Southlander makes professional debut in ‘A Christmas Carol’
By Betty Mohr bettybmohr@aol.com November 30, 2011 2:58PM
Emma Gordon (clockwise from left), Ron Rains, Roni Akurati, Emjoy Gavino, Ryan Byrne, Karen Janes Woditsch and Southlander Shanequa Beal star in "A Christmas Carol. | Goodman Theatre photo
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’
♦ Through Dec. 31
♦ Goodman Theatre,
170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago
♦ Tickets, $25-$92
♦ (312) 443-3800;
GoodmanTheatre.org
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Updated: January 3, 2012 8:24AM
She was disappointed when she auditioned for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” a new musical headed for Broadway, and didn’t get the part.
But Shanequa Beal didn’t give up her desire to be an actress.
It’s a good thing she didn’t because the Blue Island native is now making her professional acting debut in the Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.”
“When I first began acting I was really sensitive to rejection. But my father explained that I shouldn’t expect to get every part,” she said.
“He told me that I could be turned down for all sorts of reasons that had nothing to do with me personally.
“He said I could be turned down because I wasn’t the age the producers wanted, or my hair was wrong, or I didn’t look the part.
“My father also told me never ever to give up. That was so important to me because ever since my father said that to me, I never give up no matter what.”
Beal — who acts, sings and dances — performed in “High School Musical” at Kerr Middle School in Blue Island and was in “Hairspray” and “The Night Before Christmas” at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago.
But the 13-year-old said she wanted to go to the next level and work in professional theater.
“I auditioned at the Goodman for ‘A Christmas Carol’ last year but I didn’t get it. My father’s advice helped me a lot because I went back to audition for the show again this year,” Beal said.
“When I auditioned this year I was sick and my voice wasn’t good so I was surprised and happy when the Goodman called me back and offered me parts in the show.
“I’m so excited because it’s my professional debut.”
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has become a Chicago holiday tradition since it was first adapted for the Goodman stage 34 years ago.
The story of Ebenezer Scrooge — who has a change of heart after three ghosts take him on a journey into his past, present and future — is one of the most beloved tales of redemption and Christmas spirit.
To keep the show fresh for more than three decades, though, the Goodman has made a point of presenting the story with a slight twist every year.
One of Beal’s roles takes place in an important scene in the show.
It’s the moment in which Scrooge goes back to his school days and we find out one of the reasons for the tightwad’s hardness.
“In this scene I play Fan, Scrooge’s sister, who comes to get Scrooge from school and bring him home for the holidays,” Beal said.
“I also play Belinda Cratchit, one of the daughters of Bob Cratchit who tries to keep her family together. She’s happy and loves life, and I can identify with her because I’m the same way.
“But I think I’m even more like Fan because, like her, I’m always up for surprises. And Fan is really energetic and so am I.”
Beal said being on stage at the Goodman is a dream come true. But the eighth-grader said she was nervous and a little overwhelmed in the beginning.
“When we first started rehearsing and I had to make quick changes from one costume to another, it was hard,” she said.
“The first day of technical rehearsal also was pretty scary. Actors were on stage and people were everywhere. Everything seemed crazy.
“But then, by the time previews started, it felt like the most natural thing in the world for me to be in a show at the Goodman. It was such a good feeling to know that I had finally arrived here.”
Betty Mohr is a local free-lance writer.
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