Just as Tiny Tim wins over the heart of Ebenezer Scrooge, this Howe Hall AIMS student is destined to win over the hearts of theatre lovers everywhere this holiday season.
Fourth grader Brooklyn Williams currently co-stars as Tiny Tim in Charleston Stage’s ongoing production of “A Christmas Carol” at Charleston’s historic Dock Street Theatre.
Williams is an active theatre student at Howe Hall AIMS who has pursued acting outside of school this year with the support of her school’s theatre teacher, Angela Rogers.
At the encouragement of Rogers, Williams auditioned for Charleston’s Stage edition of the stage musical “Once On This Island” last spring. She subsequently landed the roles of Little Ti Moune and Storyteller.
After being involved in that production, Williams was hooked.
“I was like, ‘I really want to do acting now – this is going to be my thing,’” she said.
When Charleston Stage took on “A Christmas Carol” for the 2023 holiday season, Williams decided to shoot her shot again and this time scored the role of Tiny Tim – an achievement eagerly recognized by Rogers and Howe Hall AIMS Principal Ashley McAlister.
“Her earning this role is a great testament to her hard work and commitment to the arts,” McAlister said. “We are excited to have one of our own on the big stage working with professionals in this field.”
“’A Christmas Carol’ is an amazing opportunity for Brooklyn to perform with Charleston Stage,” Rogers said, adding that Charleston Stage is South Carolina’s largest professional theatre company. “In addition to the incredible shows at the Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Stage also provides educational programs for students of all ages.”
Rylee Coppel, Director of Education and Engagement for Charleston Stage, said the company's performance troupe is an audition-based program for young actors looking to grow as a performer.
Coppel said Charleston Stage fell in love with Williams during her time in "Once on This Island."
"Brooklyn is dedicated, funny, caring, and a supportive castmate," Coppel said, adding, "She is always respectful and prepared and holds her own with the adults – while keeping up with her schoolwork."
The show started at the Dock Street Theatre earlier this month and will continue on through Dec. 22 (see show times here). Some characters in the show are played by two actors/actresses on alternating nights; Williams is a part of the “green cast” with ongoing shows slated for Dec. 15, 16, 19, 21 and 22.
It is a historic show that, Williams said, has been very well received by audiences so far.
“It’s not like T.V. or anything…it just looks so much better live and in-person,” she said.
“A Christmas Carol” is a Christmas classic based on the novel by Charles Dickens; the story follows the greedy Ebenezer Scrooge who, on Christmas Eve, is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, as well as the spirts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge transforms into a kinder, gentler and more sociable man.
Tiny Tim is a notable character in the show; he is the sickly but happy son of Scrooge’s employee, Bob Cratchit, and Scrooge is warned that if he does not change his ways, his actions will ultimately result in Tiny Tim’s death.
To prepare for the role, Williams did her own research about the character, from reading up on him to watching videos.
“I just started learning a lot about him, and I started to feel that flow with him,” she said.
The story comes with its share of important life lessons but Williams has learned a lot from playing Tiny Tim.
“I learned that just because you’re sick and you can’t really do anything about it, there’s still hope,” she said, adding Scrooge learns a bulk of the hard lessons, but mainly that “even if your past or present has been horrible, you can still change it for the future.”
She has a good amount of lines in the show, but her favorite, of course, is the iconic ending quote delivered by Tiny Tim to wrap up the show: “God bless us, every one!”
“It ends the entire show and it’s really cute…everybody really wants to hear it,” she said.
While Dickens never outright said what Tiny Tim’s illness was, some theories have included tuberculosis, rickets, polio or cerebral palsy. His character walks on a crutch – a prop that, Williams said, was the biggest challenge for her during production.
“I’ve never been on a crutch before – it’s really hard,” she said, adding that the other young actress who plays Tiny Tim, Brianna McClure, helped her learn how to walk on it.
Williams predicts that when the shows run out, she will particularly miss her fellow child actors from the performance – including her “acting sister/bestie” that she met through production. She said that the children seem to be a fan favorite from those who have attended the shows thus far.
“Everybody always clapped and stood up harder when we bowed,” she said. “I’m really going to miss them because I met so many new people.”
Her experience with Charleston Stage has really opened her eyes to acting; Williams currently has her sights set on other big-name shows like “Annie” and “Hamilton.” She particularly wants to land a singing role.
While she loves playing different characters and having fun with costumes, Wililams has really enjoyed the people she has worked with on ‘A Christmas Carol’, like show director Sam Henderson.
“He’s really funny…he always makes me smile,” Williams said. “He’s a really good director.”
Williams encourages everyone to come see the remaining shows.
“I think it’s a good moment and a time to get together with your family, get important lessons and just be amazed,” she said.
*Promotional photos were provided by Reese Moore Photography.
