The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre has commissioned a groundbreaking theatrical production titled 'A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe,' which creatively merges the structure of Charles Dickens' beloved holiday tale with the life story of America's master of horror and suspense. Written by Zac Pensol, a past winner of The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival 'Saturday Visiter' Award, this innovative play reimagines what might happen if 'A Christmas Carol' were written about Edgar Allan Poe's life and experiences.
The production will run for twelve performances at Baltimore's Motor House Theater from December 5 through December 21, 2025. According to Poe Theatre Founder and Artistic Director Alex Zavistovich, this new work represents exactly what its title suggests: a creative mashup of Poe's biography with the narrative framework of Dickens' classic Christmas story. The play follows Poe's life story up to the final days of his beloved wife Virginia Clemm, exploring the lessons he learned about love and happiness during one fateful December night.
Zavistovich emphasized the production's significance for Baltimore, stating that this innovative new production is destined to become a Baltimore holiday tradition. The theatrical work represents a unique fusion of literary history and holiday storytelling that connects directly with Baltimore's cultural heritage, given Poe's strong associations with the city where he lived and died.
The production features an entirely Baltimore-based cast including Jade Green, Oz Heiligman, Sarah Bella Joyce, Rocky Nunzio, Anthony Parker, Ian Blackwell Rogers, Mallory Shear, and Alex Zavistovich. Behind-the-scenes technical talent includes Mark Kamie as Director, Adam R. Adkins as Assistant Director, Katherine Ross as Production Manager, Ronald Malone as Stage Manager, James Raymond handling Set Design and Set Dressing, James D. Watson III providing Sound Design, Andy Walling creating Lighting Design, Sarah Bella Joyce designing Costumes, and Siobhan Beckett handling Makeup.
The performance schedule spans three weekends with multiple show times to accommodate holiday audiences. Tickets are available through the organization's official website at https://www.poetheatre.org or through their ticketing partner at https://ticketstripe.com/events/592107736357896. The production has received financial support through a grant from the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Creative Baltimore Fund, highlighting the city's commitment to supporting innovative cultural programming.
This production represents significant cultural innovation in the theater world by blending two distinct literary traditions into a cohesive narrative experience. The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, stands as the only company in the world dedicated to adapting Poe's works across multiple platforms including stage productions, radio dramas, and educational programming. Their acclaimed 'Poe Theatre on the Air' series has reached audiences through National Public Radio, WYPR-FM, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and numerous other platforms.
The creation of 'A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe' demonstrates how traditional holiday stories can be reimagined to reflect local cultural heritage while maintaining their universal themes of redemption, love, and personal transformation. This approach to theatrical programming represents an important evolution in how cultural institutions can engage communities with familiar stories presented through fresh, locally relevant perspectives.
