I am delighted that my co-adapation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is being remounted again this year at Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, and that my good friend Jed Diamond will once again play Scrooge. I co-wrote this version with Joe Hanreddy at Milwaukee Rep back in the 90's, and co-directed the first production with Joe in Milwaukee's gorgeous Pabst Theatre. Jim Pickering played Scrooge that first year. Then in 2002, I directed it the Rep production with Jon Daly as Scrooge. In 2007, I came down to Clarence Brown and directed a newly designed production there with Jed Diamond as Scrooge. He was wonderful and we had great chemistry working together. I returned the following year and Jed played Scrooge again. I returned for three more years and directed a few different actors in the role. Then the theatre moved on to another adaptation.
However, about six years ago, partly due to public demand, they decided to bring back our version in a brand new production. It ran for several years until 2020 when Covid hit, and everything stopped. But now they're remounting it, which is really exciting. I won't get down to Knoxville to see it , but I'm thrilled to have it produced again and to know that Jed is playing Scrooge, and he's written me to say, "We are selling at the highest rate we have ever sold anything. It’s likely the whole run will sell out. I certainly hope it will be as successful as it was in previous years. The audience here seems to need this tale, and to return to the theatre."
