This holiday season, for one weekend only, Dec. 11, 12, and 13, The Public Theatre presents its acclaimed adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” followed by a holiday sing-along featuring “Christmas Carol” fiddler Jennifer Armstrong. The Public Theatre’s own version of Dickens’ classic has become a favorite holiday tradition in Lewiston/Auburn. This inventive adaptation, performed by six actors and a fiddler, was developed and written for The Public Theatre by Artistic Director Christopher Schario in 1993, and has since been published by Dramatists Play Service and is now regularly performed by theaters around the world.

“There’s a great reason why this story is told during the holidays and will never go away”, says author and Artistic Director Christopher Schario. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget the meaning of the season in all the holiday shopping. Watching Scrooge’s journey always awakens my holiday spirit and gets my heart ready to celebrate Christmas…. “We stay true to the heart of the story, while at the same time imaginatively rejuvenating this familiar tale,” Schario said. 

 The Public Theatre offers a special ticket price of  $5 for children 18 and under. 

The Public Theatre’s version begins with a child reading a copy of Dickens’ novel. As the child reads, five actors and a fiddler  appear and slowly coax the child into joining the story and becoming the character of Tiny Tim. 

Leading the cast of “A Christmas Carol” will be Michael O’Brien in the role of Scrooge. O’Brien  is a familiar face to Maine audiences following a long history on stage with The Theater at Monmouth and previous appearances at The Public Theatre including the role of Marley in TPT’s original production of “A Christmas Carol.”

Also returning to the Public Theatre are Russell Berrigan as Marley, Sheila Stasack as Mrs. Cratchit and Matt Delamater as Fred. Newcomers to this year’s production include local 8th-grader Andrea Dolci in the role of the child and New York actress Annie Grier in the role of Belle and Fan. Returning as the fiddler will be acclaimed musician and storyteller Jennifer Armstrong.

A Christmas Carol will be performed on Friday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday Dec 13, at 2 p.m.

For tickets call the box office at 782-3200. For more information visit www.thepublictheatre.org.