This holiday season, People’s Light, Chester County’s destination for award-winning theatre and live arts, will share the joy of the season with a new, music-filled production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, running Nov. 19-Jan. 4 on the Leonard C. Haas Stage. Tickets start at $35 and are available for purchase now online.
With inventive and joyful staging by People’s Light Producing Director Molly Rosa Houlahan (Hurricane Diane, Little Shop of Horrors), the company’s Producing Artistic Director Zak Berkman brings Dickens’ beloved classic to life through the eyes of a child.
In this surprising and whimsical adaptation, audiences follow Ebenezer Scrooge and a gathering of benevolent ghosts on a journey through time, showing the redemptive power of kindness, hope, and love. This imaginative retelling features traditional English carols woven with a Barrymore-nominated original score by Berkman, arrangements by the celebrated “musician’s musician,” Mitch Chakour, and stars Ian Merrill Peakes (Birthday Candles, A Christmas Carol 2021/2023, Ghosts) as Scrooge. With new choreography and sets that complete the refresh, A Christmas Carol is a must-see for the whole family.
“At its heart, A Christmas Carol is a story about imagination, about seeing the world and one another with wonder,” said Berkman. “This production celebrates that sense of childlike discovery. It’s filled with laughter, music, and moments of awe that remind us how joy and generosity can transform not just one person, but an entire community.”
“What I love about this retelling of A Christmas Carol is how it reminds us that kindness always, always wins… even when it doesn’t feel it will,” said Shonali Burke, Managing Director of People’s Light. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the stress of daily life and focus inwards, particularly when the world we’re navigating feels more unfamiliar every day. A Christmas Carol invites us to look up and out, and rediscover our shared humanity. I love that audiences of all ages will celebrate the season with us, creating a ‘kind chorus’ when it is needed most!”
Audiences can also take the spirit of the season home with the soon-to-be-released A Christmas Carol Concept Album, featuring original music by Berkman and Chakour. Capturing the heart and soul of this distinctive adaptation with a vibrant collection of original songs featured in current and past productions of A Christmas Carol, the album makes for a meaningful holiday keepsake or gift, perfect for anyone who cherishes the warmth of the season and the joy of live theatre.
The album will be available for purchase throughout the show’s run at the concession stand, and proceeds will benefit People’s Light’s arts and education programs as well as the Chester County Food Bank, helping to nurture creativity and fight food insecurity across our region.
People’s Light’s A Christmas Carol will also feature eight talented young artists from the company’s Teen Performance Lab, making their professional theatre debuts and performing in rotating ensembles throughout the run. These emerging performers, who have trained with People’s Light Teaching Artists through the company’s celebrated education program, bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to this timeless tale.
To offer a taste of the music and merriment to come, cast members from the 2025 reimagining of A Christmas Carol gathered in the Lusk Library for a festive Little Library Concert, performing three songs from this magical, music-infused adaptation. Watch the concert here.
Accessibility and Inclusion at Every Performance
People’s Light remains committed to making theatre accessible and welcoming for all. A Relaxed Performance will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2:00 PM, featuring audio description, American Sign Language interpretation (provided by Hands UP Productions), and a pre-show sensory tour at 1:00 PM where guests can interact with set and prop elements and ask questions. This inclusive performance offers a “shush-free” environment where audience members are free to move around, vocalize, or step out and return as needed.
Additionally, Open Captioning will be available during all performances from Dec. 30-Jan. 4, displaying dialogue on an LED screen to support patrons with hearing impairments and English language learners.
Explore more upcoming productions at People’s Light. Founded in 1974 in Malvern, People’s Light is one of Pennsylvania’s largest professional nonprofit theatres and a national leader in creating and producing new work. With a deep commitment to community, the organization seeks to inspire and connect people through stories that illuminate our shared humanity. Each season features a mix of world and regional premieres, bold new takes on classics, and joyful musical revivals, as well as creative community-centered programming that welcomes audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
