Live Orchestra Highlights MTC's All-Ages Production Of 'A Christmas Carol'

Moorestown, NJ -- Theatergoers will travel back to the 19th Century to get into the holiday spirit, and the William Allen Middle School is their portal.

The Moorestown Theater Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol, The Musical” begins an eight-performance run on Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. at the middle school, 801 North Stanwick Road in Moorestown.A 13-piece live orchestra punctuates what Artistic Director Mark Morgan calls “one of the greatest stories ever put to music.”

The show's score was composed by Alan Menken, who has also composed music for “Beauty and The Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Little Shop Of Horrors,” among other shows. Lynn Ahrens (Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical, etc.) wrote the lyrics.

The 55-person cast includes performers age 7 to 79, split into two casts. Moorestown Theater Company's previous production of the show was an all-kids show. The actor who played Scrooge in that show is one of six children performing in this year's edition.

The production adapts Charles Dickens’s classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, whose “bah humbug” attitude toward Christmas is turned upside down by a visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

The theater at the middle school includes comfortable, cushioned theater-style seating and is handicapped accessible. Parking is free.

Show times are as follows:

First weekend (Mark and Maxine Pinzur play Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig)

• Friday, December 9 • 7 PM • ‘Black’ Cast
• Saturday, December 10 • 2 PM • ‘Black’ Cast
• Saturday, December 10 • 7 PM • ‘Gold’ Cast
• Sunday, December 11 • 2 PM • ‘Gold’ Cast

Second weekend (Rick and Jocelyn Williams play Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig)

• Saturday, December 17 • 2 PM • ‘Gold’ Cast
• Saturday, December 17 • 7 PM • ‘Black’ Cast
• Sunday, December 18 • 2 PM • ‘Black’ Cast
• Sunday, December 18 • 7 PM • ‘Gold’ Cast

All tickets are reserved, and can be purchased online at www.MoorestownTheaterCompany.org, or at the door in the lobby 60 minutes before curtain time.

The theater will open 30 minutes before curtain time.

Call MTC at 856-778-8357 with questions or for group rates.

The attached image was provided by the Moorestown Theater Company (Credit: Annette DeRosa): Steve Gionta plays Scrooge in both casts. Tommy Kerwick plays Tiny Tim in the Black Cast, and David Aberant plays Tiny Tim in the Gold Cast.