Scrooge

Rodger Hoopman has a 22-year Christmas tradition. It begins with a “Bah, humbug” and ends with a “God bless us, every one.” For the last quarter of a century, Hoopman’s played Ebenezer Scrooge in hundreds of musical productions of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Hoopman estimates he’s portrayed the crusty curmudgeon in more than 350 productions of Scrooge in various theaters throughout Sacramento. The year he took off left him with the blues.

“That year, the whole holiday season didn’t seem right,” he says. “I missed passing on the Christmas spirit to the audiences. Now I have a third generation of people who’ve seen me as Scrooge.”

You’d think Hoopman would grow weary of all those “Bah, humbugs,” but he doesn’t.

“Every production is different, with different casts and locations. And we adapt a little each year.”

The downside to his decades-old Scrooge habit is that he rarely gets to see the play himself. He managed to catch a Sacramento Theatre Company production a couple of years ago, and last year his son sat him down to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol.

“Loved it,” he proclaims.

And Hoopman has some advice to those who aren’t yet in the holiday spirit. “This year, I sense a bit of humbug out there. But if you don’t have the Christmas feeling yet, come see the show, and we’ll help you get there.”

Scrooge plays the Chautauqua Playhouse at various times Friday through Sunday through Dec. 21. Tickets are $11-$12. 5325 Engle Road, Carmichael. 480-7529.