'Scrooge!' cast member Grace Morris: from student to star

Ten-year-old Grace Morris has had a whirlwind experience since her involvement with Clear Space Theatre Company began more than two years ago.

The budding actress was introduced to the organization through a joint program between her school, H.O. Brittingham Elementary, and Clear Space in 2009. Instructors from the Clear Space Arts Institute program travel to the school twice a week for a two-hour after-school arts and literacy program, funded by the Department of Education. Students learned to approach essential skills - reading, writing, working with others - through a new, creative approach via the performing arts.

After two semesters in this program, Grace approached instructor Dana Peragallo about more performing opportunities, and Peragallo jumped at the chance to get Grace involved with Clear Space’s Broadway Bound program. “Grace is so full of positivity and great energy that we couldn’t let this chance slip away,” says Peragallo.

Three semesters of Broadway Bound later, Grace auditioned for the annual production of “Scrooge!” which serves as a springboard for many young performers at Clear Space, and was cast in the dual roles of Belinda Cratchit and Fan, Scrooge’s sister. She joins other current Broadway Bound students Ryan Bradley and Dallas DiGuglielmo, both of whom are returning to the show for their second year.

“Our students work very hard in Broadway Bound to hone their skills. When they are cast in a production, it’s a big opportunity for them to apply these skills in a real-life situation,” says Peragallo. “Watching Grace and our other students on stage, it is obvious that, even at this young age, they are heavily invested in and committed to quality performance.”

Clear Space Theatre Company’s production of “Scrooge!” plays its final weekend at 7 p.m., Thursday to Saturday,  Dec. 8 to 10, and at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Clear Space Theatre, 20 Baltimore Ave. in Rehoboth Beach.  Tickets, priced $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students and $5 for children, are available online at www.ClearSpaceTheatre.org, by phone at 302-227-2270 or in person at the box office.