A Christmas Carol at The Guthrie Is the Holiday Tradition That Moves Me Every time, It’s Perfect.

I know the holiday season is upon us because of two events every year. First, I’ll spend a day with my Mom making Chex Mix and playing gin. That’s happening tomorrow. Secondly, I’ll be attending A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater.

Now, because it’s such a busy time, both theatrically and personally, I always tell myself I’ll skip the Guthrie’s A Christmas Carol for once. But then someone in my +1 pool wants to go, either because they haven’t seen it or they’re due for their booster, and they pull me back in. After this year’s production, I don’t think I’ll ever consider skipping again. I realized tonight, as I watched China Brickey, Aimee K. Bryant, Paul de Cordova, Emily Gunyou Halaas, Becca Claire Hart, Tyler Michaels King, Daniel Petzold, Eric Sharp, Regina Marie Williams, Max Wojtanowicz, and others on stage, that after all these years, it’s like attending a Christmas party with old friends you only get to see a few times a year. Don’t worry, I haven’t gotten delusional. I don’t think I have personal relationships with the entire cast of the show. It’s just that feeling of seeing people again and catching up. Seeing what’s new in their lives. Oh, look, Daniel has moved up from Young Scrooge to Fred. Who’s this new Ebenezer? Oh, it’s Andrew May, the best Scrooge yet, by the way. What happened to Noah Hynick? Wouldn’t Lyric Arts loan him out this year?

This marks the sixth year of the current adaptation by Lavina Jadhwani, which was first performed in 2021. After seeing it all six years, I can honestly say I have never enjoyed it more. And that is why I’m done pretending I might skip a year. I’ve learned by now that this is a treat I give myself every year, and I deserve a treat.

This year, my +1 was my coworker Nala, who hadn’t seen any live theater in a long time and who joined me last weekend for The Moving Company’s production of Memento Vivere. I’m trying to nurture a budding theatergoer here, and this production was another hit. I think I’ve just about got her hooked on live theater. I love sharing live theater with people; it’s why I do this in general. But there is something extra special about sharing this particular production with a new person each year. I get to experience it through their eyes, and it allows me to see new things every time. The show fills my heart up. Seeing Nala’s excitement and listening to her comments afterward, made it overflow.

This year’s staging is directed again by Addie Gorlin-Han, based on the original direction by Joseph Haj, the Guthrie’s Artistic Director. Like every year, I feel like there are changes beyond some of the cast, but it’s hard to know if I’m seeing new things or noticing new things. I figure there are one or two more years of this staging before they’ll give us a new adaptation. So, if you haven’t seen the current version, get to it now while you can, or reach out to me to reserve the +1 slot for next year.

I’m still amazed by this story’s capacity to move me. There’s something enduring about Dickens’s tale of reflection and redemption. Its familiarity allows it to be endlessly adaptable. The core plot and themes appear throughout modern storytelling. Everyone has a favorite version. For my son Alex, it’s Patrick Stewart’s made-for-TV version, which I’m sure I’ll be revisiting this year in honor of his passing. For me, it’s the 1951 British film starring Alastair Sim. I’m happy to say that, once again, the Guthrie’s version completely won me over. And I had the telltale tears on my cheeks at the end as proof.

The elements that have wowed me in past productions continue to shine. Nathan Huberty’s Ghost of Christmas Future, in a haunting costume by Toni-Leslie James, remains nightmarish enough to give the wee ones a genuine scare. The moment when the ghost emerges from the darkness, engulfed in fog and towering over a cowering Scrooge, is pure theatrical adrenaline, especially from my front-row seat. The set design by Matt Saunders and lighting by Yi Zhao strike a perfect balance between detailed realism and expressionistic atmosphere. Sound Designer Mikaal Sulaiman and Music Director Jason Hansen weave together Jane Shaw’s evocative score, traditional carols, and well-timed sound effects to create a rich, immersive experience.

This is your yearly reminder: if you’ve never seen A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie, it’s actually required by the state constitution once you’ve lived here more than five years. And, of course, everyone is required to have a booster every 15 years at minimum. And if you’ve seen it before, even this same adaptation, it absolutely rewards repeat viewings. I’m six in and still raving about it. I’m not sure how this story keeps reaching me year after year, but I think Dickens’s source material is simply too brilliant to ever grow old. Its message remains timeless: Our fellow man is the business of all of us.

A Christmas Carol runs through December 27th at the Guthrie Theater. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.guthrietheater.org/whats-on/a-christmas-carol-2026/

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the new website  79 Seconds on Stage a free and full guide to local theatre in the Twin Cities.

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