2020 marks the 45th Anniversary of Milwaukee's favorite holiday tradition produced in the historic Pabst Theater. Here's a walk down memory lane with a few highlights of over four decades of Dickens' beloved tale at Milwaukee Rep.
Beginnings
Milwaukee Rep has produced "A Christmas Carol" in the historic Pabst Theater annually since 1976. The idea to produce Charles Dickens' classic story began with then Artistic Director Nagle Jackson. One snowy evening in the winter of 1975 he walked past the Pabst Theater and was inspired to write a stage adaptation. Jackson's adaptation was produced annually for eight years with five actors playing the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge.
Playbill from the first annual production of "A Christmas Carol" in the Pabst Theater in 1976
A Christmas Carol 1977 by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
Ruth Schudson as the Spirit of Christmas Past and Henry Strozier as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1977 production of "A Christmas Carol" adapted by Nagle Jackson
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
The cast of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens adapted by Nagle Jackson in the 1981-82 Season
Amlin Gray
In 1984 Milwaukee Rep premiered a new adaptation of Dickens' holiday tale written by company member Amlin Gray. This adaption was produced for 11 years with three actors taking on the title role
A Christmas Carol 1987 by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
"A Christmas Carol" 1987: Daniel Mooney as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Carol Schultz as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tamu Gray as Mrs. Cratchit, Albert Farrar as Bob Cratchit, and the Cratchit children
A Christmas Carol 1991 by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
James Pickering as Ebenezer Scrooge, Catherine Lynn Davis as Belle, and James DeVita as Young Scrooge in the 1991 Amlin Gray adaptation
A Christmas Carol 1991 by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
"A Christmas Carol" 1991: James Pickering as Ebenezer Scrooge and Jonathan Adams as Fred
A Christmas Carol 1992 by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Mark AveryMilwaukee Repertory Theater
Richard Halverson as Ebenezer Scrooge and Michael W. Nash as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the 1992 production of "A Christmas Carol" as adapted by Amlin Gray
Hanreddy/ Morgan adaptation
A new adaptation by Artistic Director Joseph Hanreddy and Edward Morgan was introduced in 1998. This version was produced for 18 years with five actors taking on the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge.
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Jay WesthauserMilwaukee Repertory Theater
Jonathan Gillard Daly, Michael Cone and the cast of the 2002 Hanreddy/Morgan adaptation of "A Christmas Carol"
A Christmas Carol 2008 by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Jonathan Smoots as Christmas Past and James Pickering as Scrooge in 2010
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Christopher Donahue as Scrooge and the cast of "A Christmas Carol" 2013
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Jonathan Smoots as Scrooge, Amalia Cecsarini a Tiny Tim and the cast of "A Christmas Carol" 2015, the final year the Hanreddy/Morgan adaptation was produced in the Pabst Theater
Clements adaptation
The 2016 holiday season marked the premiere of a new adaptation written by Artistic Director Mark Clements. It featured a new set - the most complex Milwaukee Rep had ever built including a double turn table and snow in the theater. Jonathan Wainwright debuted as Scrooge, a role he played for four years.
Time-lapse of set load-in by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
The cast of "A Christmas Carol" 2017 adapted by Mark Clements
A Christmas Carol 2019 by Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Repertory Theater
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Jonathan Wainwright and Olivia Vitrano in "A Christmas Carol" 2017 adapted by Mark Clements
A Christmas Carol by Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Photo by Michael Brosilow.Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Jonathan Wainwright as Scrooge and the ensemble of "A Christmas Carol" 2017
