An Original Adaptation by Anthony Lawton
In Collaboration with
Christopher Colucci and Thom Weaver
In Association with Mirror Theatre Company

In this wonderfully clear and direct telling of Charles Dickens' beloved novella, acclaimed playwright and actor Anthony Lawton brings the story vividly to life as only theater can. Come rediscover Dickens' timeless story of a miser's miraculous redemption from a life of bitterness, greed, and isolation. Back by popular demand for its sixth year, this heartwarming adaptation has captured the hearts of theater critics and audiences alike, inspiring a new Philadelphia holiday tradition.

Anthony Lawton as the Storyteller

Anthony Lawton, Co-Creator  •  Christopher Colucci, Co-Creator / Sound Designer  •  Thom Weaver, Co-Creator / Scenic & Lighting Designer  •  Kierceton Keller, Costume Designer

"Electrifying! Mr. Lawton, who wears clown-like makeup to emphasize how absurd Scrooge's fanatical miserliness is, gives a performance that is deliberately high-strung, at times almost expressionistic (it made me think of Robin Williams at his best). Every element of the design is unobtrusive but nonetheless powerfully atmospheric... I found it electrifying, and it confirmed my determination to go see a Lantern production in person as soon as I can." –Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal  more

"A 95-minute masterpiece. Brilliantly performed and staged... The program notes remind us that [Dickens] used to perform his own solo adaptations of A Christmas Carol to appreciative spectators. Lawton is a worthy heir to this tradition, leaving the audience teary-eyed and prompting one woman to gasp: 'Oh, gosh. That was absolutely wonderful.'" –Philadelphia Inquirer  more

"Lantern Theater Company's one-person adaptation – devised by actor Anthony Lawton, set and lighting maven Thom Weaver, and sound designer Christopher Colucci – blows the dust off the familiar Dickens tale, revealing fresh, invigorating layers of meaning. It privileges simple storytelling, with a clear intent and a strong message, in the hands of a first-rate performer." –Broad Street Review  more

"Anthony Lawton's A Christmas Carol is this year's holiday must-see. Marvelous, even revelatory... Takes a familiar story that time and acquaintance have rendered perilously close to kitsch and brings it electrifyingly to life. God bless us, every one! But especially Tony Lawton, who has given Philadelphia a gorgeous holiday gift – one that I hope returns year after year." –Reclining Standards  more

"Great theater. Stripped down to its most fundamental elements...Dickens' classic story is dark and unexpectedly wrenching. In the end it is Lawton's ability to reveal so much about a story we thought we knew so well that makes this production...remarkable." –Talkin' Broadway  more