Acclaimed Playwright Amy Freed to Write New Adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"

David Ivers to Direct

On Dec. 12, in front of a full audience, South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announced that it is ushering in a new era for its holiday classic with the commissioning of award-winning playwright Amy Freed to create a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Freed’s new version will honor the story’s tradition while infusing it with spirited innovation.

Ivers will direct the new version and will collaborate with Freed throughout the development process. Over the next few years, Freed’s and Ivers’ development process will include research into the text, viewing other successful productions across the country, workshopping the script, production design and other essential planning—all supported by SCR’s artistic staff and The Lab@SCR, the theatre’s multifaceted new-play development initiative. There will also be opportunities for playgoers to experience readings of the work-in-progress and give feedback.

The development of the new version is supported by a generous gift from Julianne and George Argyros and the Argyros Family Foundation that was made in 2019 in honor of A Christmas Carol’s 40th anniversary. The development was initially delayed due to COVID. The premiere date will be announced at a later time, and SCR will continue to produce its original version until then.

“An SCR legacy playwright of international acclaim, Amy Freed is the perfect choice to adapt SCR’s next iteration of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday masterpiece,” Ivers said. “Among her many achievements, Amy is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and her plays have been produced across the globe, with many having their world premieres right here at SCR. She is unequaled in her love and understanding of language, structure and character.

“I have known Amy for many years, acted in her shows and found her love for A Christmas Carol inspiring. Audiences can expect a production faithful to Dickens and aided by SCR’s excellent roster of artists and exceptional execution of design. And I promise, SNOW!”

Freed is best known to local audiences for Freedomland (1997) and The Beard of Avon (2001), which made their world premieres at the Costa Mesa theatre. Her other SCR world premieres were Safe in Hell (2004), You, Nero (2009) and Shrew! (2018). She also wrote 2017’s The Monster Builder. SCR awarded Freed the Steinberg Commission in Playwriting, which she will use to write the new adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This is her seventh SCR commission.

“What a pleasure it is to return to SCR—a great American theatre and my artistic home. SCR's confidence in me has enabled me to develop and debut six plays. The invitation to write a new version of A Christmas Carol here, for a renewal and celebration of Dickens' literary and popular masterpiece, is like working for Fezziwig,” Freed said, invoking Ebenezer Scrooge’s beneficent mentor.

“South Coast Repertory has played Fezziwig to hundreds of emerging artists, giving them work and bringing them joy. I'm so happy to be back in the heart of a theatre that has given so many so much. In return, I hope to enhance the joys of the season with my version of A Christmas Carol.”

A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her 1997 work, Freedomland, Freed’s plays have been celebrated across the country. Among her numerous awards are the Charles McArthur Playwriting Award, The New York Art’s Club Joseph Kesselring Award, a two-time winner of the L.A. Critic’s Circle Award for Best New Play and the winner of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association Award for Best New Play.

Freed will bring a distinctive, humorous and intelligent voice to one of literature’s most enduring stories, along with the ability to contextualize it for a 21^st-century audience. Her adaptation promises to honor Dickens’ original work while possessing the sensibilities to uphold the play’s four-plus-decade connection to the Orange County community.

“Our current production of A Christmas Carol reaches 15,000 people annually and has become an annual tradition for many families over its 45-year run,” Appel said. “In developing a new production, we plan to include our most important collaborator of all, our audiences, in keeping the experience true to Dickens’ classic novel and making it contemporary for today’s audiences.”

Until the new version premieres, SCR will continue producing Jerry Patch’s adaptation, directed by Hisa Takakuwa, now celebrating its 45th anniversary production through Dec. 28 on the Segerstrom Stage.