Three shows featuring classic Dickens tale scheduled at UVic

The Victoria Youth Musical Theatre is presenting a little Dickens for the holiday.

The musical theatre company, in its fourth season, presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from Dec. 11-13 at the University of Victoria’s Farquhar Auditorium.

This version of the Christmas classic is highlighted by a musical score by award-winning composer Alan Menken (Disney’s Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast). The show is a fundraiser for the theatre company’s August summer camps and features a full choir and cast.

Phil Hallman is the musical director, rehearsal pianist and musician for the company. His training includes more than 24 years of piano, 16 years of saxophone and 11 years in musical theatre, including an apprenticeship with the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society in Ottawa.

He has been involved in numerous musical theatre productions, including various high school, community and children’s presentations over the past 10 years.

His credits include music director for the Victoria Operatic Society’s productions of Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story, musical director for Esquimalt Secondary School’s productions of Bye Bye Birdie and The Boyfriend, musical director for Stagewest Players production of Cabaret and My Fair Lady and conductor of several musicals for Stelly’s Secondary School including Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun and Hello Dolly.

Hallman is also the director of the Sooke Community Choir and music director for the First Unitarian Church of Victoria.

The show plays Dec. 11-13 at 7 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. Tickets can be purchased at the UVic box office or by phone at 250-721-8480.

patrickb@vicnews.com