★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
Full disclosure up front: Director KéLeb Beauchamp is a friend and coworker of mine. That said, I brought my mother with me to Highview Arts Center in Louisville, and we both walked out genuinely moved, impressed, and already talking about coming back next year.
Highview Arts Center is exactly the kind of place that reminds you why live theater matters. It is a community driven space in South Louisville that opened its doors in 2023, and it has the feel of a neighborhood gem that is building something special.
Before the curtain even went up, the theater was already telling a story
One of the coolest surprises happened the moment we arrived. Highview is an intimate venue, and I immediately noticed a small stage set up in the lobby and will call area. Actors who would later appear in the production were already in character, performing right there as people came in.
It set the tone perfectly: this was not a show you watch from a distance. This was a show you step into.
A smart, emotional framing that hooked me instantly
This version of A Christmas Carol starts with a modern day family celebrating Christmas while still grieving the recent loss of their grandmother, who used to read to them. That premise hit hard in the best way. It made the story personal immediately, and it pulled me in from the first moments because it felt real.
And Michael Harris, who plays Grandpa and Scrooge, absolutely nailed that emotional foundation. He communicated grief and heaviness in a way that did not feel performative. It felt lived in. That was such a powerful parallel to Scrooge himself, a man shaped by loss, disconnection, and bitterness. Michael made that connection feel earned, not forced.
Simple set design, big immersion
I loved the set. It was simple, practical, and incredibly effective, which is harder to pull off than people realize. Scene changes stayed smooth, and the space remained immersive without needing flashy distractions.
That fits Highview’s black box style beautifully, where the focus stays on storytelling and performance.
Costumes that showed commitment and creativity
The costumes were strong across the board, and two details stood out to me:
Michael Harris (Scrooge) used his real facial hair and actually cut it in a classic Scrooge style to boost authenticity. That kind of commitment makes a difference because you can feel when an actor fully inhabits a role.
The Ghost of Christmas Future, played by Jude Stivers, looked massive and intimidating in a way that felt theatrical and alive. It was not some stiff, robotic look. It felt like a presence in the room.
Also, huge credit to the costume team: Regina Harris (Costume Designer) and Kanetha Dorsey (Costume Assistant). The choices supported the world of the play instead of competing with it.
Pacing that never dragged and never rushed
The pacing was one of the biggest strengths of the whole production. Every scene landed when it needed to. Nothing overstayed its welcome, and nothing felt skipped. Lines were delivered in a believable way, so even when things turned humorous or haunting, it stayed grounded.
That balance is what makes A Christmas Carol work, and this production understood it.
A theater that clearly cares about accessibility
One thing I respected a lot: the night we attended, the cast, crew, and theater made thoughtful adjustments to sensory elements to help audience members on the spectrum enjoy the show without being overwhelmed, and they provided a sensory safe space as an option if anyone needed it.
Highview has promoted sensory friendly performances before, and it shows they are serious about making theater welcoming to more people.
They used the room like a playground in the best way
Because the theater is smaller and more intimate, the cast really used the full space. One of my favorite recurring moments was how the ghosts, with the exception of Future for obvious mobility and costume limitations, escorted Scrooge through the audience like they were physically guiding him from place to place. It made you feel like you were traveling with him.
That is the kind of staging choice you can only do well in a room like this, and it was used perfectly.
The Ghost of Christmas Present stole the show for me
My personal favorite performance of the night was Brooke Spatol as the Ghost of Christmas Present. She brought exactly the right mix of haunting energy and humor, with an attitude that felt true to the story. It was entertaining, unsettling, and weirdly warm all at once, which is exactly what that character should be.
An intermission moment I will not forget
During intermission, Morgan Schussler-Williams, who plays Mom (and also Mrs. Fezzywig and CharWoman), performed on that small lobby stage again, and it was so emotionally convincing that an audience member became genuinely concerned and embraced her. That does not happen unless a performance feels real.
Tiny Tim was genuinely believable
Ronan Daniels, who plays Tiny Tim (along with multiple other roles), delivered a performance that felt honest and human. Especially knowing he is a newer actor, that stood out. There was nothing forced about it. It simply worked.
The best compliment I can give: I never got confused
A remarkable thing about this production is how many cast members played multiple characters. In lesser shows, that can get muddy fast. Here, it never did. Each actor separated their roles so clearly through voice, physicality, and energy that I always saw the character, not the costume change.
That level of clarity takes skill, and this cast had it.
Final thoughts
This is officially my favorite version of A Christmas Carol, and I mean that sincerely. It was emotional, funny, haunting, accessible, creative, and deeply human. I am genuinely looking forward to making it part of my yearly Christmas season.
If you are in Louisville and you want a holiday show that feels intimate and meaningful, Highview Arts Center proved this season that they are doing something special and worth making a yearly tradition.