Trinity Rep's 'Christmas Carol' Goes Virtual

PROVIDENCE, RI — With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of many time-honored traditions in Rhode Island, Providence's Trinity Rep is getting creative. This year's staging of "A Christmas Carol," an annual holiday tradition, will be virtual and free to the public.

"Since it will not be practical or in the interest of public health to produce the holiday tradition in person this year, we will be creating an online version of 'A Christmas Carol' and offering it free of charge to everyone beginning in late November," theater management said in a statement.

More information about the full cast and performance dates will come later in the fall. The show will be directed by Curt Columbus, and Joe Wilson, Jr will star as Ebenezer Scrooge.

The theater has staged the show each holiday season for more than four decades, performing to more than one million audience members. Known for taking creative approaches to storytelling each year, the production team plans to use "the limitations presented by the pandemic into an opportunity to push our creativity and storytelling to new levels and expand our reach and accessibility by offering the production to the public at no cost."

"We love knowing that Trinity Rep is an important part of so many families’ holiday traditions," the statement continued. "Skipping a year of telling this story is not something that we would consider in normal times, and this year, it is simply unthinkable. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to (virtually) come together, hear stories of hope, and keep treasured traditions alive. Though we would much prefer to be gathered in the theater together in person, we are excited to create this unique opportunity for our community to celebrate the season."

Virtual tickets will be available for free, though registration will be required. Patrons can sign up for an email alert when registration becomes available.