A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe set for Motor House Theater

The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre is bringing a haunting holiday twist to Baltimore this December with the world premiere of "A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe" at the Motor House Theater. The innovative new work reimagines the beloved Dickens classic through the lens of America's master of macabre, running for 12 performances from December 5 through December 21.

A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe at Motor House Theater

Written by Zac Pensol and commissioned by The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, the production offers a creative mashup that blends Poe's biographical story with the familiar structure of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The play explores Poe's life leading up to the final days of his beloved wife Virginia Clemm, chronicling the lessons about love and happiness he discovered during one pivotal December evening.

"This innovative new production is destined to be a Baltimore holiday tradition," said Poe Theatre Founder and Artistic Director Alex Zavistovich. "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 play tells Poe's story up to the last days of his beloved wife Virginia Clemm - and the lessons he learned about love and happiness one fateful December night."

Both Pensol and The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre have previously earned recognition with "Saturday Visiter" Awards from The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival, lending additional credibility to this ambitious theatrical experiment.

"A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe is a new spin on a timeless classic that's perfect for Baltimore," Zavistovich added.
The production features an ensemble of Baltimore-based talent, with performances by Jade Green, Oz Heiligman, Sarah Bella Joyce, Rocky Nunzio, Anthony Parker, Ian Blackwell Rogers, Mallory Shear, and Alex Zavistovich. The creative team includes Mark Kamie as director, with Adam R. Adkins serving as assistant director. Technical elements are handled by Katherine Ross as production manager, Ronald Malone as stage manager, James Raymond providing set design and dressing, James D. Watson III on sound design, Andy Walling handling lighting design, Sarah Bella Joyce designing costumes, and Siobhan Beckett creating makeup designs.

Performances take place at the Motor House Theater, located at 120 W North Ave in Baltimore. The show runs Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are priced at $50 for general admission, with discounted rates of $35 available for students, veterans, and seniors aged 65 and older. 

The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and holds the distinction of being the only theatre company in the world exclusively dedicated to adapting Edgar Allan Poe's works for stage, radio, and educational settings. The company has garnered acclaim for its "Poe Theatre on the Air" series, which presents radio drama adaptations of Poe's stories and is available through National Public Radio, WYPR-FM, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and numerous other platforms.

To see a list of all the holiday plays in the area, visit our Holiday Plays In DC page.