This year the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, located in Montgomery just off the Eastern Blvd., is going into its 20th season. The people of the state of Alabama, and, especially the areas surrounding Montgomery County, are very fortunate to have such a treasure as ASF sitting at their back door.

This Christmas season, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival is hosting another production of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, &#8220A Christmas Carol,” which is playing on the Festival Stage. Scrooge comes to life onstage as he meets with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas yet to come. The special effects and lighting are amazing and a wonder to behold.

In the Octagon Theatre, which seats 225, ASF presents two of O. Henry's short-story classics, &#8220The Gift of the Magi” and &#8220The Last Leaf.”

Even though it is not permitted, patrons can sit so close to the stage, they can reach out and touch the actors.

After a performance on the Festival Stage, stageside chats are held with two of the performers from the night's show. A question and answer session brings a real-life touch to the world of theatre.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival also hosts backstage tours as well as lectures where different literary and artistic topics of discussions are held during &#8220Theatre in the Mind.”

Just as we feel the Greenville Arts Council stage shows are an excellent way to entertain your family, we also highly recommend you attend one of the ASF shows this Christmas season. The Christmas spirit is in the hearts and minds of all of us, and these shows help reaffirm why this is such a special time of year.