The Sampson Community Theatre will present the final three productions of Charle Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and this Sunday at 3 p.m. You do not want to miss this show which will make you appreciate Christmas and the importance of friends and family as well as other people in your life.

Dan Holland, the director, has collected for this show a group of Sampsonians who not only act in the show but also provide you with a number of Christmas carols, some of which you will not hear anywhere else and some you cannot help but hum along with. The acting is superb from the opening “Bah Humbug” from Ebenezer Scrooge (G. Wayne Melvin) to the closing line “God bless us, everyone” by Tiny Tim Cratchit (Jackson Lowe).

There are not many dry eyes in the audience when Bob Cratchit (John Lowe) loses his cool and breaks down in tears because of the loss of his son in front of his family. Speaking of families we wish to thank the Lowe family for being a part of the cast; Nash and Beth Johnson who provide two sons and a daughter to the cast; and Doug Clark who allowed his whole family to be in the cast while he had to eat a lot of cold suppers during rehearsals.

We look forward to your presence for one of the three remaining performances of “A Christmas Carol” at the Sampson Community Theatre.

No one has had a harder job than Angela Martin over the past week since she had to select from an audition group of 98 actors those who fit a profile for the cast of “Hairspray.” The final decisions were made and their names are posted on the front door of the theater. Angela will begin rehearsals next week and throughout the holiday period as this is a musical which requires much learning of lines and lyrics.

Our 2013 Patron Sponsor tickets are now available and may be purchased from any board member or at the boxoffice or theater lobby this weekend. We have an ambitious array of shows planned for the coming year and a Patron Sponsor ticket gives you two admissions to every show we produce plus you get your name or business listed in every program. Call 592-853 or 214-2444 for further info.

The granite blocks under the theater’s marquee may be purchased as an honorarium, a memorial or to advertise your business. The blocks are cemented into the sidewalk and should be there into the next century or more. Contact us by calling 592-8653 and leave us a message for more information.

The Sampson Community Theater is on the website Facebook and you may read about some of our ongoing activities by going to the site.

Upcoming events

A Christmas Carol” directed by Dan Holland. Final performances Dec. 7-8 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 3 .pm. Sponsored by Matthews Drugs and Jordan Shopping Center. A patron sponsored event.

“Hairspray” directed by Angela Martin. Rehearsals ongoing. Sponsored by Kosterman Chiropractic Clinic and a Grassroots Grant from the Sampson Arts Council. Performances Feb. 1-3 and 8-10, 2013. A patron sponsored event.

2013 Season(assuming we can obtain rights),

Hairspray: Feb. 1-3 and Feb. 8-10

Crimes of the Heart: Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13

Oklahoma: Aug. 23-25 and Aug. 30-Sept. 1

SCT Children’s Theater Workshop

The Wizard of Oz: June 20-23 and June 27-30

Lost on the Fourth of July: April 5-7 and 12-14, sponsored by Clinton Appliance and Furniture

It’s a Wonderful Life: Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15

Thoughts until next week

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that should suffice.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

There are two great pains in life….the pain of getting what you want and the pain of not getting what you want.