PENDLETON — Pendleton Community Public Library is ready to play host to a holiday classic — with a twist.
Minnetrista Theatre is set to present “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the library, 595 E. Water St., Pendleton.
The twist to the show is it will be an adaptation that runs about 45 minutes.
Minnetrista, a museum and cultural center in Muncie, contacted Sara Hauser, who works in programming at the Pendleton library, about performing the show at the library.
Hauser said she was familiar with the museum and its events and thought a local show would be fun.
“I’m always impressed by the quality of their programming, so I knew this was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up,” Hauser said.
The library views the arts as important to a community, Hauser said; in the past it has arranged for performances by storytellers, musical groups and more.
Minnetrista ties its performance of “A Christmas Carol” to local history.
In 1925, Ball Brothers Co. — the glass jar company once headquartered in Muncie — had an edition of the Dickens story designed and printed as a gift for friends, family and employees, library leaders said.
George Ball worked with designer Richard Ellis out of New York City to have the book produced.
The company tucked a note inside the cover of each book that read, “Dickens’ Christmas Carol has been called the ‘greatest little book in the world.’ We have had this special edition printed and are sending you a copy. You have read it before? Yes? Well, read it again! Read it out loud with all the family around. Read it every year before Christmas. We wish you a very, very Merry Christmas, and, as Tiny Tim says, ‘God bless us, every one,’ Ball Brothers Company, Christmas 1925.”
Library leaders said they hope the show will inspire people to read the book together around the holiday season and maybe even create their own family version of the story.
“It’s an added bonus if it inspires them to pick up the classic tale,” Hauser said.
Theater also ties into other library programming. This summer, the library conducted a drama day camp for children, and “we plan to hold another camp over spring break,” Hauser said.
But for now, it’s all about the holiday season with the presentation of a Christmas classic.
“A Christmas Carol” will be open to the first 100 people who show up.
There will be no admission charge.