Milwaukee Repertory Theater celebrated the holidays with its 50th anniversary production of A Christmas Carol. In what has become a holiday tradition for me, I once again made the trip north to Milwaukee for this year’s production of the Dickens classic.

One of my favorite parts of seeing A Christmas Carol every year at Milwaukee Rep is seeing little differences. This year, that had a whole new meaning. An August flood destroyed the entire set. In the true spirit of theater and the holiday season, sets and props were recreated with the help of many.

The cast was a mix of old and new. Matt Daniels once again brought his energy to Ebenezer Scrooge. Other returning performers included Mark Corkins (Ghost of Jacob Marley), Reese Madigan (Bob Cratchit), Tami Workentin (Mrs. Fezziwig) and Todd Denning (Ghost of Christmas Present).

At the heart of it was Daniels. I don’t know how many years Daniels has portrayed Scrooge, but his performance was as fresh as ever. Daniels somehow manages to make the miserable, miserly Scrooge sympathetic. Perhaps it is familiarity, but his Scrooge is almost likable even at his worst. This is a credit to the depth and layers Daniels brings to Scrooge.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater – A Christmas Carol photo by Michael Brosilow.

I also give special mention to the younger members of the cast, including Annalise Nordstrom, Lainey Techtmann and Harold Wagner. No matter the size of their parts, these youngsters held their own among the veteran cast.

A Christmas Carol is not about a groundbreaking production. It is simply a timeless, feel-good tale. Once again, Milwaukee Rep delivered it to perfection. That’s the best Christmas gift Milwaukee Rep could give.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater – A Christmas Carol photo by Michael Brosilow.

There are still nine more productions in the 2025–26 season. I definitely plan on seeing Mrs. Christie in April, but I am fairly certain I will return sooner.

— John Wroblewski, online writer