​I love Mickey’s Christmas Carol, and if I reviewed it like I do other Christmas specials, I would only gush about how great it is – so instead, I’ll talk about . . . casting decisions.
 
In the original opening, Mickey explains that he and his friends performed a version of Dickens’s Christmas Carol. (This intro is often left out on TV now.) It was a much shorter version – some script cuts were necessary (made by Mickey, who also served as director) – but still manages to hit the high points. The question is: Did Mickey get the casting correct? Let’s take a look.
 

​Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge
Obvious choice, with his name being what it is. Did I feel like Scrooge merely plays himself? At times (though his happy skipping near the end and the line “I’m going to make you my partner” feel authentic). The major impact of this casting decisions is that Mickey Mouse is not the lead. Did he do it to put the show first or did he really have no choice (because of the name thing)? I don’t know because he declined my many requests for comment. It did, however, have ramifications for another well-loved mouse. More on that soon . . . 

Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit
Mickey pretty much plays Mickey in this movie, kind of like a mouse version of Kevin Costner. But I really like his version of the ever cheerful but put-upon Bob Cratchit. It has a level of depth that is not normally associated with Mickey. His tear in the final scene while putting Tiny Tim’s tiny cane on his grave . . . wow. Just wow. 

Donald Duck as Fred
Okay, I get it. Donald had to be Fred once his uncle was cast in the role of . . . his uncle. To me, Donald has always been ill-tempered, destined to be that old drunk duck at the bar talking of days gone by when he was a success. Only no one would understand him – and not because he’s drunk, but because he’s hasn’t learned how to speak clearly. How does he have a career? I mean, explain to me how his uncle and Daisy can speak perfect English but Donald’s speech is still duck-like? Is there no voice training at Disney? The only line I can clearly understand is “I will! I will!” They even had to cut Fred’s famous monologue – and no, it wasn’t a time issue. It was a Donald issue. 

​Goofy as Jacob Marley
I’ve always appreciated Goofy’s work for what it is. He’s limited but likeable. That being said, he was horribly miscast as Marley. There is no way that Scrooge would have worked with someone as inept as Goofy’s version of Marley. Even if he had, Scrooge and Marley would’ve been out of business in days. Who should have been Marley, you ask? Pete, who would have been awesome in that role. But more on Pete later.
 
(P.S. Why isn’t Goofy called Goofy Dog? I mean, you have Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Jiminy Cricket and countless others with a last name of their species. Is it perhaps because we don’t want the audience making the connection that Goofy and Pluto are actually the same animal, but one gets to speak and wear pants, while one gets to live in a dog house and be the pet of a giant mouse?

​Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past
Jiminy, who was more popular in Disney’s classic era, was probably hoping that this performance would lead to a career resurgence, a la Betty White’s role in Lake Placid, but alas – it did not happen. But he’s made a nice career of playing the wise cricket nonetheless. 

​Daisy Duck as Belle
Much like Donald, this was the only role she could be cast in. Unlike Donald, she nailed this role. She plays the early Belle, before Scrooge finds another love, with a sense of childlike innocence and hope, and then manages to bring some anger when Scrooge chooses money over her.
 
(By the way, can we talk about the lack of roles for women in this production? There are only two females in it, and only one of them has a speaking part. Why didn’t Minnie say something to Mickey about this? Or wait, maybe she did. That would explain what happened to Mrs. Cratchit’s lines.)

 Morty Fieldmouse as Tiny Tim
Super cute. The Michelle Tanner of the cast, and it works. He’s my second favorite Tiny Tim. After Robin Frog in A Muppet Christmas Carol, of course.

​Pete as the Ghost of Christmas Future
Pete is amazing in this role. Hands down, the best GoCF ever to don those robes, which doesn’t actually say much when you consider that none of the others talk. That being said, he was still the best. However, I do feel that this classically trained actor gets typecast too often in villainous type roles, which means he’s seldom used to the fullest extent of his talent.  Yes, he has carved out a nice little niche career as the foil to everyone – but clearly he wants more. And I want more for him. Unfortunately, as long as Mickey’s in charge, he will be stuck in these types of roles. At least he nailed the best line in the story . . . “Why yours, Ebenezer. The richest man in the cemetery!” He, my friend, is destined for the bright lights of Broadway once he breaks free of the shackles of the great mouse.  Here’s hoping it happens sooner rather than later.

​Minnie Mouse as Mrs. Cratchit
Is Mrs. Cratchit a mute in Dickens’s novel? No, she is not. But in this production, she is. Zero lines. None whatsoever. Minnie’s talents, and the character of Mrs. Cratchit, have never been so underutilized as they are here. She’s nothing more than scenery, much like Mr. Toad, who plays Fezziwig. So Mrs. Cratchit comes off as docilely accepting of her fate instead of that spunky woman who exclaims “Founder of the feast, indeed!” when Bob gives thanks to Scrooge. And Minnie would’ve have nailed that line. Perhaps Mickey and Minnie were having relationship issues at the time. Maybe about Mickey’s lack of casting females. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas, based on the much-loved Charles Schultz comic strip Peanuts, came on TV last night and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Many people view it as a classic Christmas tale, and I support their right to that opinion. I, however, am not really a fan because I find Charlie rather self-absorbed and really into this whole martyr thing. If you focused less on Charlie, and more on the rehearsals and production of what will clearly be a disappointing retelling of the Nativity, that would be fantastic. Like a Peanuts version of Noises Off.  Anyway, I decided to revisit Charlie and his non-pals to see if perhaps I was missing the magic and the meaning that so many other people found in this tale. So without further ado . . . 12 Observations on  . . . . A Charlie Brown Christmas.

​Observation 1:  As a lead, I find Charlie Brown depressing.
His first grimace occurs before the show even starts and then pretty much doesn’t leave his face for the rest of the show. And he complains. A lot. About everything. But never asks what he can do for someone else. Good grief, indeed. 

​Observation 2:  What’s my motivation? I have no clue, Charlie Brown.
Is he trying to find the true meaning of Christmas, or he is lashing out about the commercialism of Christmas? It alternates throughout. If his motivation is to make Christmas less commercial, then one would think he already knows what Christmas is all about. But he says he doesn’t. Or does he? I have no idea.

​Observation 3: Never mock someone who doesn’t give you a Christmas card.
Early on in this tragic tale, Charlie walks to his mailbox, opens it, and it’s empty. He then talks about how he doesn’t need a reminder that no one likes him. (Somewhere, his loyal and saintlike friend Linus is crying into his blue blanket.) Anyway, he sees Violet and thanks her for the Christmas card she sent him. She scoffs at him by saying she didn’t send him one, and he mocks her for not understanding sarcasm. My question for you, Chuck, is . . . how many Christmas cards did you send? 

Observation 4: This entire group knows nothing about putting on a play.
It’s clearly just a few days before Christmas, which means that the play should have already happened – but since it hasn’t, surely they’re ready to perform. No, they are not. They don’t even have a director, until Lucy, trying to help Charlie (sounds like a friend thing to do), names him director of the Christmas play.
​
What? How do you not have a director yet? Why haven’t you been rehearsing? Why don’t the actors have their parts or scripts yet? Why does Lucy have unilateral director-designating powers? Why did they cast someone as the “shepherd’s wife?” Where’s Franklin? 

​Observation 5: Charlie Brown . . . sexist?
As soon he becomes director, Charlie begins demeaning Lucy by calling her “script girl.” So . . . you’re calling the one who has the power to name you director and is currently the only one in town running her own business . . . “script girl?” For shame, Chuckles.

​Observation 6: The first rehearsal goes poorly.
Shocking. But Charlie Brown does exactly what any good director in his shoes would do: He goes to buy a Christmas tree. Wait, that’s not what a good director would do. A good director would, I don’t know, rehearse the actual play. 

​Observation 7: Charlie really needs to appreciate what he has more.
If the message of this fable is that we need to stop wanting for what we don’t have and appreciate what we do have, then that’s a good message. Charlie has the best friend that anyone could ever ask for (no, not you, Snoopy. You’re kind of the opposite of man’s best friend) in Linus and all he thinks about is the people that don’t like him. I hope he at least sent Linus a Christmas card. 

​Observation 7: It’s “Christmas tree,” not “Christmas branch.”
You had one job: To get a Christmas tree. A good one. Sure, you were bothered that the other kids wanted an “aluminum tree” – but let’s face facts, you said you would get a tree. A Christmas tree. And you did not. Despite Linus’s warning, you got . . . a Christmas branch. And then you’re shocked – SHOCKED – when your friends bash your branch tree. Sorry, Charlie, consider that bashing deserved

​Observation 9: Did anyone read the script of this play?
After his choice of trees is ridiculed, Charlie laments that he doesn’t know what Christmas is about. So Saint Linus calls for the lights (Who’s running the lights? Woodstock, perhaps? Or is that where Franklin’s hiding?) and begins to recite the story of the nativity. And that allows Chuck to understand Christmas. But wait: Aren’t they doing the nativity play? Shouldn’t he already have read this story in the script that he’s directing? Shouldn’t everyone in the play have been able to tell him? Amateurs.
But at least Charlie gets the message of what Christmas is about. Oh wait, he doesn’t. He makes it about proving that he was right to buy a branch for a tree? Am I missing something? Wait, is this branch a metaphor for baby Jesus? Well, this story is way deeper than I thought. Though now I keep envisioning a branch wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger, which is weird. Anyway, Chuck takes his branch home and all of the kids follow him. Am I the only one that cares about the need to rehearse? I hope you’re not charging for this “play” because it will be terrible. Terrible, I say. 

​Observation 10: Branches are not meant to hold ornaments.
Charlie gets home and notices that Snoopy won the decorating contest. Is he happy for his dog? Of course not. He then proceeds to take an ornament off Snoopy’s house and put it on his branch, and the branch topples. Charlie says that he broke it. Well, actually you just bent it, and if you took the ornament off . . . never mind. 

​Observation 11: His friends are magic.
The friends arrive and see that the “tree” is bent over. Seriously, guys, you can just take the ornament off. Linus wraps his blanket around the branch and says that he always thought it was a good tree. (Actually, you didn’t. You’re reasonable.) Then the gang steals all of Snoopy’s ornaments and turns Charlie’s branch into . . . a full-grown Christmas tree. See? Magic. 

​Observation 12: We finally have a nice moment.
Charlie comes out, sees the tree and is shocked. I am too, Charlie. Then the others wish Charlie a merry Christmas and sing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Finally, a sweet moment. And their rendition of the song is flawless. Clearly, they rehearsed this song. Unlike the play. 

Well, those are my observations. And after pondering it more . . . I’m still not much of a fan, though I will continue to watch it every Christmas. Why? Perhaps it’s because I first watched it as a kid while eating Christmas cookies from Revco. And that right there is reason enough.
​
Oh, and also I keep hoping that this time, Linus will finally appreciate what he has in Sally.  
​

Today, my oldest daughter started 5th grade. Back when she started 3rd grade, I gave her a list of “Do’s.” I didn’t give her a list last year, and her 4th-grade year was awful. Just awful. (I’m kidding. She had a great year.) But I decided to update my list anyway, to make sure that her 5th grade year is all that it can be.

I hope you’ll find that this list of “do’s” doesn’t just apply to Chloe: It applies to all kids, whatever their age.

1. Do make the most out of your moments. You’re only in 5th grade once. Hopefully.
2. Do continue to be excited about school and learning. Both are awesome. Avoid the noise that says they’re not. Not only will they both help you have a chance at a successful future; learning new things has always been, and will always be, really cool. The more you know . . .
3. Do make eye contact when talking to your friends and teachers, or really to anyone. It doesn’t count if you’re making eye contact with the floor, the ceiling, or a person you’re not actually talking to. Eye contact is a way to show your confidence, a way to connect, and a way to demonstrate that you realize who you’re talking to.
4. Do be there for your peers when they’re struggling. Maybe they’re angry. Or sad. Or both. Or neither. Perhaps they’re just having an off day. Now is the time to talk to them – this is their last year before the dreaded “middle school.” Talk with them about how they’re beginning to face huge academic pressures, their peer group is now becoming more important than their family, their adult teeth will be growing in and may appear too big for their face, and they’re starting to feel pressure to be considered “normal.” On the other hand, instead of talking about any of that, maybe just ask them to play.
5. Do remember to keep perspective when you think about your day. Not every moment of your day is going to be great. There will be times when you make the wrong choice, or someone hurts your feelings, or you come up short at something you were really excited about. But this does not mean it was a bad day. It means it was a day that had its bad moments and its good moments – also known as “every day of your life.” But remember too that it’s okay to be sad. And then move on.
6. Do be the one to talk to the kid who’s standing (or sitting) alone. And not just because you could be that lonely kid one day (and you will be, because everyone is). You do it because it’s the right thing to do, and the world needs more people doing the right thing.
7. Do listen more than you talk. You can learn so much about others and the world when you do.
8. Do continue to define who you are by who you really are. Not by your gender, not by other people’s opinions, not by society’s standards (they’re pretty dumb anyway). The greatest gift you can give to yourself is to be true to who you really are. This also helps your friends because you give them permission to do the same thing.
9. Do take the focus off yourself. And your worries. And tomorrow. Put it on the moment, your work, others, the world, etc. Your life will be better for it.
10. Do not be afraid to stand alone. Because sometimes you’ll have to. And it’s not a bad thing.
11. Do know that at the end of your day, when you come home, you have a family that loves you very much and will always be there for you. Always. Unless we’re at the store or something.
12. And finally, do continue to believe in everything that you believe in now. No matter what people might tell you, there is plenty of magic in the world. And believing in that magic, having that sense of wonder, is the key to waking up and seeing all the beauty in the world, and the opportunities that this life offers. Believe when others tell you not to, believe when you don’t want to, believe when it’s easy and believe when it’s not. Believe.

“I believe that what you get out of something equals what you put into it…most of the time.” Marin Johnson

Marin Johnson, who co-owns Forte Studios with her husband Wes, grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. She took her first dance class when she was 11 and was instantly hooked. That passion, along with her talent, has taken her all over the United States – and the world – as a performer. Today, she lives in Wisconsin with Wes and their 3 charming children, and focuses both on teaching students her profession and on running a successful performing arts studio. She was gracious enough to take time away from her busy schedule to answer some of my questions. We talked about her career as a dancer, instructor, mom, and business owner, and Marin also took some time to give tips to younger dancers and dance teachers.

1. Tell us about your career as a dancer.

I have always been very physically active and after discovering my passion for dance at 11, I knew it was something that I wanted to do for my career. Throughout high school, I danced for about 10 hours per week studying Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Pointe with former Radio City Music Hall dancer, Jean Kettell.

While working toward my BA in Dance at Point Park University, I took a break to start my performance career at Opryland USA in Nashville, TN. I will never forget how excited I was on the first day of rehearsal and also on opening day of the show! Opryland was an amazing training ground for young performers and musicians. I loved being there so much that I returned after earning my degree. I worked there for a total of 5 seasons. That is also where I met my husband of 20 years. :-)

So many opportunities came my way as a result of working for Opryland. I have been able to dance in music videos, large theatre productions, corporate events and more. Some of the highlights of my dance career have been performing for and meeting President George Bush Sr., and performing with so many great artists such as Brenda Lee, Lee Greenwood, and all three of The Judds. Anthony Thomas, choreographer of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation videos, was one of my favorite people to work with. 

Eventually, I started being offered choreography jobs. I have had the opportunity to choreograph for cruise ships, main stage theatre productions, and many large corporate events. Some of my most memorable moments as a choreographer have been for Celebrity Cruise Lines, Country Tonight’s Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN, and for Tribute Theater in Myrtle Beach, SC. I also enjoyed working with the Miss USA Regional Pageants as their choreographer.

2. When and why did you go into teaching and running a company?

I have always loved teaching. I taught my first class at age 17. Throughout my dance career I would sub for teachers at local studios. I also enjoyed teaching for dance conventions when I could fit it into my schedule.

In 2005, I was pregnant with my 2nd child and my first child was preparing to start school. I really wanted to be closer to family, so we moved to Wisconsin to be near my sister. The transition was difficult because I had worked very hard to make so many connections in the entertainment business in the south. I didn’t have any connections in Wisconsin and I was coming to the end of my career as a performer which is one of the best ways to start making connections. Honestly, even if I had been younger, there aren’t many opportunities for live entertainment in this area of the country. At least not like there are in Nashville or one of the other larger cities known for entertainment. For a brief time, my husband and I almost moved back to Nashville, but as I said earlier, my family has always come first. I wanted my children to have extended family and I didn’t like only seeing my sister and parents two or three times per year. Once we made the decision to open a performing arts school in Mt. Horeb, everything just fell right into place. That was a great sign to me that we made the right decision… even though I do still miss some of the job opportunities I had in TN and the many friends we have there.

3. How do you balance the demands of running a business, teaching, and family?

This is my biggest challenge! Often, I don’t feel like I am balancing everything. There are certain times during the year (getting ready for a big student performance, registering families for a new season, etc.) when I feel very overwhelmed. I try to just take a breath and do the best I can, but I don’t want anything to suffer. I always have a to-do list. If something isn’t on the list, it likely will not happen. This interview was on the list! I am also getting better at delegating and realizing that while some things may not be done exactly the way I would do them, often times it is still just fine. I need to let go of some things. I also love my crock pot and use it all the time so that my family can still eat healthy even though I don’t have time to stand over the stove! While there is definitely a limit to the messiness, I try not to get caught up with always having a clean house. I’d rather spend time with my kids. When they are grown, hopefully they will remember spending time with me and will not remember or care that the house was messy.

4. What do you think are the keys for students to improve as dancers?

I think I could go on and on for this just because there are so many different personality types and I see so many kids sabotaging their efforts. Here are some things I would tell them:

*Don’t be lazy. Work hard every time! Then work harder!

*Learn to love the barre. Or at least appreciate the technique that comes from barre exercises.

*You MUST only speak to yourself with positive phrases. Example: Instead of saying to yourself, “I’m not going to fall out of this turn” which only makes you focus on falling, say,”I’m going to have perfect balance for this turn” which makes you focus on balancing. May not work every time, but it gears you in the right direction.

*Stop worrying about the level of the class you are in or who else is in there. Concentrate on you and your skill and how you can perform the steps better each time. If you think a dance is too easy, maybe it is because you aren’t doing it right.

*You look sillier when you only halfway go for it, than when you really go for it and fall or stumble. You will also never find out what you are capable of if you only half way try because you are worried about what other people will say or think.

*While the shows are exciting and fun, the shows are not the pay off. The pay off is being able to dance everyday. You will spend many many more hours in the studio than you ever will on stage. If all you are focused on is the stage, then you will likely not put in the work necessary to actually get there.

*Amazing technique is always impressive, but when you can bring someone to tears with your emotion, you will have the gift of leaving a lasting impression on your audience. With that said, you still must work to perfect your technique.

*Be open to new ideas, new techniques, new styles, and new ways of doing old steps.

*Improvise whenever you can. It may be uncomfortable at first, but will eventually help you find your own style. Most auditions include improvisation.

5. What advice would you give to all first year dance teachers or dance teachers of any level of experience?

*Being a great dancer does not equal being a great teacher. You have to connect with your students and make them understand what may come naturally to you at this point.

*Constantly observe them. While dancing with them is beneficial for everyone, don’t do it all the time or you will not see mistakes they are making.

*Don’t get caught up in getting through your whole lesson plan. If you only get through half of it, but the students really understand the concepts, then the class was a success!

*If you are only there to collect a pay check, it’s probably not the right job for you.

*Be honest with the students. If you don’t know the answer to something, don’t make one up. Tell them you will research it and get back to them. Then follow through.

*STOP telling them “Good Job” when it is clearly terrible! Do what you can to build them up, but be truthful or you will end up with a group of kids who stop trying because they already think they are great.

*Stop students in the middle of a dance combination if you have to in order to fix mistakes as early on as possible. Once muscle memory has set in, mistakes are SO hard to fix.

*Give all of your students, no matter the skill level, an opportunity to improvise and think on their own.

Actually, that title, besides being really long, is also a lie. I don’t wish I’d known these things. If I had, I wouldn’t be where I am now, and I’m pretty happy where I am now. But for the sake of this blog, here are some random things I wish I had known.

1. There’s enough success in the world.
If I had known this, I would have been happier for my friends when they succeeded instead of asking, “What about me?”

2. Excuses are for losers.
Sure, they make you feel better in the short term. But in the end, all you’re left with is the fact that you didn’t come through and didn’t own up to it.

3. Fresh spinach is amazing.
Knowing this would’ve kept me from wasting so much of my life eating iceberg lettuce, which is dumb, as discussed last week on this blog here.

4. Everyone, at one point, was a little baby whom someone loved and had dreams for.
It’s hard to remember this when you run into people who act like jerks, but we all started off the same way. Then life, and choices made by us or for us, took control.

5. Surround yourself with people that challenge you.
Sure, being a big fish in a small pond feels good. But you won’t grow until there are bigger fish than you that push you to be better.

6. Not everything is about you.
For the longest time, I thought the world cared about everything I said or did. Until I realized that everyone else thought the same thing. Doing the math, something didn’t add up.

7. When you’re 12, the way to a girl’s heart is probably not adult contemporary music sung by Dan Hill.
Especially when the first line of the song is “Can I touch you? I can’t believe that you are real.” My bad, Missy.

8. It’s never really about winning.
It’s about working hard enough to put yourself in a position to win. To have a chance. Let the results fall where they may.

9. Be the person you wish everyone else would be.
If you can’t, why would you expect anyone else to?

10. Buy thousands of boxes of Christmas Fruity Pebbles.
That cereal was awesome.

11. And while I’m at it, let’s buy a thousand boxes of Lemon Coolers, made by the Sunshine brand.
The perfect beach cookie.

12. Keep perspective.
Nothing is the end of the world. Except the end of the world. And when that happens, no one will be around to say it anyway.

13. Always do work you’re proud of.
If you’re not proud of it, do it again. And do it better.

14. No one knows exactly how you feel, and you don’t know exactly how anyone else feels.
You can’t. There are too many variables. Knowing this makes empathy a lot easier.

15. Learn everything you can about others and the world.
The world is full of awesome things. Experience them. Learn about them. Other people, with all of their interesting quirks and backstories, are amazing – if you take the time to get know them.

16. There are a lot of talented people in the world.
And most of the time, it comes down to who works the hardest. Make it you.

17. Never forget how to believe in the impossible.
It was easy when you were three. It’s harder now. But not impossible – if you remember what it was like to be three.

18. Remember that everyone grows old and dies.
It’s true.

19. Laugh at yourself.
We all do awkward things sometimes. Laugh at yourself, forgive yourself, and then move on.

20. Be nice to yourself.
You’re going to have bad moments, like at least 18 of them. You’re going to say the wrong thing sometimes. You’re going to fail to come through sometimes. It’s okay. Do better next time.

21. There is no 21.
I just didn’t want to end at 20.

22. You don’t always have to have a concluding paragraph.
And now we end at 22.