While VSC audiences have been enchanted by the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation for decades, few realize that the story resonates more deeply with the staff that work in the Wells Theatre. Imagine the Ghost of Christmas Past joined by an ethereal audience of spirits who once tread these same boards—whispering from the balcony, lingering in the wings, or casting faint shadows under the stage lights.

This holiday season, the ghosts of A Merry Little Christmas Carol aren’t limited to Scrooge’s spectral visitors. They are accompanied by the restless spirits that call the Wells their home—a literal ghostly chorus blending the fictional with the paranormal. Be on the lookout for the actors portraying these real-life specters as you watch Dickens’s timeless classic.

The Man in the Top Hat
Often seen in the boxes, VSC staff report seeing a tall man in a top hat watching the performance. Legend has it that it might be the architect of The New Wells Theatre who had his daughter’s face sculpted into one of the faces in the boxes.

The Lady in White
Seen most often in the mezzanine, VSC staff report a woman dressed in all-white, and some report hearing singing.

Boots
A child with a fun loving, mischievous spirit is said to run back and forth in the third balcony, and has lended a hand to the costuming department a time or two.

Ned, the Flyman
According to lore, mischievous Ned lives in the fly loft of the theater ever since peeking over the rails to see down a chorus girl’s dress and accidentally hanging himself in the rigging ropes

While theatre patrons and VSC staff have shared many reports of ghostly encounters through the years, none of these spirits seem to have a negative presence. Perhaps they just love the theatre as much as we do!