A CHRISTMAS CAROL Writing Contest

In the spirit of literacy...

The Program:

Launched in 1989, our annual A Christmas Carol Writing Contest is a literacy program open to all Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students in grades six, seven and eight. Every year, students participate by writing original stories, songs and poems inspired by the timeless themes in Dickens’ classic tale. Over 1,500 students from 25+ CMSD schools submit entries to the contest each season!

• Each school is allowed to submit one winner per grade level to the Great Lakes Theater Education Department, and those essays are adjudicated by a panel of local educators, artists, and community members.
• From those entries, six grand prize winners are chosen, two per grade level. Grand Prize winners also receive free tickets to A Christmas Carol, and several additional special prizes.
• All participating students receive admission to a special student matinee performance of the play, exclusively for a CMSD audience, with tickets and transportation provided in part by the School District.
• At the conclusion of this special matinee, school winners are brought up on stage, awarded A Christmas Carol t-shirts, meet members of the acting company, and receive special recognition - and thunderous applause - from their peers and teachers.
• Great Lakes Theater’s A Christmas Carol Writing Contest aligns with teaching curricula and state standards.
• Writing contest guidelines (available in August) includes discussion questions, writing prompts and suggested activities to help prepare teachers and students for the writing contest.

A Christmas Carol Writing Contest Grand Prize Stories Booklet (2025) 

For more information, contact:

David Hansen, Education Outreach Associate
(216) 453-4444

Email David

"A Christmas Carol" Writing Contest Winners | 2025

Check out this slideshow of past winners!

Sponsors

And more than 400 individual donors...