Scrooge of Christmas Present

This year, we celebrate Cork Ramer, who returns as Scrooge for the current production of A Christmas Carol. While this marks only his third year portraying the iconic character on the Mainstage, Cork’s connection to the show runs deep, stretching back to 1988. That year, he joined the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s touring production, traveling across the Midwest and multiple times to the West Coast, including three trips to Alaska. The tour life was exhilarating, though by 2006, Cork stepped away from touring. Motels and buses had lost their glamour, and, as he jokes, he was “becoming as mean as Scrooge himself.“

Cork describes the honor of returning to the role as both a challenge and a joy. “A Christmas Carol is part of so many family traditions here in Omaha,” he shares. “I discovered while touring that it was a holiday tradition for thousands of families across the nation. Being part of a family holiday tradition is daunting, and yet it’s a grand honor.”

Beyond the stage, Cork has forged lifelong friendships through the production. His wife, he says, became “as big a part of this show as any actor or technician,” dedicating months of every Midwest tour to baking holiday treats for the cast, crew, and orchestra, decorating his dressing room, and sharing her warmth even with local theatre crews along the way. It’s these personal touches, Cork reflects, that make A Christmas Carol feel like more than a show. It’s a family, a community, and a shared experience that extends far beyond the stage.

Over the years, Cork has accumulated countless memories that highlight the magic of the production. On his first tour in Cheboygan, Michigan, he discovered the town had embraced the show in every shop window along the main street. When the diner staff learned who he was, he was treated to a complimentary breakfast, a moment that made him feel like a star. Years later, on his farewell tour, he received one of the most moving experiences of his life in Columbus, Ohio. Fans who had attended his very first show there returned year after year, bringing the next generation of audience members to see him perform before his retirement. “My heart swells just recalling that moment,” Cork remembers.

For Cork, A Christmas Carol is more than a holiday production. It’s a defining part of his career and his life; a source of joy, camaraderie, and creative challenge. Returning to the role of Scrooge, he continues a legacy of storytelling, bringing laughter, reflection, and the spirit of the season to audiences year after year.