We Tell The Story: A Christmas Carol

"Through the Years

I'll Recall This Day

When I've Finally Found My Way

To a Place Called Home"

Based on the beloved Charles Dickens novel, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, of course, tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bad-tempered miser who learns the value of love and family after he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. The Lynn Ahrens/Alan Menken musical version premiered at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on December 1, 1994, and was an annual tradition for ten years. In addition to Ahrens and Menken, the top notch production team for the stage show included choreography by Susan Stroman; lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer; sets by Tony Walton, and costumes by William Ivey Long. Over the years, Scrooge wasbeen played by Walter Charles, Terrence Mann, Roddy McDowall, and even Roger Daltrey! In the 10th and final year, Scrooge was portrayed by Jim Dale. The show played its final performance on December 27, 2003 to a packed and enthusiastic audience. In place of a typical "bio" in the Playbill for the last season, Lynn wrote the following poem:

THANK YOU FOR TEN GLORIOUS YEARS OF
Singing angels, dancing fruits
Drums and horns and strings and flutes
Raised batons and rattling chains
Spinning fiddlers, tapping canes
Shaking earth and shifting lights
Carrot noses, starry nights,
Ragged hags and spiffy swells
Striking clocks and tolling bells
London streets and eerie graves
Grannies, nannies, urchins, knaves
Gloomy hearses(and of couse,
Those who cleaned behind the horse!)
Leaping poets, dancing bones
Gorgeous voices, ghostly moans
Every hop and prop and drop
(and Mike's name upon a shop!)
Thanks for every flake of snow
Every Scrooge who stole the show
Every singer, dancer, ghost
Every teardrop, every toast
People offstage, people on
Those still with us, those now gone
Nothing could have been more fun
Yes, God Bless Us, Every One.

On November 28th, 2004, the TV movie version of "A Christmas Carol : The Musical" premiered on NBC, with Kelsey Grammer in the title role

Cast and Creative Team for the Hallmark Entertainment TV Movie

Creative Team

Teleplay & Lyrics : Lynn Ahrens

Music: Alan Menken

Direction: Arthur Allan Seidelman

Choreography: Dan Siretta

Cast

Ebenezer Scrooge-- Kelsey Grammer

Marley's Ghost/ Middle Aged Marley-- Jason Alexander

Ghost of Christmas Past/ Lamplighter-- Jane Krakowski

Ghost of Christmas Present/Sandwich Board Man-- Jesse L. Martin

Ghost of Christmas Future/Blind Old Hag-- Geraldine Chaplin

Scrooge's Mother-- Ruthie Henshall

Emily-- Jennifer Love Hewitt

Bob Cratchit-- Edward Gower

Tiny Tim-- Jacob Moriarity

Fred Anderson-- Julian Ovendon

Mrs. Cratchit-- Linzi Hateley

Based on the Madison Square Garden stage production. Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Co-book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens. Original choreography by Susan Stroman. Originally directed by Mike Ockrent