A cast of 20 actors and actresses at Cranston High School East performed an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 16 and 17; the group of students have been preparing for the show since October.

“In the end, the kids worked hard at the end to pull it together, and imbue a sense of fun to the show.  It became fun for all of us,” said Director Joseph Wallace.

The theater department also collaborated with Big Nazo for the puppets. Wallace said Big Nazo’s owner, Erminio, made a puppet for a show around 2010 and has since worked with him in community theater productions. 

“This version is irreverent and meant to entertain, so I thought something nice for ‘spectacle’ would be to use some of his ‘monster’ puppets.  It worked very well,” Wallace said.

The school has two plays planned for the spring: Kaitlin Hitchings, Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, will direct “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and Wallace will direct the school’s competition piece, a one-act cutting of Romeo and Juliet, which will be presented in March. (Photos courtesy of Cranston Public Schools)