Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 24, 2025
Poe Meets Dickens in New Holiday Play "A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe"
TLDR
- The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre's new play offers a unique holiday entertainment experience that could attract literary enthusiasts seeking innovative cultural events.
- This 12-performance play runs from December 5-21 at Baltimore's Motor House Theater, blending Poe's life story with Dickens' Christmas Carol structure through local talent.
- This production celebrates Baltimore's cultural heritage while exploring themes of love and happiness through Poe's personal story, enriching the community's holiday traditions.
- A creative mashup reimagines Edgar Allan Poe's life through the lens of A Christmas Carol, featuring Baltimore actors in a fresh holiday theatrical experience.
Impact - Why it Matters
This innovative production matters because it represents a significant cultural fusion of two literary giants, offering audiences a fresh perspective on holiday theater while celebrating Baltimore's rich literary heritage. For theater enthusiasts and literature lovers, it provides a unique opportunity to experience classic storytelling through a new lens, potentially establishing a new holiday tradition that honors both Dickens' Christmas spirit and Poe's gothic legacy. The production also supports local arts funding and showcases Baltimore's vibrant theater community, demonstrating how creative reinterpretations of classic works can breathe new life into cultural traditions while supporting regional arts organizations.
Summary
The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre has commissioned an innovative holiday production titled "A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe," written by Zac Pensol, a past winner of The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival "Saturday Visiter" Award. This imaginative play creatively reimagines Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story through the lens of America's master of horror and suspense, Edgar Allan Poe. The production represents a unique mashup that explores Poe's life story, particularly focusing on his relationship with his beloved wife Virginia Clemm during his final days, while adopting the transformative structure of Dickens' timeless tale about redemption and self-reflection.
Performances will run for 12 shows from December 5 through December 21 at Baltimore's Motor House Theater, featuring a talented cast of local Baltimore actors including Jade Green, Oz Heiligman, Sarah Bella Joyce, Rocky Nunzio, Anthony Parker, Ian Blackwell Rogers, Mallory Shear, and Artistic Director Alex Zavistovich. The production is supported by a grant from the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts through their Creative Baltimore Fund. Tickets are available for purchase through the official website at www.poetheatre.org or directly via the ticketing platform at https://ticketstripe.com/events/592107736357896, providing multiple convenient options for theatergoers to secure their seats for this limited engagement.
The creative team behind this ambitious production includes Mark Kamie as Director, Adam R. Adkins as Assistant Director, Katherine Ross as Production Manager, and Ronald Malone as Stage Manager. Additional technical expertise comes from James Raymond handling Set Design and Set Dressing, James D. Watson III creating the Sound Design, Andy Walling designing the Lighting, Sarah Bella Joyce managing Costumes, and Siobhan Beckett handling Makeup. The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, stands as the world's only company exclusively dedicated to adapting Poe's works across stage, radio, and educational platforms, best known for their award-winning "Poe Theatre on the Air" radio drama series distributed through major platforms including National Public Radio and streaming services.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Poe Meets Dickens in New Holiday Play "A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe"
