A High Country Christmas Carol opens Dec. 5
Blowing Rock Stage Company produces world premiere of new Bob Inman holiday play

Playwright Robert Inman (The Christmas Bus) brings Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Christmas Carol to the stage with a High Country twist, refashioning the holiday staple by setting it in the Depression Era North Carolina mountains. The Blowing Rock Stage Company stages the world premiere of Inman’s Appalachia-flavored family tale, A High Country Christmas Carol, Dec. 5-14, at the Hayes Performing Arts Center, 152 Jamie Fort Road, in Blowing Rock.

The story, says Inman, is “both familiar and new. The characters are new, but you’ll see similarities to Dickens’ Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.”

Gary L. Smith (Peter Pan’s Mr. Smee) stars as miserly storekeeper Silas McTavish, a man who has “no milk of human kindness in him.” When everyone around him is suffering the hardships of the Depression, Silas holds on to every penny. But on Christmas Eve he is visited by a mysterious stranger who takes him on a journey through Christmases past, present and future. On this poignant outing, Silas sees how people in his mountain community support each other with love and sharing. Their example forces Silas to peer into the depths of his own soul and rediscover his long-neglected qualities of kindness, compassion and generosity.

“I think A High Country Christmas Carol is especially appropriate in our current days of economic difficulty and uncertainty,” says Inman of his play that he is sure will create a magical experience and delight each family member.

BRSC Producing Artistic Director Kenneth Kay directs the play and has assembled a cast that along with Smith also features BRSC favorites Melvin Tunstall (The Christmas Bus), Chris Wright (Peter in Peter Pan), Kim Cozort (Rumors), Melanie Bullard, Dean Lyons and Ed Pilkington (one of Hook’s bumbling pirates in Peter Pan).

Performances for High Country Christmas Carol are Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., Dec. 6 at 2 & 7 p.m., Dec. 7 at 2 p.m., Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., Dec. 13 at 2 & 7 p.m., and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for students, $10 for children (10 and younger) and are available now by calling the Box Office at (828) 295-9627. You may pay by credit card or by cash (in person). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.HayesCenter.org by credit card. Special group rates are also available.

The Hayes Performing Arts Center is located at 152 Jamie Fort Road (off Hwy 321), Blowing Rock, N.C. For more information, call (828) 295-9627.