It's a Wonderful Life. Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street. The Gift of the Magi. Of all the belovéd Christmas tales, one has been adapted for the stage more than any other: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Perhaps it's the inherent theatricality of its story, or the potential for special effects. For whatever reason, theatre companies all over the world perform adaptations of the story in one form or another, generally with the knowledge that this is one show that they'll have a nearly guaranteed audience for.
'Tis the season, no? So, in honor of the occasion, starting today is Suite 101.com Theatre's absolutely, fabulistic, elastic, metamorphosizing page. It's our hope to add links to every web site or page that advertises, promotes, or relates to every single current production of any adaptation of A Christmas Carol or show that uses the idea of the book as a central device that we can track down. Every few days more will be added at the end of the page until January. So, unless Suite 101's main storage area overflows and the Net bogs down under the massive weight of all these hyperlinks, we celebrate the 1998 Christmas season with the ever-expanding:
Extra! Extra! Discount Tickets!
Madison Square Garden has offered Suite101.com Theatre readers
a discount on tickets to this year's A Christmas Carol at
the Garden. See the MSG entry for details.
An adaptation by Jon Jory and Marcia Dixcy plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville
(KY). November 26 - December 26.
The Alley Theatre (Houston, TX) presents Michael Wilson's version, A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas (also seen in Hartford). November 27 - December 27.
Atlanta, GA's Alliance Theatre Company hosts their holiday tradition, full of "sumptuous designs, spectacular old-timey effects." Directed by Kenny Leon. November 25 - December 26.
Laird Williamson and Dennis Powers' adaptation is revived at the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco, CA, directed by Raye Birk (who also stars as Scrooge) in association with Candace Barrett. November 28 - December 27.
Downtown Nashua, NH's American Festival Theatre presents a version adapted and directed by Troy Siebels. December 3 - 20, plus a December 12 Gala with celebrity appearances, hors d'oeuvres, performance and dessert with the cast!
A blurb about the Aurora Fox Arts Center version, directed by Bev Newcomb, appears at MSN's SidewalkDenver. Weekends, November 28 - December 20.
The Boars Head Theater of Lansing, MI, presents Inspecting Carol. December 4 - 20.
CAST (Creative Attention Seeking Thespians) presents its annual rendition of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, adapted by Christopher Schario at their theatre in Hood River, OR. "Fred's Party" follows the performance with dancing by the Mid Columbia Folk Lore Society and Holiday Carols by the cast and audience. December 11 - 19.
On Vancouver Island, B.C., The Chemainus Theatre present a version between November 20 and January 2. Their restaurant offers a holiday buffet.
Adapted by John Bielenberg and the Original Company, and with original music by Susan Peters, the Cider Mill Playhouse's production plays December 10 30 in Endicott, NY.
A version adapted by Howard Dallin and directed by Michael Haney appears at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (OH). December 4 - 27.
In addition to Miracle on 34th St., you can see a production of A Christmas Carol at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse of Rock Island, IL. (Evening meals include green beans.)
The Civic Theatre of Allentown (PA) revives their annual A Christmas Carol, which runs December 4-19. It has a cast of 135!
In Colorado, the Crested Butte Mt. Theater presents Inspecting Carol. December 4 - 21.
Daniel Sullivan and the Seattle Repertory Co.'s Inspecting Carol is offered by the Delaware Theatre Company. December 2 - 20.
Ford's Theatre of Washington, DC, presents their annual version (no authors mentioned). November 21 - January 3.
Forest Roberts Theatre at Northern Michigan University presents Leslie Bricusse's musical Scrooge! December 10 - 13.
Ghosts, urchins, and the ever lovable Mr. Scrooge join us once again for our annual holiday musical mainstay, Scrooge. This favorite of both children and adults alike continues to enchant audiences year after year. A great way to usher in the holiday season, this song-and-dance rendition of the Dickens classic remains a
GB Productions is producing its first world premiere, Granville Wyche Burgess' A Country Carol, that "tells the story of a miserly Broadway star who is offered a chance to travel to the past to discover how to change his future." At the Iron Gate Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, December 11 to January 3.
The Goodman Theatre (Chicago, IL) presents not one, but two! count 'em! two variations on the theme. First you gotcher regular A Christmas Carol, adapted by Tom Creamer, and directed by Henry Godinez, through December 29. And then you gotcher official mascot of this here page, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, the old story, this time as told from Marley's perspective, written and performed by Tom Mula, directed by Steve Scott, running through December 27th!
Bill Fegan Attractions presents a version as part of Galveston, TX's annual Dickens on the Strand festival. At the Grand 1894 Opera House, December 4 and 5.
At The Grand Theatre of London, Ontario runs a new version adapted and directed by artistic director Michael Shamata, with music by Geordie Haley and choreography by Timothy French. December 2 - January 3.
The fourteenth annual production of an adaptation featuring Richard G. Wilkins as Scrooge once again bows at Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City, UT. December 1 - 23.
Hampstead Players, of Ctr. Barnstead, NH, presents a touring version throughout the United States. Check their site for details.
From December 3 - 27, Hartford Stage, of Hartford, CT, offers the "subscriber's bonus" of a production directed by artistic director Michael Wilson. (Hi, Noble!)
The Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, FL, presents their 20th anniversary production of Mary Hausch's adapation, December 2 through 21. The photos at the site make this look like a stunning production.
The town of Holly, MI hosts the Dickens Olde Fashioned Christmas Festival in Holly, Michigan. Visitors are "entertained by strolling Dickens characters, Christmas carolers, musicians, jugglers, Father Christmas and even Old Scrooge himself." Weekends through Christmas.
You get another double header at Huntington Beach Playhouse (CA), with Inspecting Carol, December 1 - 13, and Scrooge's Christmas, a version by Paynter and Grant-Schaeffer, December 12 - 20.
A modern-day version by Derrick Hatfield will be presented on December 28 at the Imperial Theatre (Théâtre Impérial) of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, featuring "a cast of 20 (ages 6 to 55)."
As a fund-raiser for their building project, the Little Theatre of Bedford community theater presents a version adapted by Bill McDonald from his radio play. Performs December 1-5.
Produced by Madison Savoyards Ltd. of Madison, WI, Ebenezer Scrooge or A Dickens of a Christmas has Sir Arthur Sullivan's music and a libretto by Taylor Hirsch. Directed by Cathy Daly Bond. December 11 - 20.
November 27 through December 20, The Moorpark Playhouse in beautiful downtown Moorpark, CA, offers A Dickens of a Holiday. Written by Adrea Gibbs and Scott Martin, and directed and choreographed by Adrea Gibbs, this melodramatic adaptation features sitcom characters and Elvis! .
Omaha Community Playhouse (NE) presents Charles Jones' adaptation. Although not part of the subscription season, subscribers are offered a discount. November 20 - December 20.
By special arrangement with Portland Stage, Oregon Children's Theatre presents a "subscriber holiday bonus" adaptation by Elizabeth Huddle throughout December. (Children under 5 not admitted.)
A double header! The Penobscot Theatre Company of Bangor, ME presented Inspecting Carol, November 18 - December 6, and presents A Christmas Carol, December 16 - 23.
The Play's The Thing Theatre Company of Brooklyn, NY (according to the NY Amsterdam News "...one of the best kept secrets in New York City!") provides Tom Frey's adaptation, directed by Joe Fedor and Denise Cintron at The American Theater for Actors in Manhattan through January 4th.
The Renton Civic Theatre Stage (in, I think, WA?) from December 3 - January 3 presents Inspecting Carol. (Be prepared for their hard to navigate site. It's got full pages of graphic-rendered text that take forever to load!)
San Diego Repertory Theatre's (CA) annual production is directed by Sean Murray, adapted by D.W. Jacobs, with music by Jonathan Sacks performed by the Irish band SilverWood. It runs through Christmas Eve.
the stage & fright theatre company's one man adaptation is based on Dickens' own public readings. At ZadEck (Schauspielhaus Bochum)
South Coast Repertory's adaption by Jerry Patch is directed by John-David Keller, runs November 28 - December 27.
At Tacoma, WA's Spirit Theatre you'll find Inspecting Carol. Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons also come with dinner, featuring Spinach Balls and a choice of Tiny Tim Turkey or Mrs. Cratchit Vegetarian Pasta. Mm-mm. December 11 - 20.
Billed as an "innovative, original musical production," adapted by Paul R. Pierce, the Springer Opera House's version plays at the Three Arts Theatre in. December 17 - 20.
At Stage 3 Theatre Company of Sonora, CA, you'll find Inspecting Carol. November 20 - December 20.
An adaptation by Gerardine Clark, directed by Kevin Moriarty, is featured at Syracuse State (NY), with musical staging by Anthony Salatino and musical arrangements and direction by Dianne Adams.
The holiday classic is presented with a twist in A Christmas Carol on the Air at Tallahassee Little Theatre, FL. December 18 - 19.
The big boy, king of the mountain is The Theater at Madison Square Garden's version, adapted by Lynn (Ragtime) Ahrens and Mike (Me and My Girl) Ockrent who also directed, with music by Alan (Beauty and the Beast) Menkin, and lyrics by Lynn (Anastasia) Ahrens. Choreographed by Susan (Big) Stroman. This year's Scrooge is Roger Daltrey (of The Who) and Roz Ryan plays the Ghost of X-mas Present. The site is full featured, with lots of graphics and RealAudio and Video (see the "Stocking Stuffer" button). It's a big improvement over last year's version of the site. Runs November 27-December 27 in New York, NY. MSG offers Suite101.com Theatre readers $5.00 off each non-peak ticket. Charge your tickets by phone at Ticketmaster (212) 307-7171 and mention code "DC-1" to receive the discount. (Visit the MSG site for an explanation of "non-peak" performances.)
Raleigh, NC Theatre in the Park's musical production has seen the boards for twenty-four consecutive years and has toured France and England. Its author, Ira David Wood, has been presented honary state citizenship. December 8 through 16. Also November 27 & 28 in Columbia, SC.
Lou Ziegler directs Theater of the Seventh Sister's production of Gary Smith's adaptation in Lancaster, PA. December 18 - 20.
Theater Three, which occupies the historic vaudeville house known as Athena Hall in Port Jefferson, NY, proffers an original adaptation. November 30 - December 28.
Theatre in the Welcome Center of Cape May, NJ, offers something called The Night Before Christmas Carol, by Elliot Engel. The only description their site offers of this work is: "Charles Dickens writes his classic work, A Christmas Carol, on the night before Christmas of the year 1843." It runs November 27 through December 19.
Theatre of Yugen's Noh Christmas Carol transplants the story to 1890 Japan. Adapted by Yuriko Doi, at the Noh Space in San Francisco. (No dates listed.)
In Providence, RI, Trinity Rep presents their annual production, through December 27.
Charles Dickens himself reads the story at The Victorian Villa Inn of Union City, MI. December 5 - 26.
The Curtain Players of Westerville, OH, put up Inspecting Carol. November 20 - December 5.
The Lakewood Theatre Company, Lake Oswego, OR is put up Inspecting Carol. October 23 - December 5.
In Hagerstown, The Maryland Theatre presented a "National Touring Company" production on November 29th.
The Valley Christian Theatre of San Jose put on a version December 3 through 12th.
Suite101.com Playwriting's own Dave Brandl has a modern adaption on the story. A Christmas Carol.com, where Scrooge makes an appearance on the WWW, is available from Eldridge Plays & Musicals.
Dramatic Publishing handles an "easy" version by Julian Lee.
A one-man, one hour interactive version, which is followed by "a diverting and delightful display of juggling, comedy, and Victorian parlor games," is available for performance by Christopher 'The Renaissance Man" Davis.
Drumm Musical Programs offers "spiritually-based Christmas programs designed for the entire school, K-8. There is a play usually performed by an upper class wherein each class has its own song and joins the entire student body in the finale," including An Angelic Christmas Carol. The site offers some song samples in WAV format.
Thomas W. Hojnacki has created a new musical adaptation entitled All Through the Night, which premiered at the Franklin Performing Arts Company. RealAudio samples are available at the site. (Beware, the site contains entire pages of rendered text for slow loading.)
Thea Musgrave has composed an opera based on the Dickens tale, available from Schirmer.
Know of or are involved with a website that has to do with a production of A Christmas Carol that I've overlooked or not stumbled across? Write me!
And break up the monotony of your hectic, endless, mad dash to complete your Christmas shopping -- go see a show!
Originally published at Suite101.com Theatre, 12/1/98
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