A Christmas Carol at the Omaha Community Playhouse has shaped the holiday season for Omaha residents and visitors for 50 years.
The tradition began after a 1975 tornado ripped the roof off the Playhouse. The theater needed a hit to financially recover. Charles Jones, then Playhouse’s artistic director, wrote and staged a new adaptation of the Dickens classic in 1976. The show’s success helped stabilize the Playhouse, and A Christmas Carol turned into one of the longest running holiday shows in the country.
By 1979, the Nebraska Theatre Caravan (formed in 1976) was taking A Christmas Carol on the road, eventually sending three casts nationwide each season. Over four decades, the show reached more than 600 cities in 49 states and four Canadian provinces, introducing more than 3 million people to Omaha’s adaptation.
The 50-year milestone honors the generations of artists and technicians who sustained the tradition, including three actors who portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge on the Mainstage. Their performances gave each era its own voice while preserving Jones’ original 1976 script.
Today A Christmas Carol is a defining part of Omaha’s cultural identity and a seasonal draw for travelers seeking holiday magic. It’s one of many festive experiences that make Omaha a travel-worthy December destination.