Teacher Resources for A Christmas Carol

Study Guide and Program Notes

PDF: Study Guide

Get insights into Nineteenth-century London and SCR's production of A Christmas Carol.

Download

PDF: Program

Learn more about the 41st Season production, cast & creative team.

Download

PDF: A Christmas Carol Program Stories

Articles from past programs.

Download

Video

A Christmas Carol Teaser

Get a quick glimpse into the world of A Christmas Carol in this video.

The Human Power Behind A Christmas Carol

All of the scene changes in A Christmas Carol have been powered by humans backstage. Take a peek!

“Wassail” is a traditional hot drink served to carolers. A song celebrating wassail is a feature of SCR’s production of A Christmas Carol. SCR staffer Nicholas Pilapil teaches you how to make the drink.

SCR Audiences Taste Wassail

SCR’s production of A Christmas Carol opens with a song about the traditional wassail drink that carolers are served. But what is “wassail”? SCR made a batch and set up a taste-test for playgoers.

Stories

Coming Home to the Stage—Jennifer Parsons Finds Her Spirit

Versatile actor loves her role playing Spirit of Christmas Past

19 Dec 2023

A Christmas Carol

The Story Behind the Photo—The Fezziwigs

Meet the hosts with the most of “A Christmas Carol”

13 Dec 2023

A Christmas Carol

Teaching the Art of the Accent

How does “A Christmas Carol” Dialect Coach David Nevell bring out the British voices?

05 Dec 2023

A Christmas Carol

Embracing the ‘Role of the Century ‘—Ebenezer Scrooge

Richard Doyle has played hundreds of roles. Read about one of his favorites

28 Nov 2023

A Christmas Carol

Directing the Power of the Story

Read how Hisa Takakuwa shepherds “A Christmas Carol” to the stage

22 Nov 2023

A Christmas Carol

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like "A Christmas Carol"—12 Reasons You Don’t Want To Miss It!

We’re counting down the days

15 Nov 2023

A Christmas Carol

A Holiday Tradition in Costumes

Read about how the SCR Costume Shop prepares costumes for “A Christmas Carol”

31 Oct 2023

A Christmas Carol

Meet the Kids Cast

“A Christmas Carol” features 16 child actors divided into two teams

24 Oct 2023

A Christmas Carol

The Journey Continues for Nick Slimmer

How does the young actor navigate the path from Peter Cratchit to assistant director?

20 Dec 2022

A Christmas Carol

Preston Maybank—Back In The Game

Read about why Bob Cratchit is the perfect character to bring this SCR veteran back to the stage

14 Dec 2022

A Christmas Carol

The Story Behind The Photo: Scrooge and Marley

What’s going on in the heads of Young Ebenezer and Young Jacob here? Read the story behind the photo

05 Dec 2022

A Christmas Carol

There’s No ‘Bah Humbug’ To Richard Doyle’s Scrooge

What did he learn from his first year playing Charles Dickens’ curmudgeon?

28 Nov 2022

Director Hisa Takakuwa On Her Journey

Follow the path that put the keys to SCR’s storied holiday tradition in her hands

21 Nov 2022

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like A Christmas Carol—12 Reasons You Don't Want To Miss It!

Do you have your tickets yet?

15 Nov 2022

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like "A Christmas Carol"—Meet the Adult Cast

Several newcomers join familiar names in this holiday tradition.

08 Nov 2022

A Christmas Carol

Meet the Kids of "A Christmas Carol"

The kids of A Christmas Carol comprises 16 actors in eight roles in SCR’s holiday tradition. Meet them.

25 Oct 2022

A Christmas Carol

Stage Design 101-Starring Tom Buderwitz

The task facing Scenic Designer Tom Buderwitz when he took over the scenic design for A Christmas Carol in 2002 was challenging—and counterintuitive.

15 Dec 2021

The Story Behind the Photo: "A Christmas Carol"

Actor Michael Manuel stepped into the role of Jacob Marley’s Ghost for the first time this year and fills us in on this moment in the play.

15 Dec 2021

A Christmas Carol

Bringing the Spirits to Life

Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four spirits who aim to change his ways and save him from a lonely, haunted end. Learn more about them.

03 Dec 2021

A Christmas Carol

Playing The Spirit of Christmas Present

he last time Richard Soto appeared in SCR’s A Christmas Carol was 2004. And it took a medical emergency to get him in the cast.

02 Dec 2021

A Christmas Carol

Director Hisa Takakuwa Discusses "A Christmas Carol"

When it comes to this holiday favorite, Hisa Takakuwa defines knowledge. Learn why in this interview.

15 Nov 2021

Inside the Costume Shop

Everything that comes with creating, maintaining and fitting costumes starts with Costume Supervisor Amy Hutto.

15 Nov 2021

The Story Behind the Photo of Sally & Fred

Actors Melody Butiu and Sol Castillo are SCR veterans. In 2018, they stepped into the theatre’s longest-running production, A Christmas Carol. Find out why this photo is important to them.

03 Dec 2020

A Christmas Carol

Forty Years in Lights

In 2019, Donna and Tom Ruzika marked 40 years of creating the lights for A Christmas Carol. In this Q&A, they talked about what drew each of them to lighting design, to SCR and all about A Christmas Carol.

12 Dec 2019

On the Beach, a Victorian Christmas and Sunshine

Learn more about how the adaption of A Christmas Carol came to life.

06 Dec 2019

Kids Learn the Audition Process

SCR’s production of A Christmas Carol offers eight roles for children that are double cast, so 16 lucky kids have an opportunity to perform in this beloved holiday classic.

15 Nov 2019

A Christmas Carol

"Was Ever A Scarf So Red?"

A 12-foot-long red scarf marks a transformative moment for Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Find out what it means.

15 Nov 2019

A Christmas Carol

Behind-the-Scenes: A Fascination for Detail Work

Assistant Technical Director John Gaddis IV keeps all the pieces in motion as the scenery comes together for plays. Learn more about him.

08 Dec 2015

Photos

Richard Doyle and Presley Coogan (center) with the cast in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Maximilian Lalli, Kelsey Bray, Nick Slimmer and Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Doyle and Rosney Mauger in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Kelsey Kato, Daniel Blinkoff, Presley Coogan, Rosney Mauger, Paige Lindsey White and Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

William Francis McGuire, Kelsey Bray, Colin Savage, Erika Schindele, Richard Doyle, Tommy Beck, Jennifer Parsons (obstructed) and Melody Butiu in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

William Francis McGuire and Melody Butiu (center) and the cast in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

The cast of South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Colin Savage, Natalie Bright, Daniel Blinkoff, Presley Coogan, Tessany Azizi and Tamlyn Tomita in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Daniel Blinkoff and Presley Coogan in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Soto and Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Tommy Beck, Richard Doyle, Erika Schindele and Jennifer Parsons in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

William Francis McGuire and Rosney Mauger in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Doyle and Michael Manuel in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Melody Butiu, Richard Doyle and William Francis McGuire in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Sol Castillo and Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Jennifer Parsons and Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Richard Doyle in South Coast Repertory's 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Photo by Jenny Graham/SCR.

Download

Teacher Resources for A Christmas Carol

Study Guide and Program Notes

PDF: Study Guide

PDF: Program

PDF: A Christmas Carol Program Stories

Video

A Christmas Carol Teaser

The Human Power Behind A Christmas Carol

How to Make Wassail

SCR Audiences Taste Wassail

Stories

Photos