Kim Tenreiro does one-man show of A Christmas Carol. Photo provided by Kim Tenreiro
BY DEB AND TIM SMITH
In an historic church sanctuary, or conference room of a library, before a live audience, a single figure steps into a view. No elaborate sets, no cast of dozens – just one man, armed with nothing but his voice, his memory, and the timeless words of Charles Dickens. As Kim Tenreiro begins his rendition of A Christmas Carol, the audience leans forward, captivated. Ebenezer Scrooge’s gruff bark echoes through the room, followed seamlessly by the gentle lilt of Tiny Tim. Ghosts materialize not through special effects, but through Tenreiro’s masterful shifts in tone, posture, and expression. For over two hours, he embodies more than 30 characters, weaving a spell that transports viewers to Victorian London and back, leaving them pondering redemption long after the final “God bless us, everyone!”
This article was spawned during a couple encounters with Mendon’s Mary Therese Friel Modeling Agency owners Mary Therese (former Miss USA) and Kent Friel. Their enthusiasm for this man’s show, as well as the benevolent use of all proceeds, absolutely left us inspired and feeling like this was a story that the community would enjoy hearing. And the best news is… you still have multiple opportunities to enhance your holiday by taking in the show!
The Friels told us that, “This weekend we had the pleasure of attending Kim Tenreiro’s one-man presentation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. We have to say, we were over-the-moon impressed, with this actor’s talent, tenacity, interpretation and adaptation. He totally took the audience by storm, transporting them (and us), back in time for 2 + hours. He BECAME the character. He was riveting, mesmerizing, enchanting and absolutely flawless.”
Nearly everyone is familiar with the story of A Christmas Carol, and dozens of movie versions have been made over the years. It could also be said that the 182-year run since its publication makes it the most enduring piece of literature ever crafted into various versions of media adaptations.
But, from informal audience polls, only one in four people have actually read the book. Suffice it to say the evocative words of Dickens have their own inherent power and there are scenes that have not made it to film or stage adaptations.
In essence, Tenreiro says he is channeling Dickens himself who was famed for dramatic readings from his works. In fact, Dickens performed twice in Rochester in the winter of 1868. These performances took place on March 10 & March 16, 1868 during Dickens’ American reading tour.
The venue was the old Corinthian Hall which was located adjacent to the current Reynolds Arcade building and razed in 1928. It was the premier lecture hall in the city, and Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony who delivered lectures all across the country said that, “at the time of its erection [it] was the most magnificent auditorium west of the Hudson.”
Tenreiro’s version has played out across upstate New York, as well as in locations ranging from Colorado to Alaska. He’s performed in cozy community halls and grand theaters, all in service of charity and holiday spirit.
Tenreiro, a retired pharmacist turned unlikely thespian, has made this one-man dramatization his personal crusade, raising over $158,000 for local causes since he began performing it more than a decade ago. At 70-something, (he keeps his exact age close to the vest, like any distinguished Victorian gentleman might), Tenreiro shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, as the 2025 holiday season approaches, his schedule is packed with performances that promise to blend Dickensian charm with real-world impact.
Kim Tenreiro’s journey to the stage wasn’t scripted in drama school. Born and raised in New York City, he spent much of his career as a compounding pharmacist in Canandaigua, New York. A self-described “computer whiz” and inventor, Tenreiro also served on the board of Geva Theatre Centre in Rochester, where his passion for the performing arts simmered quietly amid beakers and prescriptions. But it was a trip to Broadway in 1991 that ignited the spark. There, he witnessed Patrick Stewart – yes, Star Trek Captain Picard himself – deliver a solo adaptation of A Christmas Carol. “I was enthralled,” Tenreiro recalls, “Stewart brought the story to life all by himself, using Dickens’ own words. I thought, ‘Why not me?’”
Inspired, Tenreiro dove into the novella, memorizing vast swaths of text. By 2009, he debuted his own version in local venues, blending about two-thirds of Dickens’ original prose with snippets from classic film adaptations for dramatic flair. What started as a personal challenge quickly evolved into a philanthropic powerhouse. “I do it for charities – I don’t charge them anything,” Tenreiro said. “Altruistically, I get something out of the lessons that are in the book.”
As for audiences, Tenreiro feels they gain a new perspective and are exposed to some themes that are missed in the traditional media. Tenreiro asserts there are three ingredients to his shows. Namely, Dickens’ own words, the re-enactment in an intimate setting, and most importantly, the imagination of the audience.
As a value-added element, Tenreiro also provides an optional 35-minute informal prologue during which he talks about Dickens’ life, explorations of where the characters are derived, a bit of history about life in 1843 London, and other backstory information all of which helps to flesh out the audience’s experience.
The Friels also told us, “In his very skilled way, he mastered the storytelling of this beloved Christmas tradition, with excellent timing and talent to rival the best on Broadway these days. He never skipped a beat and received, of course, a lasting, standing, ovation. His beautiful wife, Janet, also deserves accolades for her contribution to the evening, bringing a warm welcome to all (dressed to the nines in period clothing). What a team they make! And best of all, they donate ALL of the proceeds to a local charity that hosts them.”
If we’ve managed to pique your interest, here is the schedule, and contact info, of Tenreiro’s remaining 2025 performances…
Fri., December 12: 7:00-9:30pm
Congregational Church
58 N. Main St, Canandaigua
(Fpodirector@fpocny.org)
Sat., December 13: 2:00-4:30pm
DeLand House
1 E. Church St, Fairport
(info@perintonhistoricalsociety.org
585-223-3989)
Sun., December 14: 2:00-4:30pm
St. Ann’s Home
1500 Portland Ave. Rochester
(cpulver@mystanns.com)
585-697-6320
