STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Brett Moellenberg has a license to be miserable and miserly this Christmas. After all, he’s portraying the crusty misanthrope of Christmas in Laughing Stock Theatre’s presentation of “A Christmas Carol—A Musical.”

“Once a year your brains all shrivel. Once a year you turn to mush,” the world’s most famous Grinch sings of Christmas.

Laughing Stock Theatre present the 80-minute musical of Charles Dickens’ immortal 1843 Christmas tale Friday through Tuesday, Dec. 20-24, at The Argyros.

Bob Cratchit, played by Matt Musgrove in the 2022 production, surveys his family which is scraping by.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Friday through Monday with a matinee at 1 p.m. on Tuesday--Christmas Eve. A special gala celebration will be held before the show from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, with photos with Santa, ornament and cookie decorating, caroling, light appetizers, a chance to write a last-minute letter to Santa and more.

There also will be a raffle with proceeds going towards Laughing Stock.

The enchanting adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale has become a Christmas tradition in the Wood River Valley.

It brings to life the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who discovers the true spirit of Christmas, realizing that his riches are better off being shared for the good of all, through a series of transformative visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Andrew Schiers will reprise his role as Scrooge’s nephew, a cheerful, optimistic man who believes in the goodness of people.

Brett Moellenberg will reprise his role as Scrooge, and many other cast members will reprise their roles from two years ago. This year’s Tiny Tim will be played by two 5-year-olds—the youngest Tiny Tims that have ever taken the stage in Laughing Stock’s versions of the production, said Director Patsy Wygle.

The musical features the music of Tony-nominated composer Mark Waldrop and Dick Gallagher.

There are snatches of familiar Christmas carols like “Deck the Halls,” “I Saw Three Ships” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” But they’re done up in a way you’ve never heard them before. And they’re interspersed between short snatches of songs like the kick dance “Break the Chain,” the jig-like “Fezziwig’s Ball” and the catchy song “Guess Who Kicked the Bucket Last Night?”

Bob Cratchit will sing a ballad about Tiny Tim that often brings tears to people’s eyes. And the musical ends on a heartwarming note as the cast sings “Christmas shines a light to guide us.”

Scrooge, played by Brett Moellenberg, is confronted by a Ghost of Christmas played in 2022 by Ward Loving.

Megan Mahony provides the choreography for the musical, which involves rich costumes originally created by Winkie McCray and Karen Hand. It is set against a Victorian backdrop originally created by Jamey Reynolds and painted by Judy Stoltzfus.

Andrew and Kristal Schiers’ and their children Qwydion and Kjedryn have taken part in the musical several times.

“Our son’s first role was as Young Boy Scrooge,” Kristal Schiers recalled. “It’ makes the season when we do it.”

Patsy Wygle and her late husband Keith Moore first produced the show in Ketchum in 2006. Laughing Stock Theatre staged it every year for a few years, then went to every other year.

Scrooge revisits a past Christmas.

“This will be our thirteenth production,” said Wygle. “I never tire of bringing the timeless story to life and sharing the joy of the season with our community and new generations of children. Our production is a perfect way to create new holiday memories with loved ones.”

For tickets, go to https://www.laughingstocktheater.com/.