By: Monica Rodriguez

In the spirit of Cuento Navideño, here’s a look at a few other adaptations from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This piece of Christmas tradition has been adapted on stage, screen and even through Scrooge, but first let’s take a trip to the past and learn about Mr. Dickens’ original work. Charles Dickens first wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. Dickens wrote the timed classic to lift spirits during the depression of the 1840s. The story takes audiences on a self-reflecting journey to the past, present and future where main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, turns a bitter, greedy life into a meaningful one. The story is a powerful classic because it reminds others what is really important in life.

My first memory of A Christmas Carol was on screen with the one and only, Mr. Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. In this adaptation, Ebenezer Scrooge is played by Uncle Scrooge himself, a member of Donald Duck’s family if you can recall. Disney has continued to adapt Dickens’ story and has even evolved it on screen through technology. In 2009, Disney made a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol in 3-D staring Jim Carrey as Scrooge. These adaptations are great for a family movie night this holiday season. While Mickey’s Christmas Carol brings back childhood memories, A Christmas Carol staring Jim Carrey, brings life to animation and is a great way to introduce the story to children.

On stage, this story comes to life. A Christmas Carol has been performed both as a musical and as a straight play for decades. Over the years, this beloved Christmas tale has been showcased on many stages and broadcasted through hundreds of screens, but none of them have been adapted with a cultural flare, that’s where Teatro Vivo’s Cuento Navideño comes into play. With rich family values, culture and community, Cuento Navideño showcases a Bah Humbug like no other. So if you’re looking for an adaptation on A Christmas Carol that’s unique, stop by the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center next weekend for a special treat!

Top Photo: Spirituele Winke