS429Q in Sunnyside, Queens. In addition to acting, he loves baseball and eSports, hanging out with friends and his big sister. This is his first performance with The Secret Theatre, but he has been cast as Crutchie in the upcoming Newsies to continue the collaboration. Past roles: Music Man / boy, Shrek / Gingerbread Man, Oliver / Mr Bumble, Bye Bye Birdie / Harry McAfee, Annie / Rooster, Tale of Two Cities / Little Gaspard, Dear Edwina / Bobby, Always / Young Luke.
*J.B. ALEXANDER
Jacob Marley / Old Joe
J.B. Alexander is delighted to return to the Secret Theatre, in a role he loves. Most recently he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night (Quest Players). Other roles include the Pope in Doctor Faustus (Secret Theatre) and Claudius in Hamlet (First Maria). His one-man show The Metamorphosis (about a struggling writer who is transformed into Franz Kafka) has been performed in Prague, Budapest, and New York. TV - Law & Order: SVU (NBC). www.jaybeealexander.net
(*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association)
NICOLE HEPBURN
Ghost Of Christmas Past / Lily
Nicole Hepburn is thrilled to be making her Secret Theater debut, especially as a Long Island City local! She was most recently seen as Gingy/Sugarplum Fairy in Yorktown Player’s production of Shrek The Musical. Other notable roles include Serena (Legally Blonde), Carrie (Carrie), June (Gypsy), and Little Red (Into The Woods). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Jason, and Matt for their continued support.
WILLIAM CHO
Boy Scrooge / Peter Cratchit
William is a 7th grader excited to return for his third year in this production of A Christmas Carol with the Secret Theatre. His past roles include Warbucks (Annie Jr.), Einstein (Time Door), and the Mayor (Witch of the Blue Bell Woods) with the Secret Theatre and S.T. Academy. He enjoys playing piano, learning Korean, and looks forward to learning the ukulele at school.
ALEX JANGER
Boy Scrooge / Peter Cratchit
Alex is thrilled to return for his fourth year in The Christmas Carol at The Secret Theatre. After three years as Tiny Tim, he has finally graduated to Boy Scrooge/Peter Cratchit—proving he can play both “adorable” and “slightly less adorable.” A fourth grader at PS 217, Alex enjoys cooking, crafting extremely detailed trip itineraries, languages (fluent in ASL), and reading classics. He recently discovered a love for writing poetry and studying maps. He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he enjoys being a part of it.
SUSAN WALSH
Mrs. Cratchit, Mr. Fezziwig, Charwoman
Susan Walsh is delighted to once again enter the world of A Christmas Carol in the roles of Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Fezziwig, and the Charwoman. She enjoys collaborating with the very talented cast and crew, and is glad to be spending the holiday season with her Secret Theatre family for a third year. Special thanks to her daughter, Nora, and her husband, Art, for their love and support and for being enthusiastic audience members!
CALUM GILES
Young Scrooge
Calum Giles is a sophomore in the drama studio at the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan. Recent roles have included CB in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead at the NYU Youth Theater Ensemble, the Chorus/Narrator in Henry V at the Globe Theater in the Catskills, and Young Scrooge in last year's production of The Christmas Carol at the Secret Theater. He enjoys playing jazz piano and freestyle skiing.
MARINA MATERASSO
Belle
Marina is very exited to be in her 2nd Christmas carol here at secret theatre! She goes to school at Q580 The Baccalaureate School For Global Education and is currently an 8th grader. Marina has previously performed in various productions, including Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and Donkey in Shrek jr and also other roles in The Wizard of Oz Jr., Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., and more. And she is going to be playing Jack Kelly in Secret Theatres Newsies Jr. in April 2026. She wants thank Richard, Sarah A, Sarah, Rosa, and Georgina for this opportunity.
MIA SOLEIL JACQUEZ
Ghost of Christmas Present / Mrs. Dilber
Mia is a sophomore at NYU Tisch’s Experimental Theatre Wing, an HSF Scholar, the inaugural recipient of the Secret Rising Light Award from Secret Arts, and a proud member of the Tisch Dean’s List. A self-proclaimed crochet artist and lifelong performer, she has been acting, singing, and dancing since the age of seven. Still, she believes her most special skill is “big jump for little cartwheel” — an unintentionally tiny cartwheel that requires an unnecessary dramatic leap. Her dream role is America Chavez in a Marvel movie. Recent credits at NYU include Hamlet (Rosencrantz/Gravedigger), Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread (First Woman), and Macbeth (King Duncan/Porter). A longtime member of the Secret Theatre, this is Mia's fifth production of A Christmas Carol, and she is happy to be alongside Richard as Assistant Director. She is also currently developing the MIA (Making It Accessible) Young Artists Collective at the Secret and looks forward to a 2026 launch. Mia wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season! https://www.backstage.com/u/miajacquez/
VICTORIA MUNOZ
Fan / Belle's Friend / Martha Cratchit
Victoria Munoz is an 8th grader with a growing list of musical theatre credits across community, school, and camp productions. She recently appeared as Annette and Star To Be in Annie at The Secret Theatre, where she also performed as a Bird Girl in Seussical the Musical.
Victoria has been cast in three different productions of Shrek the Musical Jr., portraying Teen Fiona and a Duloc Dancer at Queens College Theatre Camp; Mama Bear, Mama Ogre, and the voice of Dragon at Hunters Point Community Middle School; and Mama Bear and Knight at PS150Q. She also played Florinda in Queens College Theatre Camp’s production of Into the Woods.
She trains in voice and piano at The Secret Theatre Academy and is thrilled to be a part of A Christmas Carol.
ELLIE BLAINEY
Sally Cratchit
Ellie Blainey is excited to return to A Christmas Carol as Sally Cratchit. Ellie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as traveling.
RUBY JANGER
Belinda Cratchit
Ruby Janger is a 6th grade student at the Salk School of Science. She is involved in dance—ballet, tap, and Irish dancing—as well as theatre and debate, proudly taking home her first trophy after her very first tournament and joining the varsity team as a novice debater. A child of Deaf adults, Ruby loves languages and is fluent in ASL. She looks forward to her fourth performance in The Christmas Carol, having moved on from Sally to Belinda Cratchit. Ruby is thrilled to be part of the wonderful cast and hopes you enjoy the performance!
WALTER KAPLAN
Tiny Tim
Walter has appeared in Secret Theatre's productions of Annie Jr. (Bert Healy, orphan, passerby) and Seussical the Musical Jr. (Mr. Mayor). He has also performed in Secret Theatre Summer Camp productions of The Witch of Bluebell Woods (Peter), Katz n’ Dogz (Officer Pigoutsky), and Space Cowboy (Roberto the Italian Robot). Walter is in 5th grade at Growing Up Green Elementary School in Long Island City. He loves acting, reading, writing stories, and performing.
RICHARD MAZDA
Director, Producer
MIA SOLEIL JACQUEZ
Assistant Director
SARAH L. ADAMS
Production Stage Manager
Sarah Adams (Production Stage Manager) (she/her) Her stage management credits include SOON (Off-Broadway), Love in Idleness (Off-Broadway), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Glass Menagerie (Santa Cruz Shakespeare), and various productions at The Cape Playhouse, Circle Theatre, the Actors Studio Drama School, and Texas Christian University. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tarleton State University.
GEORGINA BATES
Choreographer
Georgina Bates is a NY & CT based choreographer, director, and movement artist. Recent work: “Umbilical Walk” (in collaboration with artist January Yoon Cho, PS 109 ElBarrio’s Artspace), “Annie Jr.” (Secret Theatre), "Trasharella" (Theater 86). Ms. Bates’ dance film "Unstoppable" was selected from the #mydancefilm campaign and screened at theFilm Society of Lincoln Center for the Dance Films Association’s Dance onCamera festival 2018. Other festivals: DANCE SHORTS, produced by The Physical Plant, Directed by Women: Shorts of AllSorts, Greenboro Dance Film Festival, Stay Home Festival (“Empress”). Bates also choreographed “Cloud Kumo,” winner of numerous short film awards, including a Student Academy Award (2016). She has presented work and performed at venues such as HERE Arts, Dixon Place, Robert Moss Theater, Triskelion Arts, DeBaun Performing Arts, The Martha Graham Theatre, Skirball, Lincoln Center, City Center. M.F.A in Dance, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts,B.A. Theatre Performance, MMC. Member of the SDCF Observership Class 2016-2017.
SARAH HUDKINS
Costumer
NICOLE HEPBURN
Dance Captain
MILES MESSIER
Dance Captain
RICHARD MAZDA / ALEXIS ACHILLES
Lighting & Set Design
TASNIM SHOBNOM
Operations Manager
KAYLA RYAN WALSH
Social Media
ROSA M. JACQUEZ
President, Parent Advisory Board
Photos
Richard Mazda as Ebenezer Scrooge
Mia Soleil Jacquez as The Ghost of Christmas Present
Multimedia
From Our Family to Yours
To our wonderful audience, thank you for joining us and sharing in the joy, wonder, and magic of the season. Your presence, your laughter, and your applause make every performance shine.
To the parents and families, thank you for nurturing the creativity and courage of our young performers. Your love, encouragement, and support are the heart of every show.
To our community, thank you for being part of our story. Your partnership, enthusiasm, and belief in The Secret Theatre allow us to dream boldly and bring timeless tales like A Christmas Carol to life.
And to all our supporters, donors, volunteers, alumni, and friends: thank you for believing in our dream. Your generosity keeps our doors open, our lights bright, and our stages alive with the magic of theatre.
From all of us at The Secret Theatre, thank you for being part of this celebration. May the spirit of the season fill your hearts, and may we see you again for more stories, more laughter, and more magic.
As Tiny Tim says, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"
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