There are dozens of holiday plays that many people incorporate into their winter traditions, including Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol.” Recently, the Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) 2029 freshman class was given the opportunity to see “A Christmas Carol” at the Portland Stage due to a generous grant from Educate Boothbay and St. Columba/Winslow.

This production of “A Christmas Carol” had both professional and student actors performing. In an interview with director Michael Dix Thomas, he mentions how valuable these acting experiences are to young people, stating, “it’s a great way to learn about teamwork and collaborative creation.” He connects our modern experience of the difficult times people are going through now to what we see in the play: “We live in a world with all these people and we need to recognize them.”

The specific production BRHS attended was a matinee exclusively for high school students and their teachers. As such, there was an after-production interview where cast members answered questions. Many people were curious about their favorite/least favorite things about the play as well as questions about the acting itself. The actors responded to the questions and added interesting facts about the play in their responses. One of the most interesting facts was about the set. Certain items like the bed were used in the first productions of “A Christmas Carol” by this theater.

The students talked about how grateful they were to get the opportunity to see the play and how they bonded more with their classmates. “It helped our whole class see what new experiences look like. We spent time together and bonded.” The BRHS freshman class has had few opportunities to see live stage performances before, so this was a unique and valuable experience for many students. “We really appreciate [the grant]. It was super helpful,” says one student.

All of the BRHS freshman class is incredibly grateful for the chance to see “A Christmas Carol.” They would like to express their gratitude for the experience to Educate Boothbay and the St. Columba/Winslow bequest. The memory of getting to see a classic Christmas play with their classmates is a memory that will stay with them forever.