The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre is set to premiere "A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe," a new play that reimagines Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale through the lens of America's master of horror. Commissioned by the theatre and written by Zac Pensol, the production will run from December 5 to December 21 at Baltimore's Motor House Theatre, located at 120 W North Ave.
The play, described as a mashup of Poe's life and Dickens' structure, tells Poe's story up to the final days of his wife Virginia Clemm, exploring the lessons he learned about love and happiness. "This innovative new production is destined to be a Baltimore holiday tradition," said Alex Zavistovich, Founder and Artistic Director of The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, in a statement. "It's exactly what it sounds like: A mashup of the life of Edgar Allan Poe and the structure of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.'"
The cast features Baltimore-based actors including Jade Green, Oz Heiligman, Sarah Bella Joyce, Rocky Nunzio, Anthony Parker, Ian Blackwell Rogers, Mallory Shear, and Zavistovich himself. The production is directed by Mark Kamie, with technical support from Adam R. Adkins, Katherine Ross, Ronald Malone, James Raymond, James D. Watson III, Andy Walling, Sarah Bella Joyce, and Siobhan Beckett.
"A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe" is made possible in part by a grant from the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Creative Baltimore Fund. Tickets are available at poetheatre.org or ticketstripe.com.
The performance schedule includes 12 shows across three weekends: December 5 at 8 pm; December 6 at 2 pm and 8 pm; December 7 at 2 pm; December 12 at 8 pm; December 13 at 2 pm and 8 pm; December 14 at 2 pm; December 19 at 8 pm; December 20 at 2 pm and 8 pm; and December 21 at 2 pm.
The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is the only company dedicated to adapting Poe's works onstage, on the air, and in the classroom. It is known for its award-winning "Poe Theatre on the Air" radio drama series, carried on NPR, WYPR-FM, Amazon Music, Audible, and other platforms. More information is available at poetheatre.org.
