Directed by Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins, featuring Stephen Thorne as Ebenezer Scrooge 

Trinity Repertory Company presents its 49th annual production of A Christmas Carol, adapted from the novella by Charles Dickens, with original music by Richard Cumming. This year, the show will be co-directed by former Trinity Rep Artistic Director and Emmy Award–winner Richard Jenkins and acclaimed choreographer Sharon Jenkins. Resident company member Stephen Thorne returns to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, which he last played in 2018. For the first time, the beloved holiday classic will be staged in Trinity Rep's 250-seat Dowling Theater. It will play from November 6 – December 31, 2025.  

“Richard and Sharon Jenkins are Trinity Rep royalty,” the Laura H. Harris Artistic Director Curt Columbus said. “Their intimate retelling goes to the very heart of stories being told around fireplaces at holiday time. And having Stephen Thorne leading the cast as Scrooge simply puts everything in place to have the most memorable, the most special, the most magical telling of A Christmas Carol in many years.” 

First added to Trinity Rep’s lineup in 1977 by Founding Artistic Director Adrian Hall, A Christmas Carol has become a cherished holiday tradition for generations of Southern New England families. Reimagined annually with a new cast and creative team, over two million people have experienced this unique production in its nearly 50-year history. 

During the production’s first rehearsal, the directors spoke to the decades-old legacy of the timeless story. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the story’s roots, honoring Hall’s original adaptation, and finding new ways into the tale. 

“We wanted to go back to Richard Cumming’s music, because it was meaningful to us and meaningful to a lot of the community,” Sharon Jenkins said, while also noting that this year’s production will feature three new pieces of music. Sharon is also the production’s choreographer. 

Added Richard, "The question I ask myself before every show I direct is 'What can theater do that movies and television can't? What can theater do that no other art form can do?” To explore this question, Richard and Sharon will collaborate with music director James Woods, scenic designer Michael McGarty, costume designer Toni Spadafora-Sadler, lighting designer Brian J. Lilienthal, sound designer Peter Sasha Hurowitz, and magic designer Nate Dendy.  

Resident company member Stephen Thorne returns to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Joining him on stage in multiple roles are fellow company members Taavon Gamble and Mauro Hantman; Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program in Acting students Kayla Bennett, Evie Dumont, and Henry Nwaru; and guest artists Jeff Church, Nate Dendy, Alison Russo, and Gillian Williams.   

As is tradition, child actors from across Southern New England will make up the children’s cast. This year’s young performers are Cranston residents Felese Kparyea, Tess Loezos, Salvador Rivera Scotti, and Gabriel Taveras; North Providence resident Joshua Pitts-Wiley; Providence resident Elena Rose Taveras; Seekonk, MA resident Hadley Boyle; and West Warwick resident Aria Razza. 

Another way young people can get involved is through Trinity Rep’s first-ever holiday art competition. Ten young Rhode Island artists ages 13-25 will have their original, holiday-themed artwork on display in the Trinity Rep’s lobby during the run of A Christmas Carol. For contest guidelines, visit TrinityRep.com/Christmas. 

ABOUT A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

November 6 – December 31, 2025
Dowling Theater, 201 Washington Street, Providence RI 02903
As the clock strikes midnight one fateful Christmas Eve, the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge finds himself face-to-face with the ghost of his old pal Jacob Marley. Through a supernatural journey, Scrooge must confront the past, acknowledge the present, and define the future for the good of the community& and his very soul.

Please note: Due to construction, the in-person Ticket Office is temporarily closed. Tickets are always available online, or by phone WED-SUN, 12-6 pm. Will-call and day-of tickets are available in the lobby starting two hours before curtain.   

DIRECTOR BIOS 

Richard Jenkins was a Trinity Rep acting company member for 14 seasons (1970-1984) and served as Artistic Director for four seasons (1990-1994). Over the span of 40 years, he has directed 17 productions and co-directed two with his wife and artistic collaborator, Sharon. He has appeared in over 60 feature films and TV shows. He earned Academy Award nominations for his performances in The Visitor and The Shape of Water, won a Primetime Emmy for his role in “Olive Kitteridge,” and has been nominated for awards by the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, the Independent Spirit Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, the Gotham Awards, and The Satellite Awards. 

Sharon Jenkins has choreographed over 60 productions at Trinity Rep, including the theater’s very first production of A Christmas Carol in 1977. She has also worked across the country with Long Wharf Theatre, Arena Stage, and South Coast Rep; locally with The Arabella Project, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island Dance Rep, and Providence College; and taught at the Hope High Arts Magnet School.  

YOUTH ARTWORK COMPETITION 

Young and emerging artists (ages 13-25) are invited to submit original holiday-themed artwork for display in the Dowling Theater Lobby during the run of A Christmas Carol. Work should creatively explore the question: What do the holidays mean to you? Accepted media include 2D work such as paintings, drawings, prints, textiles, photography, or digital art (printed for display). Up to three submissions per artist will be accepted. The submission deadline is October 14, 2025, at 11:59 pm. Selected artists will be notified by October 21. Winning entries will receive a $50 cash prize, two tickets to A Christmas Carol, and have their artwork displayed throughout the production’s run. All submissions must be gallery-ready by October 31 and accompanied by a short artist bio and statement. For complete guidelines or to submit, visit TrinityRep.com/Christmas. 

SPECIAL EVENTS & TICKET OFFERS  

Continuing Trinity Rep’s tradition of offering affordable tickets for all, the theater will hold a Pay What You Wish performance of A Christmas Carol on Thursday, November 6 . Pay What You Wish tickets are limited to two per person and can be purchased advanced online or by phone October 23, or the day of at the theater.   

Returning this season are Neighborhood Nights, where Rhode Island residents can access a 20% discount on 6:00 pm Sunday evening performances, based on where they live. Providence County residents are eligible for a Neighborhood Night discount for every Sunday evening performance. The Neighborhood Night performances for Kent County, Washington County, and Bristol & Newport County residents are on November 16, 23, and 30, respectively. Guests may claim this discount by entering their county name in all capital letters at checkout (i.e., PROVIDENCE).    

The Sensory Friendly Plus! performance of A Christmas Carol, designed to meet the needs of guests with sensitivities to light and sound, will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 12:00 pm. All performances December 16-21 are open captioned. To learn more, visit trinityrep.com/accessibility.   

Trinity Rep Project Discovery student matinee performances for A Christmas Carol are currently sold out and any new requests will be added to the waitlist. To join the waitlist for A Christmas Carol, or book tickets to another matinee this season, visit TrinityRep.com/ProjectDiscovery. 

A Christmas Carol is presented by Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses. Amica Insurance is the production’s supporting sponsor, with additional support from Navigant Credit Union. Trinity Rep’s 2025-26 Season is sponsored by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) with supporting sponsorship by the Providence Tourism Council. Southwest Airlines is the official airline of Trinity Rep. 

ABOUT TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY 

Rhode Island’s Tony Award-winning theater, Trinity Rep has created unparalleled professional theater for and with its community since its founding in 1963. Trinity Rep strives to facilitate human connection and has been a driving force behind the creativity that fuels and defines the region for more than 50 years.  

Trinity Rep is committed to reinventing the public square and inspiring dialogue by creating emotionally stimulating live productions that range from classical to contemporary and innovative education programs for all ages and abilities. Its annual production of A Christmas Carol has brought families together for nearly five decades and made memories for over two million audience members.  

Trinity Rep’s 2025-26 Season features productions of Cold War Choir Practice, A Christmas Carol, The Roommate, The Winter’s Tale, Primary Trust, and Next to Normal. 5-Play and Flex Subscriptions are now on sale.
For more information, visit Trinity Rep’s website at www.trinityrep.com.