How can you enhance the eerie elements of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”? By infusing it with the haunting essence of Edgar Allan Poe, America’s legendary author known for his horror and suspense narratives.
This concept serves as the foundation for the new theatrical production titled “A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe,” commissioned by The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre and crafted by playwright Zac Pensol. Both the playwright and the theater have previously been honored with the Saturday Visiter Award at The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival. To make the experience accessible, Poe Theatre is offering tickets for just $5 for every performance.
According to Alex Zavistovich, the founder and artistic director of Poe Theatre, “This groundbreaking new production is poised to become a cherished holiday tradition in Baltimore.” He elaborated, “It merges the narrative of Edgar Allan Poe’s life with the framework of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol.’ The play chronicles Poe’s journey leading up to the final days of his dear wife Virginia Clemm, revealing the profound lessons he gained about love and joy during a pivotal December night.”
The production showcases an ensemble of talented actors from Baltimore, including Jade Greene, Oz Heiligman, Sarah Bella Joyce, Rocky Nunzio, Anthony Parker, Ian Blackwell Rogers, Mallory Shear, and Zavistovich himself. Directed by Mark Kamie, Ian Blackwell Rogers takes on the role of present-day Poe.
After taking a two-year break from the stage, Zavistovich returns in the role of Future Edgar, having previously appeared in Poe Theatre’s “Blood, Sweat, and Fears.” His last stage performance had been a long while ago.
Regarding his role, Zavistovich mentioned, “Although I’ve engaged in acting lately, it’s primarily been in radio dramas where scripts are always in hand. This marks my return to the stage after more than two years. Portraying a version of Poe has been a joyful experience for me. This production showcases three to four distinct versions of Poe: Child Edgar, Young Edgar, the well-known Edgar from historical photos, and then my character, Future Edgar.”
The inception of this play dates back over three years, originating from a board meeting where they pondered the idea of blending “A Christmas Carol” with the narrative of Poe’s life. After selecting Pensol for the writing task, the team soon realized the complexities involved in bringing this creative vision to life.
“Last year, we conducted a staged reading of the script that was available at that time. Performing it for an audience highlighted several problem areas and flow issues,” Zavistovich recounted. “We then approached the author, Zac Pensol, with the feedback, and he completely restructured the script from the ground up.”
Zavistovich praises Pensol as an esteemed scholar on Poe, noting his attention to detail about Poe’s life as well as the narrative structure of “A Christmas Carol.” The dual focus of the play encompasses both what audiences recognize about Poe—his life marked by loss, tragedy, and failure—and the familiar narrative of “A Christmas Carol,” where Scrooge encounters three spirits and ultimately undergoes a transformative experience on Christmas morning.
“Our aspiration is that this production thrives to the extent that it becomes a beloved holiday staple for Baltimore,” Zavistovich expressed. “It would be wonderful to offer a seasonal performance that is uniquely our own.”
Mark your calendars! “A Christmas Carol for Edgar Allan Poe” is set to premiere at the Motor House Theatre on Friday, December 5, 2025. The show will run for a total of 12 performances spread over three weekends, concluding with the final show on Sunday, December 21, at 2 p.m.
The Motor House Theatre is located at 120 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD.
Tickets can be purchased through The National Edgar Allan Poe Theater website as well as this link.
