On Sunday, December 2 at 2:00 pm in the Ada Paresky Education Center, the Bennington Museum will host one of the special public events connected with the three-week Festival of Trees celebration (Nov 23-Dec 14). In the spirit of this particular season - the year of the Bennington County tree standing proudly in our nation’s capital - the Bare Stages theater company will present "A Christmas Tree" based on a short story by Charles Dickens.

This tale features a Christmas tree - referred to as “the German toy" by the narrator - adorned with brilliant lights and glittering objects including miniature furniture, dolls, and other hand-made objects. Musing on each of the ornaments and presents decorating the tree, the narrator recalls his own childhood. And of course this theatrical version will end with the well-known carol "Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree."

The program will also include an unusual performance of Dickens's classic tale “A Christmas Carol” as interpreted by the Bare Stages troupe and adapted for audience participation by Christopher Berks. The audience will be asked to join in carol singing and to help with the "humbug", "woe is me", motley moans, clock chimes, and the like, concluding of course with Tiny Tim’s “God bless us, every one!”

Admission to the performance is free for members of the Bennington Museum and for children under 18. Admission for adult non-members is $5.

The Bare Stages players are Chris Berks, Lorna Cheriton, Paul Donlon, Mary Laurence, Julia Lyschik, and Heather M. White.