For many, Charles Dickens’ timeless tale about a miserly businessman who is visited by three ghosts is a holiday reminder for us to seek our own humanity. Portland Playhouse has been bringing this classic play back in a nontraditional thoroughly multiracial and often cros- gender adaptation directed by Charles Grant for the last three years, which feels timely and relevant to today. The play by Rick Lombardo and Anna Lackaff melds musical celebration and dance with prophetic storytelling.

Dmae Lo Roberts met with director Charles Grant and actor La’Tevin Alexander, who portrays Scrooge, to have a lively talk about the adaption and their history with the theater. A Christmas Carol runs through December 31 at Portland Playhouse. (This interview also features a cameo “appearance” by Alexander’s two-year old daughter.)

Subscribe and listen to Stage & Studio on: Apple, Google, Spotify, Android and Sticher and hear past shows on the official Stage & Studio website. Theme music: Clark Salisbury. Music clip: Cast of Portland Playhouse singing “O Come O Ye Faithful.”

In this podcast you’ll hear about…

La’Tevin Alexandra’s connection to A Christmas Carol: “My life now as a father is bigger than me. Every decision I make now doesn’t just affect me, doesn’t just affect my mom and my brother. It affects these two people that I helped bring into the world, and if I forgo that, if I forsake that, that then is a consequence onto me spiritually and morally and mentally. So yes, this, this is about things that are bigger than ourselves. And being a father, I definitely feel that.”

Charles Grant on finding the humanity in Scrooge: “ Who is this person, and what if he was closer to who we are, and how did he get here? And what has he given up  and his capacity for change? That’s something that I’ve also been thinking about at this moment that no matter how far gone we are, no matter what is going on in the world around us or in our lives with our own traumas or histories or triggers, there’s always the possibility for change and the ripple effect of community.”

Charles Grant  on the value of Portland Playhouse’s Apprenticeship Program: “I was trying to figure out my next steps after graduation. And for me, there were so many benefits to doing this program, the networking and connection. I was like, I’m gonna do this 10-month apprenticeship and then I’m going to New York, Peace out. But there was, and is such an amazing community here, and I think it’s a testament that La’Tevin and I were different years and we’ve been able to continue to work together, collaborate, although this is our first official show with me as director and La’Tevin as actor, but we’ve shared so many spaces together as artists and particularly as Black artists.”

Sponsor

La’Tevin Alexander’s opportunities and community with the program: “And for some people back in the day to say that it’s more expensive (to train artists), it might be more expensive upfront, but if you then look five years down the line, you go, oh wow. We have created an entire army of actors and designers and artisans that are really Broadway level, that are ready for whatever the big leagues.”

A Christmas Carol

• Where: Portland Playhouse, 602 N.E. Prescott St., Portland
• Dates: November 25-December 31, 2025
• By: Charles Dickens
• Stage adaptation and original lyrics: By Rick Lombardo
• Original Music: By Anna Lackaff and Rick Lombardo
• Music Arrangements: By Anna Lackaff
• Director: Charles Grant
• Music Director: DeReau K. Farrar

Tickets

• Regular: $59.95-$69.95.
• BIPOC performances: Pay what you wish, starting at $5
• CARE (Community Access Reaching Everyone) tickets: $25
• Industry rush tickets: (all performances) $10
• Arts for All tickets: (all performances) $5
• To buy tickets, and more information: https://portlandplayhouse.org/