In ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Sally Vahle Has Played Nearly Every Role
‘A Christmas Carol’ Returns With Its Star Actress
For more than thirty years, Sally Vahle has taken on the roles of Scrooge, the spirits, and various other characters in the Dallas Theater Center's yearly adaptation of the Dickens classic.
December 24, 2024, 5:01 AM Eastern Time
Sally Nystuen Vahle makes a dramatic entrance into “A Christmas Carol,” emerging from a dark and nightmarish place beneath Ebenezer Scrooge's bed. She appears as a tortured spirit, her blood-red hands clawing at the air, before being pulled back into agony by the chains that keep her captive.
This year's character is Marley, Scrooge's former business partner who has since passed away and now roams the world as a restless spirit, cursed by his avaricious life choices.
Vahle could easily take on any of the other roles in the production, many of which she has played at the Dallas Theater Center during her impressive 33-season career (taking breaks for parenting, teaching, and a stint in Los Angeles). She began her journey as Belle, the young woman formerly engaged to a not-yet-cold Scrooge. Over the years, she has also embodied characters like Mrs. Cratchit, the clerk's wife, and Mrs. Fezziwig, Scrooge's first boss's wife. Additionally, she has portrayed Scrooge's nephew's wife, her sister, the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghost of Christmas Future, and even served as the narrator.
In 2016, when the theater took the stance that gender shouldn't limit women from taking on the most challenging role in the show, she even portrayed Scrooge.
"I had never considered the story through Scrooge’s eyes," she explained. "It totally transformed my understanding of the narrative. I came to realize that this character truly deserves compassion and the opportunity to start anew, not only from others but also from himself."
This is her third attempt at Marley, and her final take on "A Christmas Carol," at least for the time being. She and her husband, who used to be an actor and has also taken part in the holiday story before switching careers to nursing, are moving to Grand Marais, Minnesota. They will be living in a house that used to belong to Vahle’s parents.
Vahle, 59, is one of numerous American actors for whom "A Christmas Carol" serves as a common thread in an otherwise diverse career. She has taken on iconic roles like Medea and Clytemnestra, as well as significant parts in productions like "Cabaret" and "Steel Magnolias." Yet, every winter, she returns to Dickens' classic. This performance—more accurately, these performances, since there's no single standard adaptation of the novella—has become a vital part of regional theater, providing essential financial support much like how "The Nutcracker" supports many ballet companies.
“I'm so grateful for ‘A Christmas Carol,’” remarked Kevin Moriarty, the executive director of the Dallas Theater Center, which originally performed the play in 1969 and has included it in their seasonal lineup every year since 1979. “If I had my way, I’d want to celebrate Christmas for 11 months out of the year,” Moriarty continued, “because it would address all the challenges facing American theater.”
Vahle hadn't encountered "A Christmas Carol" until she started her journey as an actress. Growing up in Menomonie, Wisconsin, a college town in the Midwest, she first stepped onto the stage as a child in a community theater version of "South Pacific." She pursued a degree in theater at the University of Minnesota Duluth, later moved to Texas for her graduate studies at Southern Methodist University, and ultimately settled in Dallas. In 1990, she and a group of her classmates established the small yet dedicated Kitchen Dog Theater.
She attended Dallas Theater Center's production of "A Christmas Carol" several times before becoming a part of the cast in 1992. In this role, she contributed to the telling of the timeless tale about a cold-hearted and greedy entrepreneur who transforms into a kind and generous person after experiencing a series of Christmas Eve visits that reveal the effects of his actions.
"It really highlights the essence of human nature and the pitfalls we encounter, showcasing how we sometimes distance ourselves from our true selves and from others," Vahle mentioned. "It's amusing how certain themes remain constant over time — the lessons are just as applicable today as they were when Dickens first released that tale."
This year's 90-minute show will feature 31 regular performances along with eight matinee shows for students.
“It has a solid foundation,” remarked Moriarty, the creator of his theater's adaptation. “Dickens provides vividly detailed characters with distinct personalities, a straightforward and impactful character journey, all while incorporating elements of spectacle. Any rendition of A Christmas Carol needs to feature four ghosts and the element of time travel.”
Vahle began her journey in acting when she first participated in the show. Today, she is a professor of acting at the University of North Texas, an experienced member of the Dallas Theater Center's acting team, and a proud mother of two young adult daughters.
“My feelings about the show have really evolved as I've grown older and experienced more in life," she stated. "Certain aspects of it resonate with me in a different way now.”
During certain years when she wasn't acting, she took on the role of a dialect coach for the production. In the years she portrayed Marley, she also took on the character of Old Joe, a shady figure in one of Scrooge's disturbing dreams.
"I've watched her perform all around since I was five," shared Annabelle Bragalone, one of the guests at this year's event. "She brings something new each time — it's incredible."
Vahle expressed that playing Scrooge was not only her favorite role but also the most unforgettable for her, especially since she never imagined it would come to fruition. “I was, to be honest, a bit anxious that this could be the year when the Dallas Theater Center's rendition of ‘A Christmas Carol’ wouldn't succeed — that audiences might shy away from it because they couldn't wrap their heads around a female Scrooge. Fortunately, the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
She eventually realized that Scrooge isn’t as unique as she first thought. “Scrooge’s solitary situation reveals a lot — he’s isolated himself from the rest of the world, driven by greed, and obsessively focused not on connecting with people but on accumulating wealth and accomplishing tasks.”
"As I've gone through life over the years," she continued, "I've increasingly noticed how the world mirrors Scrooge's character and the way he operates."
In the thirty-plus years of performing “A Christmas Carol,” there have certainly been some challenges. There were times when the stage pieces collided or didn’t function as expected. There was even a performance when, in her role as Scrooge, she overlooked the line that indicated the rest of the cast could exit. However, there were also delightful surprises, such as the night the power went out, halting the performance, and the cast came together with the audience to sing Christmas carols in the dark.
She mentioned that the toughest part of performing 'Christmas Carol' repeatedly is the variations in each adaptation and the different ways the lines are delivered. “When I hear it, I notice so many different interpretations of the lines. I can still recall all of Belle's dialogue, but they aren't delivering it the same way I used to, which makes it really funny.”
Once she moves, she envisions auditioning for various performances, both live and in films, across the nation. Regarding "A Christmas Carol," she might explore the ongoing show at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis or look for a closer option. Perhaps she'll even take the reins and direct a production someday.
"What really strikes me is the concept of seeing someone revisit and relive parts of their life that they may have overlooked," she shared in relation to "A Christmas Carol." "It allows for personal memories and moments of introspection."
