La Jolla Playhouse’s New Spin on ‘A Christmas Carol’ Puts UC San Diego Talent in the Spotlight

Running through Dec. 15, the play was written by award-winning playwright and UC San Diego MFA alumna Anna Ouyang Moench and helmed by Tony-nominated director Les Waters—the former head of UC San Diego’s MFA Directing Program. It’s described as both a love letter to theatre and a poignant meditation on work, sacrifice and ambition.

“For years, we’ve been searching for the perfect end-of-year show befitting the Playhouse’s style, and I’m overjoyed we finally found it in Anna Ouyang Moench’s hilarious antidote to a perennial holiday classic,” said Christopher Ashley, Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse, in a recent press release. “This sly twist on Dickens’ famed tale lets audiences in on the backstage world of the theatre, all while exploring the choices and compromises we all make as we progress through life."

Set in the green room of a small regional theatre, “Your Local Theater Presents…” stars Miles G. Jackson as Eddie, a young Juilliard-trained actor with big dreams, ­as he navigates his career through the years. From playing Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, as a bright-eyed newcomer to aging into roles like Bob Cratchit and eventually Scrooge, Eddie’s journey mirrors the cyclical nature of annual theatrical productions—and the ups and downs of life itself.

“Acting is a field that offers a lot in the ‘joy department’ and a lot in the ‘dreams department,’ but isn’t necessarily the most financially stable or predictable career you could choose,” explained Moench, who earned her MFA in playwriting from UC San Diego in 2018. “I find that all to be really interesting, and a lot of that made its way into this play. But I also hope it is a universal story, because there are elements that apply to all kinds of workplaces and jobs.”

The play’s layered humor and heartfelt reflections on the sacrifices required in creative professions are deeply personal for Moench, whose own experiences and observations inspired much of the script. She’s an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter whose works include “Man of God,” “Birds of North America” and “Mothers.” Among her many accolades, Moench received two Writers Guild of America Awards in 2023 for her work on the critically acclaimed series “Severance” (Apple TV+).

Waters, who has directed six productions at La Jolla Playhouse, was immediately captivated by the script’s honesty and humor.

“Working on something about your own profession—and that’s very accurate about your own profession—is both enjoyable and slightly vulnerable,” Waters shared. “You can’t really hide from it.” His nuanced direction balances the play’s meta-theatrical elements, where actors play the roles of actors, creating a production that feels both playful and deeply profound.

The ensemble cast portrays a rich array of characters, each adding depth and complexity to the production. Oliver, played by Marco Barricelli—a professor of acting in UC San Diego’s Department of Theatre and Dance—is a veteran actor whose grandiose portrayal of Scrooge conceals his inner struggles. Rounding out the cast are Juliet Brett, Tony Larkin, Maria Elena Ramirez and Xavier J. Bush, whose characters-playing-characters highlight themes of ambition, identity and compromise.

Barricelli noted the personal resonance of the play: “When I first read this play, I thought, ‘Oh my god, my life is a joke!’” he said with a laugh, adding, “Anna has captured things that all actors go through.”

As an acting professor, Barricelli balances the challenges of teaching and performing, calling it “both wonderful and terrifying at the same time” that his students may sit in the audience and see his work. “When I’m teaching, I’m talking about an ideal, and with my students I’m very careful to say, ‘This is something I’m still struggling with myself as an actor,’” he explained.

UC San Diego’s Department of Theatre and Dance is among the best in the world, with its MFA program recently ranked ninth globally and best in the west by The Hollywood Reporter. The department’s partnership with La Jolla Playhouse offers unique career training opportunities, providing students hands-on experience with full-scale productions and direct mentorship from leading professionals. One such collaboration includes lighting designer Via Huang, a current UC San Diego MFA student doing their residency on this production. What’s more, faculty members like Barricelli frequently work with the Playhouse as actors, directors, designers and more.

Moench herself credits the MFA program for shaping her as a playwright. “I had wonderful professors who encouraged us to look at ideas from every angle, much like the facets of a diamond,” she said, recalling advice from UC Distinguished Professor of Playwriting Naomi Iizuka. “This program is special because of the quality of the teaching and the practical application. We got to have full productions of the new plays that we wrote every year. Shortening that time between having an idea and seeing it on its feet was invaluable.”

The partnership between UC San Diego and La Jolla Playhouse underscores the university’s growing reputation as a leading destination for arts and culture in the region. Through programs like the Chancellor’s Arts Initiative, known as ArtsConnect,, the campus is activating its resources to provide dynamic opportunities for students, faculty and the community. From experimental theatre productions to bold art exhibitions, UC San Diego positions itself as a vibrant hub for creative expression.

Moench’s “Your Local Theatre Presents: A Christmas Carol, By Charles Dickens, Again,” epitomizes the synergy between the university and La Jolla Playhouse. It’s a play that celebrates the art of theatre-making while highlighting the very human stories that exist behind the curtain.

Reflecting on the value of proximity to La Jolla Playhouse for UC San Diego students, Barricelli noted, “If nothing else, you get to watch professionals fail and succeed—and see how they deal with that. That’s a lesson you can’t learn in a classroom."