The Virginia Theatre Machine (VTM) brings its touring production of the Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, to Firehouse Theatre for a limited three-day run, December 21 through 23.
The abbreviation of A Christmas Carol is performed with two actors and ten puppets in a production geared for ages six and up. Watch as Ebenezer Scrooge confronts ghosts and visions from his past, present, and future and marvel as the performers transform themselves into multiple characters of all ages, genders, and ghostly varieties, exploring a full range of emotions that transport the audience from hope to laughter to pity to shock to love to despair – and back to hope again.
Hampton Road’s performer Ed Whitacre returns for his twelfth year, having delighted over 45,000 audiences with this production since 2008. RVA-based multidisciplinary artist and Richmond native, Mikaela Craft, joins the production, having recently graced Firehouse Theatre in the RVA Artsie-winning musical Gabriel in early 2023.
The trailer, set, and all the puppets are designed and built by noted film production designer Jeremy Woodward, whose feature films have been seen at Sundance and nominated for Best Picture at the 93rd Academy Awards. These films include Sound of Metal, Thoroughbreds, Antebellum, and The Boogeyman.
VTM has partnered with Firehouse Theatre as a new resident company. “We realized that not all audiences are comfortable with the unpredictability of the weather and possible colder temperatures in late December, so we teamed up with Firehouse Theatre to bring our magic inside,” said Mark.
![Virginia Theatre Machine mobile theatre](https://richmondfamilymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Virginia-Theatre-Machine-Street-VieW-Ed-Whitacre-as-Scrooge-in-A-CHRISTMAS-CAROL-CROPforWEB.jpg)
These shows at Firehouse Theatre will be ticketed, but affordably priced for all ages. Each of these performances will be linked to a different RVA-based not-for-profit, with 25% of that evening’s sales going to support that particular agency. These organizations are: LiftPD, dedicated to the pursuit of healthy living through exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease, Comfort Zone Camp, transforming the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver or significant person, & Children’s Home Society, one of Virginia’s oldest adoption agencies, dedicated to building strong, permanent families and lifelong relationships for Virginia’s at-risk children and youth.
When not at Firehouse Theatre, VTM tours the central VA region. VTM is a custom-built mobile stage owned and operated by north side Richmond artist, Mark Lerman. Built in 2008 and originally based in Williamsburg, VA, VTM brings the magic of a professional “indoor” live theatrical experience outside to the people of RVA, combining a fully designed production with an energetic street theatre performance style.
Tickets can be purchased through Firehouse Theatre. The show runs December 21 through 23.