Family tradition: Going ‘Carol’-ing
No surprise, an Anagnostopoulos is in cast of holiday play
It takes a lot of elves to make Christmas magic happen. And in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” one of those elves is often named Anagnostopoulos.
Fourteen-year-old Teddy Anagnostopoulos is the fifth member of his family, and the first in his generation, to play a role in “Carol.” He’s not only making his family proud; he’s bringing back memories of his uncle, also named Teddy Anagnostopoulos, a former Tiny Tim who drowned in a boating accident on Green Lake in 2001, at age 20.
“Everybody says he’s a great guy. It’s a shame I didn’t meet him,” said Teddy, born a few years after his namesake died.
“They’re both funny and polite, and they’re mild-mannered,” said Teddy’s father, Dino, of his son and his late brother. “They like to goof around a little but not too much.”
And, Dino would like to point out to potential audience members, “they’re both good.” (The show continues through Dec. 24 at the Pabst Theater.)
“I’m so grateful and I’m proud that the Rep has given another family member of ours … opportunity to be a part of ‘A Christmas Carol’ again this year,” said Angie Anagnostopoulos, Dino’s mother and Teddy’s grandmother.
Both Teddys were named after her late husband Ted.
Dino credits his mother with encouraging him and his brothers to take up acting as boys. They performed in Falls Patio Players and Children’s Theatre of Wauwatosa shows. His oldest brother, George, was the first Anagnostopoulos to win a role at the Rep, playing Boy Scrooge in 1985 and ‘86.
In 1987, Dino, his three brothers, his mom and his sister all appeared in Milwaukee Opera Company’s holiday show, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.”
The following year, the boys tried out for the Rep again, with brother Nick winning the role of Peter Cratchit.
Then, in 1989, the first Teddy played Tiny Tim, with Dino playing a caroler. Both interacted on stage with the Scrooge played by the late Daniel Mooney, whom Dino remembers fondly.
“He was like a living cartoon character almost … he was just a big goofball,” Dino said of Mooney. During breaks backstage, Mooney did silly voices and magic tricks. But he was a complete professional onstage, Dino pointed out.
The “Christmas Carol” cast had a Secret Santa tradition. In the year the first Teddy performed, Mooney was his secret Santa. The actor signed and inscribed a photo of the two in character, which the family still treasures.
“He was an excellent Tiny Tim,” Dino said of his brother. “He had that innocent, loving, forgiving demeanor.”
Now every time Dino sees a Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol,” he said, “it reminds me of my brother.”
Like his mother, Dino has encouraged his children to get involved in theater. In fact, a few years ago he performed with his son Teddy and his daughter Angelina, now 12, in a Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” a play that Dino and the first Teddy had performed in as boys.
“I love the theater, but the fact that my Dad and my uncles were in (‘A Christmas Carol’), that just made me want to do it even more,” said Teddy.
It’s the third consecutive year in the “Carol” cast for Teddy, a freshman at Menomonee Falls High School.
In past years, he played a Fezziwig worker and a child caroler. This year, in Mark Clements’ adaptation, Teddy has the speaking role of Sniffer, Old Joe’s apprentice in the future sequence. He maneuvers a balky coal cart around the stage; his mother, Kelly, said Teddy comes home smudged up after every performance. When Teddy speaks on stage, his sister Angelina wants to shout, “That’s my brother!” she said.
She has not been the only Anagnostopoulos cheering him on. Dino said they brought 31 people to family preview night.
“I love the entire experience,” Teddy said. “You just see all those people out
“I’m so grateful and I’m proud that the Rep has given another family member of ours … opportunity to be a part of ‘A Christmas Carol’ again this year.”
Angie Anagnostopoulos Dino’s mother and Teddy’s grandmother
there in the audience watching the show. It’s just amazing. It really gets you in the Christmas spirit.”
Angie believes her late son Teddy would be happy to see his nephew extending the family tradition in “A Christmas Carol.” While she has seen it more than a few times, it remains a powerful show for her.
“Every time I see it it just makes me reflect on the past and appreciate what we have here now in the present, and it makes us hopeful for the future,” she said.