The Holiday Tradition Continues

A Christmas Carol, celebrating its 49th year at Milwaukee Rep, got its start
​with help from MMAC ​

By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist 
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2023 production. Pictured: Valentina Vega and Matt Daniels with cast. Photo by: Michael Brosilow

The holiday season is right around the corner. For Milwaukeeans, this time of the year means enjoying Milwaukee Repertory (Rep) Theater’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The timeless tale of hope and redemption has remained a Milwaukee Rep tradition since 1975, sparking joy and nostalgia in over 1.7 million people. In fact, the theater holds the record for the second-longest running production of A Christmas Carol in the United States.  

​Milwaukee Rep is excited to welcome the community back for its 49th production of the show from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24 this season. 

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Funding a classic ​

Tonen (Sara) O’Connor, Milwaukee Rep’s managing director from 1974-1995 attributes the idea of producing this classic tale to Nagle Jackson, the artistic director at the time.  
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One snowy day, Jackson walked past Pabst Theater. It struck him how perfect the 19th century playhouse would be for a magical story like A Christmas Carol.  
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However, to undertake a project this large, the theater needed additional funding. Tonen met with the MMAC and convinced the organization that adding A Christmas Carol to the production list would benefit the city of Milwaukee, especially during the holiday season. The MMAC invested $30,000 into Milwaukee Rep’s plans to produce the show, a catalyst for what has become a Milwaukee holiday staple.  
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Community involvement remains vital at Milwaukee Rep. Funding from donors and sponsors allows the theater to produce high quality shows and keep traditions like A Christmas Carol alive. Just recently, Milwaukee Rep announced that it had reached its fundraising goal to make its future home, the Associated Bank Theater Center, a reality, thanks to the generous support of donors. 
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Tradition and transformation ​

Milwaukee Rep has done five adaptations of the story over the past 49 years. The current adaptation by the Rep’s Artistic Director Mark Clements premiered in 2016.  
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1977-1978 production. Pictured: Henry Strozier and Tom Blair. Photo source: UW-Milwaukee Libraries

“This story goes back to a set of core values without being preachy. It allows people to hit their reset button about forgiveness, rebirth, redemption. It was important to me to create a version that was truly family friendly. There’s nothing worse than taking kids to something where there’s considerable effort and money involved, and they have a miserable time. This production has some real theatrical magic and some truly spooky moments that keep the kids’ attention,” said Clements. 

​A Christmas Carol is as much of a cherished tradition for the cast as it is for the audience members. Actor James Pickering played Bob Cratchit in the Rep’s original production. He has now gone on to play many of the production’s characters including Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he took on from the late 90s to 2011. In this year’s production, Pickering will play the part of Mr. Fezziwig alongside his wife Tami Workentin, cast as Mrs. Fezziwig. Milwaukee Rep is also excited to announce that actor Matt Daniels will return to the stage for his third production as Ebenezer Scrooge.  
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Spreading holiday cheer ​

The annual production of A Christmas Carol is closely tied to the Rep’s mission of creating positive change in the community. A Christmas Carol Families Program supports families in need during the holiday season through audience donations. In previous years, the Milwaukee Rep has raised over $40,000 annually. The theater also runs A Christmas Carol Community Tickets Program. Approximately 2,000 free tickets are distributed to youth and family organizations each year, enabling more individuals to enjoy the holiday magic. 
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Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in one of Milwaukee’s greatest holiday traditions! View the performance schedule here!