A Treehouse Christmas Carol Written by Dr. Stephen Lott Based on the novel by Charles Dickens Directed by Austin Holt Performances: December 5-7 and 12-14, 2008 Tickets: $18, $16, $14 12 years and younger get in half price! *A $1 handling fee applies to all tickets sold through Pensacola Little Theatre. Box Office: 432-2042 Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00pm - Sunday Matinees at 2:30pm

Charles Dickens’ beloved tale about a miserly old man visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve. Ebenezer Scrooge’s first night visitor is his former business partner Jacob Marley. Next, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future show Scrooge how things used to be and what he can expect if he doesn’t change his ways. Our version, adapted by Pensacola author, Dr. Stephen Lott, uses enchanting puppetry to bring this classic story to life.

Video Promo created by Barnes West Productions. Archive Video of 2003 production shot by Joe Smith. Click here for more information about this production.
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Director Austin Holt on "A Treehouse Christmas Carol"

"You have this protagonist who is so immediately a scoundral. He's cold and hard-hearted, almost ruthless, and it's easy to dislike him from the get-go. But as the play progresses, we are able to follow Scrooge on his journey. We see the things in his past that have caused him to be the way he is, and we come to think that maybe this guy isn't so bad after all. That maybe he's just had the same disappointments and heartbreaks that the rest of us have had, and that maybe he just got caught in a rut and never got his second chance. And then, as the play progresses, we get to watch how his actions have affected the world around him. His shell begins to crack, and we want him to come around. And then, at the end of the play, we're so happy that this sad, old man has managed to turn his life around so dramatically. In a way, A Christmas Carol makes us reexamine how we behave, and how what we do affects the world around us. None of us wants to be like Scrooge. Not even Scrooge wants to be like Scrooge."

"This adaptation of the story was written about five years ago by Dr. Stephen C. Lott, and it takes a unique spin on the story. The original, period vibe of A Christmas Carol is still intact, but there are some differences. Certain scenes have been rewritten with a brand of one-line humor that appeals to both children and adults. The parts will be performed by people of all ages, from young children to adults. But one of the most outstanding things about A Treehouse Christmas Carol are the puppets. Whereas most of the characters will be performed by people in costume, the ghosts, namely Marley, Past, Present and Future will be portrayed by puppets that range in size from very small to massive. It certainly provides a unique twist to the story, while managing to keep the heart of the tale intact."

About the Playwright

Dr. Stephen C. Lott is a clinical child psychologist, who has been working exclusively with children and teenagers for the past 28 years.  He moved to Pensacola in 1991 to accept a position with Psychological Associates P.A. a highly respected group practice.  He assumed the role of head psychologist for the Child Protection Team in Santa Rosa and Escambia County from 1991 to 2001.  Dr. Lott is also a muralist and sculptor.  His murals can be seen in many private homes and public buildings.  His ceramic sculptures have been exhibited in local galleries, and there is a permanent exhibition of his hand sculpted masks in the Gallery at the Pensacola Cultural Center.   He claims to have been involved with the theatre since the womb as his mother was acting in a play while pregnant with him, however, he did not earn his first official stage credit until the age of five.  Since becoming involved with Pensacola Little Theatre in 1992 he has been honored with 17 awards for acting, set design, scenic art, and direction; including two Vera awards from the Northwest Florida Arts Council.  “A Treehouse Christmas Carol” was the first show that Dr. Lott wrote and directed in 2003.  For his direction of “Peter Pan” in 2006 he was presented a special award for “Outstanding Artistic Vision” and the show was granted the People Choice award for best Treehouse Theatre production of the season. His original play "Siyotanka: The Legend of the Flute," co-written with his colleague Dr. Michael DeMaria, premiered at Pensacola Little Theatre in April, 2008.