Orlando theaters come and Orlando theaters go. But you’ll always be able to find at least one that makes A Christmas Carol the centerpiece of its holiday schedule. In the 2020s, the most notable stalwart has been Orlando Shakes, where the Dickens classic—as adapted by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger—has become a seasonal must.
The 2025 edition, also directed by Helsinger, will still have all the attributes audiences have come to expect, including elaborate puppetry, color-conscious casting and such atmospheric theatrical effects as rolling fog. But repeat customers will also notice some refurbishments.
“Each year, we add new elements,” says Helsinger. “This season, there’ll be new greenery, new chandeliers, new scenery and more. It’s a way to honor the tradition while making each year feel fresh and memorable.”
The cast will feature Nigel Gore as Scrooge, Brent Jordan as Bob Cratchit and Whitney Morse as Mrs. Cratchit. (Morse will also play Mrs. Fezziwig and one of the charity collectors who sets up Scrooge’s famous “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” rant.)
The show is recommended for third graders and up; no one under age 5 will be admitted. A new incarnation of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, notes Helsinger, will be pretty scary, and might be unsettling for tots.
And the emaciated children who emerge from the robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present and are described as representing “Ignorance” and “Want”—characters who are sometimes omitted from more saccharin renditions of the tale—could give viewers of any age pause to stop and think.
Yet Helsinger promises an ultimately “festive, heartwarming” experience—”a timeless story of redemption, generosity, and joy.” As someone else once said: God bless us, everyone.
Orlando Shakes is located at 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, in Loch Haven Cultural Park. For more information, call or visit the website.
