What Do Charles Dickens, Nellie Bly, Scrooge, Smallpox Hospital, Octagon Lunatic Asylum, Red Bus And The People Of Roosevelt Island Have In Common? They're All Appearing In Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Holiday Musical "The Ghosts All Around You", Buy Your Tickets Now And Consider A Giving Tuesday Donation For New Sound System

According to the Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance:

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance announces the opening of “The Ghosts All Around You” in the Howe Theatre, running Dec 10-12 and 17-19 (in-person & livestreamed). A multigenerational, multicultural cast of talented MSTDA actors, along with a stellar creative team including acclaimed director Steven Eng and a longtime creative contributor to MSTDA, assistant director Jacqueline Lucid are launching what is sure to become a holiday tradition for Roosevelt Island, right on Main Street NYC!  

                                                                Image From Irena Island Images

What do Charles Dickens, Nelly Bly, Scrooge and the people of Roosevelt Island all have in common? They will all be appearing live this holiday season on Roosevelt Island! The ghosts of Roosevelt Island will be coming to life to tell a tale in which worlds are interwoven in a gripping and meaningful story of equality, human connection and compassion, just in time for the season of giving! 

Composer and Co-writer, Fadner has been riding a ghostly train of thought similar to the “greatest writer in English history”, Charles John Huffman Dickens. Jonathan Fadner’s driving musical score ranges from totally rockin’ to heartbreakingly beautiful. 

The musical is set on Roosevelt Island, featuring landmarks such as the Smallpox Hospital and The Octagon (formerly the NYC Insane Asylum). Even the Roosevelt Island Red Public Bus plays a role! Every year, since her husband William (played by Gabriel Portuondo) died, the struggling yet optimistic single mother Cheryl Makepeace (played by Kimbirdlee) reads “A Christmas Carol” to her three young children, hoping to teach her kids goodwill and kindness. This year, the family moved to Roosevelt Island, and Cheryl works for the modern day Scrooge and real estate tycoon, Potiphar Stingyas (played by Russ Cusick.) Circumstances arise to reveal inequalities and painful pasts which lead to self-examination, redemption and valuable life lessons, as the ghosts of the past try to break through and a memorable story is told and sung.

Last year was a time of development for “The Ghosts All around You.” At the time, the city was in the grips of the Covid 19 pandemic and life was scary and uncertain. MSTDA forged ahead by reinventing their programming and allowing creative artists a safe haven to be creative and stay connected and safe. Their perseverance is paying off this year with a staged production of the new musical, including costumes by Amelia Dombrowski, choreography by Isaiah Reynolds, lighting design by Zackry Childers (stage manager), music direction by Jonathan Fadner, and digital projection and set design by Rachel Reuben. Executive Director Kristi Towey, AED/THeatre Dept Head Kimbirdlee Fadner and the MSTDA Board of Directors are thrilled to produce this community-minded new work.

Here's a montage of 2020 performances from The Ghosts All Around You by the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance.

Also, consider making a Giving Tuesday donation to the Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance.