The latest CLO production of "A Musical Christmas Carol" opens tomorrow and the show will have a new Bob Cratchit as Joe Pedulla takes over the role but Diane DiNonno returns for her second year as Mrs. Cratchit. Pedulla has played a variety of roles, from Charlie Brown to Frank 'n Furter in the Rocky Horror Show as well as Jesus in "Godspell," Kenickie in "Grease" and appearances in "A Chorus Line" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "I've done 'Chorus Line' four times including in West Virginia, North Carolina and for Pittsburgh Musical Theater," Pedulla said. "But I've done several of them for Stage Right Theater Company with Tony Marino. "Tony's the one who gave me my first lead role. He trusted me with the larger roles and I've very grateful to him. I was in the ensemble and he pulled me out and gave me my break, so to speak. "I was very excited to start out and a little uneasy about following someone else in the role but everyone here made me feel so welcome I didn't feel like I was being compared to anyone else. I'm having the time of my life with this, it's been a wonderful experience so far." DiNonno was excited about returning to the cast. "I had a great experience last year but I do think I'm more relaxed this year. Probably half of the cast is new and that gives you a different feeling, dealing with different people. It's interesting because during the show you sometimes get different responses and different feel and it's exciting to watch others. "Dealing with a new Bob has been a good example of the differences. There were a couple of moments where his response than before and it changed the relationship. It's really a continual evolution of the roles." They both felt it was a unique opportunity to become a part of the holiday season for so many people. "That's a great gift," Pedulla said. "I feel honored to be a part of the story and give joy to people as well as the holiday spirt." "We do the show so many times and we have such a great time doing it, that it gets me into the Christmas spirit so if we can share that, it's great, DiNonno added. So many of the actors seem to try to perform in the show as often as they can and the actors playing the Cratchits are relative newcomers but they reflected on that. "I absolutely would love to come back to this," Pedulla said. "In a heart beat, I'd love to join the fun again." "As long as you don't fell like you're burning out," DiNonno said. "This show fits the schedule well. When I came in to audition this year, I was thinking, 'I hope I get it, I really want to do it again.' The returnees sometimes have new ideas about the show but the new faces always keep the show fresh." Both feel the show is well worth seeing. "The show is so well staged," Pedulla said. "It's a story told year after year that still has a freshness and a heart to it. And Ed (Edmund Lyndeck) as Scrooge is wonderful and the journey we all take is great." "Another thing that is great is watching the children who participate in the show. I love watching them because they are so great. I think it brings out the little child in all of us."

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