Dickens of a production planned in benefit Christmas musical

Performances of a musical adaptation of the holiday story “A Christmas Carol” are set for Dec. 8 to 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction. Audience members are asked to give
to the Community Food Bank.

A Grand Valley director and theater group will present a musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.”

Performances “A Christmas Carol — A Musical” are set for 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 1/2  Road in Grand Junction. For more information about  “A Christmas Carol — A Musical,” visit the Facebook page located at www.bit.ly/ChristmasCarolGJ.

The group will stage the show as a free holiday event for the community. But audience members are asked to make monetary donations to the Community Food Bank.

A cast of more than two dozen adults and children will perform in the production, retelling the Charles Dickens story about the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge.

Joshua James, a local director and author, wrote the script as well as the music and lyrics for the production.

“We wanted to do something to give back to our community,” James said. “In ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Scrooge a stingy and cold-hearted man who despises Christmas discovers the true celebration of the season has everything to do with generosity, family and taking care of your fellow man. This show will no doubt get people into the holiday spirit and hopefully quell some bah humbugers out there.”

“A Christmas Carol — A Musical” first was performed in 2019. Most of the cast will return to reprise their roles in the latest production.

“We had not planned to wait so long to perform this show again. But with the pandemic, our plans were put on hold,” James said. “This cast is excited to get back on stage and dance and sing their hearts out. It’s a labor of love for all of us.”

James, his family and cast members will cover the expenses associated with the production.

“Life is all about helping your fellow man. We hope people will come out to enjoy the performance, take time to reflect on their life and get into the Christmas spirit,” James said.