CHW Productions' A Christmas Carol in 60 Minutes Sets December Run at Hollywood's New Hobgoblin Playhouse

Casting is underway for a lean, modern theatrical adaptation of one of the most enduring stories in the English language. CHW Productions has announced A Christmas Carol in 60 Minutes, a 60-minute reimagining of Charles Dickens' beloved classic, set to run at The New Hobgoblin Playhouse in Hollywood, California from December 11 through December 20, 2026. With rehearsals scheduled to begin December 8, the production's timeline is tight by design, and the casting process is happening now, making this a live opportunity for actors and theatrical crew actively looking toward the holiday season.

The production is directed and cast by Colleen Hammond Whitmore, with the script written by John Whitmore. The pairing of director and writer suggests a close creative partnership, and the fact that Colleen is handling casting duties herself is worth noting for actors pursuing the project. This is not a production where your submission will pass through multiple layers of intermediaries before reaching the decision-maker. If you are right for a role, you are pitching directly to the person who will put you in the room. The adaptation centers on Ebenezer Scrooge, here described as a cold and greedy landlord rather than the traditional businessman, a subtle but telling modernization that hints at the production's intent to find fresh relevance in a familiar story. The supernatural framework remains intact, with four spirits guiding Scrooge through his transformation over a single night.

CHW Productions is the producing entity behind the project. As a boutique production company, CHW appears to be working at an intimate, independent scale, which is consistent with the venue choice and the compressed 10-day performance run. Productions of this size and structure often operate with a close-knit team where individual crew members carry significant creative responsibility. For theatrical professionals who prefer environments where their contributions are visible and valued rather than absorbed into a large departmental hierarchy, this kind of production can be especially rewarding. Budget details have not been publicly disclosed, but the scale and format point toward a mid-to-low budget theatrical production befitting an independent holiday run.

The venue is The New Hobgoblin Playhouse, located in Hollywood, California. Hollywood and the broader Los Angeles theatrical ecosystem are home to a dense and highly skilled pool of stage actors, designers, and technicians, many of whom move fluidly between film, television, and live performance work. The Hobgoblin has established itself as a home for intimate and accessible theatrical storytelling, and a 60-minute format is well suited to its scale. The Hollywood location also means proximity to Los Angeles' full spectrum of theatrical support resources, from prop houses to costume rental facilities, which is a practical advantage for any production team working efficiently on a compressed budget. For local actors and crew, this production would not require relocation, and the brief rehearsal-to-performance window of roughly two weeks means scheduling conflicts should be relatively contained.

The 60-minute runtime and 10-day run signal a production built for accessibility and efficiency. This is not a sprawling holiday spectacular with a large ensemble and elaborate scene changes. Expect a focused cast, a versatile design approach that likely leans on atmosphere and performance rather than technical complexity, and a creative team that values storytelling economy. That said, the holiday season and the Dickens source material still call for a production that feels fully realized, which means the design team, however small, will need to deliver something evocative and complete within real constraints. Roles most likely being cast now would include Scrooge across various ages, the four spirits, and supporting ensemble characters including the Cratchit family, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and various townspeople. Theatrical stage managers, lighting designers, sound designers, and costume coordinators are also likely being brought on in the coming months as the production moves deeper into pre-production.

For anyone actively pursuing theatrical work in the Los Angeles area this coming holiday season, this is a production worth getting in front of now. Full casting and production contact details, including the production office, submission guidelines, and scheduling information, are available in the complete listing on ProductionList.com. The window between now and the December 8 rehearsal start is generous enough to plan your approach thoughtfully, but casting is already in motion, so there is no reason to wait.

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