One of the most beloved tales of the holiday season, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, has been produced and performed on stage and screen countless times. Here we offer a version for the times – a Zoom performance, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Ralph Wakefield.

We are honored to have Kenneth Kurtz reprise his role as Ebenezar Scrooge, having performed it in Ralph’s original production at All Angel’s Academy some years ago.

Ken is well suited to playing Scrooge as he tells a tale that every Christmas Eve his family would read A Christmas Carol together, Ken’s father having the honor of portraying Scrooge. When Ken’s father passed away, the next Christmas Eve Ken’s siblings allowed him to take up his father’s duties and took his turn at portraying the ever grouchy curmudgeon with a hidden heart of gold, Ebenezar Scrooge.

Kenneth Kurtz is a Professor Emeritus of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Miami, Florida, where for over forty years he taught Theatre history, Scenic and Lighting Design, Scene Painting and the History of Decor. Some of his long ago students include Ralph Wakefield, Nancy Jones, and Christopher Chisholm. Imagine that!

As a member of United Scenic Artists he has executed professional commissions for such theatres as the Coconut Grove, Asolo, Colony, Burt Reynolds and Clarion Castle in Florida, the Alliance in Atlanta, the Walnut Street in Philadelphia, and the Sharon Playhouse in Connecticut. His settings and/or lights have showcased such luminaries as Jose Ferrer (Life With Father), Mercedes McCambridge (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Theodore Bikel (Sunshine Boys), Brian Murray (Equus ), and Kathy Rigby (Peter Pan). Kenneth notes that, any profession that pays one good money to make Captain Hook’s pirate ship is a wonderful thing.

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A note from Director Ralph Wakefield:

After the birth of Jesus, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, was, is, and always will be my next favorite Christmas Story. It was the very first show I ever directed back when the earth's crust was still cooling at South Dade Senior High in 1971. I was blessed to be in the show at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in December of 1980 where I played Scrooge as a young man, and Mr. Ken Kurtz designed the show. In 2009, the Pelicans produced this show at All Angel's Episcopal Church, with Mr. Ken Kurtz as Scrooge. We are hugely blessed to have him reprise this roll. No acting required. And as Tiny Tim wished, "May God bless us, everyone!"

Here are some unearthed pictures from the three previous productions. Yes, I am the young handsome dog convincing the beautifully costumed young ladies to dance with me.

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Coconut Grove Playhouse, December 1980

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South Dade Senior High School, 1971

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Kenneth Kurtz as Ebenezar Scrooge, All Angels Academy, 2009

The Pelican Playhouse Inc. (a 501(c)(3) corporation) is true community theater at its best. Located in Miami Springs, Florida, and serving the Greater Miami Area, we are an inter-generational theater company, bringing families together to act, to run tech, and to watch performances.  The enthusiasm of our youth mingles with the wisdom of our elders to build community.  Performing in the theater builds character, creativity, enhances self-expression and fosters self-esteem.

As Artistic Director, Ralph Wakefield teaches year round, weekly classes introducing theater skills, performance growth and personal enrichment.  The production classes culminate in finished productions performed eight times over two weekends.  Pelican Playhouse performances are held in the Miami Springs Community Center, which opened in April of 2010.  Housed within this new center is an intimate theater on the second floor.

The Pelican Playhouse is not theater with an “edge” but theater with an “awww.”