Mandy Jiran
What brings you back to perform LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL year after year?
The cast of players.
What is your favorite moment during the show?
The audience response to the “magic moments” in the show. The kid’s gasps, cries, oooh’s and ahh’s. Theatre magic!
What’s your favorite “behind the scenes” moment that’s happened during this show?
Pass the holly…
Chris Bloch and Mandy Jiran in Lyric’s 2013 production of LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Photo by KO Rinearson.
Mateja Govich
What brings you back to perform LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL year after year?
I love doing this show. It’s a first class production from top to bottom and it has one of the finest casts I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. But the real reason that I will come back to do CHRISTMAS CAROL as long as Lyric asks me are the people. I’ve already mentioned the cast who have basically become my extended family but also the crew, the production team and the administrative team at Lyric. They’re all amazing, wonderful people. It’s a rare thing to work on a project that involves so many people and not come across at least one stinker. Thus, In the three years I’ve done the show, I have never once felt like I was going to work. When I walk into the theatre and head down to the dressing room I feel like I’m at home. That is rare for a long run show and something I’m lucky to be a part of.
What is your favorite moment during the show?
That’s a tough one. I love when Scrooge finally wakes up in his house to discover that Christmas hasn’t passed. The lights get brighter and you can see the smiles on the audience’s faces. It’s always amazing to watch theatre move people’s emotions. But for me, I think my favorite moment is when the ghost of Christmas future comes out of the door. Without fail you will hear a gasp from the audience. It’s such a creepy moment and so beautifully done that it gives me chills every night. I’m still a little upset that I don’t get to be the ghost. Who wouldn’t want to play a 9 foot grim reaper?
What’s your favorite “behind the scenes” moment that’s happened during this show?
There are a ton of these. This show would probably be just as entertaining if we flipped the set around and did the show to the back wall so the audience could watch what happened back stage. Well, maybe not as entreating but definitely exciting. This show moves really fast and the action back stage is basically a choreographed chaos. You literally have to walk the same path to an entrance at the same time every night to avoid being run over by an exiting actor or set piece. It’s crazy. I think my favorite moment though is when most of the cast lines up at the up stage doors in preparation to transition from Scrooge’s office to his house. It’s one of the few moments where everything is still, for just a moment. When Charlie and I both get set at our door we have a silent dance session, usually consisting of the twist with pointing fingers, then we stop, focus and it’s time to open the door. It’s silly and cheesy and I love it. Sometimes we’re joined by Susan and Brenda. We even had a guest appearance when Tom and Matt came over from their door to boogie down.
Charlie Monnot, Mateja Govich, and Chris Bloch in Lyric’s 2013 production of LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Photo by KO Rinearson.