It is the night before the first snow of the season. The cold chill in the air brings the promise of winter. The glowing Pabst Theater sign shines like a beacon, with patrons gliding through its historic doors. The Christmas spirit is in the air and spreads through the halls of the entertainment venue.
What is the reason for all this merriment and cheer? Sponsored by West Bend Mutual Insurance, the play ran its 2025 season from Nov. 25 to Dec. 24th. In addition, Nov. 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the theatre.
“It changes a little every year,” said Kurt Knisel, who was there with a group of friends, watching the performance. “As far as tonight, it’s actually just cool because it’s the 50th anniversary. It’s cool, we’ve seen it grow.”
Knisel has been seeing A Christmas Carol for around twenty years at the Pabst. The cast changes most years, but some familiar favorites stick around.
For the 2025 year, many returning faces rejoined the ensemble, including Matt Daniels as Scrooge. In addition, James Pickering plays the dual roles of Fezziwig and Charity Worker, alongside his wife, Tami Workentin.
There are also longtime cast members such as Reese Madigan, Mark Corkins, Todd Denning and Jordan Anthony Arredondo.
The night ended in a standing ovation for the cast as artificial snow drifted down from the ceiling.
The cast invited the audience to sing along to “Joy to the World,” making the theater full of Christmas spirit. As patrons made their way out of the Pabst Theatre, cast members lined the exits, smiling and wishing everyone goodbye.
The Story of A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was first published on Dec. 19, 1843. The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a man scorned with a passionate hate for Christmas.
Four ghosts visit Scrooge on the night of Christmas Eve. The first being the ghost of his friend and business partner Bob Marley, who wanders the Earth bound by hefty chains and money boxes forged by a life of greed and selfishness.
Marley tells Scrooge that he has one chance to avoid the same fate: he will be visited by three spirits and must listen or be cursed to carry much heavier chains of his own.
Scrooge is then visited by the ghost of Christmas past, present and the future.
The play ends with a once selfish Ebenezer transforming into a sympathetic character, with a newfound love for the winter holiday and the people all around him.
Real Life Influences
A Christmas Carol was written during a transitional period of time when the British were delving into past Christmas traditions, such as carols, while also analyzing newer customs like cards and trees.
Dickens was influenced by his own experiences as a child as well as other Christmas stories. In particular, he was inspired by authors like Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold.
Motivated by a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, which was one of multiple institutions for the street children of London, he finally wrote a Christmas Carol.