Staunton was merry to begin with. The lighted streets, arts and crafts shows, and Christmas ghost tours all feed the town’s mountain charm each holiday season. Only one show could be the icing on the gingerbread: A Christmas Carol at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse, running Dec. 4–27. Since 2008, this fast-paced, music-laced iteration of the Christmas classic has been Staunton’s holiday calling card—even livestreamed in 2020. Returning in 2025 for her 14th year with the play, director Stephanie Holladay Earl puts it plainly: “Scrooge’s journey of redemption offers us an annual opportunity to take stock of how we care for the ‘fellow travelers’ we encounter every day.” With Jay McClure’s lively adaptation, audiences can expect laughs, chills, and plenty of cheer—a reminder that Christmas past, present, and future belong on the stage. AmericanShakespeareCenter.com
Featured photo by October Grace Media. This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue.
