“A Christmas Carol,” the classic season story is back in NECC Theater on Dec 8, 9 and 10.

“Every year (it) puts me in the Christmas mood. The carols and theme. So, I love it. It’s so difficult sometimes to get into that mood of holidays and it just does it in 90 minutes,” assured J. Mark Morrison, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character of Charles Dickens’s novel.

When: Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m. / Dec. 9 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. / Dec. 10 at 3:00 p.m.

Where: Chester Hawrylciw Theater, on the third floor of the C-Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus,  100 Elliott St.

“A Christmas Carol” a story written by Dickens in 1843 tell us the story of Scrooge, who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, which at the end, influence the avaricious greedy old man to change into a sympathetic and generous man.

This classic book’s characters will come to life in a special play as it has “so many great lines and quotable moments from the story,” said Kirk Trach who plays Bob Cratchit, the poor but happy loyal clerk.

Another reason this play will boost your Christmas spirit is the NECC play includes special madrigal players who sing traditional carols “a capella which means soprano, alto, tenor, bass. “It’s just voice, not beatboxing,” explained music Professor Alisa Bucchiere who is the Musical Director, and one of the singers.

“Music can transport you. Music has a transformative power, and the music part brings back like we step back into time in the 1880s … The costuming, the set, what all these fantastic characters are brought to life by all these amazing actors and actresses, year after year and some brand new who never have done it before … It’s just magical. I can’t describe it any other way and I look forward to it every year,” said Bucchiere with bright eyes.

“A Christmas Carol” is directed by John Budzyna and produced by Bucchiere  – yes, she is also the producer of this play and has been since 2017.

This show brings joy to the community, gathering NECC faculty, staff, alumni and students and their families and cast nearby. “It’s a great group of people. Everybody’s very supportive and I really enjoy working here with this cast,” said Trach who has been in NECC cast for two years.

Bucchiere added “I love the story. More importantly, I love to tell the story, and even more importantly than that, I love to tell the story with the cast because it’s like family.”

Indeed, several actresses and actors have evolved and played different characters through the years. Morrison has played five different roles since he was part of the original cast 25 years ago.

As this is a multigenerational cast, Olivia Buckley started at age 5 playing Tiny Tim, and she played different characters until last year when she started college. Buckley’s family is also involved with the show. Her mother Doris Buckley is an NECC faculty member who also collaborates with the play, and her father Todd Buckley, plays Uncle Fezziwig.

Besides some of your favorite cast and singers, there will be few uprising stars. Featuring J. Mark Morrison as Scrooge, Brightly Laansma as Tiny Tim, and also Sally Basler, Callum Belfiore, Chip Bliss, Kairi Bohanan, Melanie Bohanan, Melina Bohanan, Alisa Bucchiere, Todd Buckley, John Budzyna, Kayla Clegg, Maureen Dadekien, Patrick Doherty, Angely Gabriel, Sean Gaff, Charlie Himmel, Everett Himmel, Maggie Himmel, Hannah Heckman-McKenna, Geehae Moon, Elliot Robert Owens, Vivian Sturm, Bonnie Surowiec, Kirk Trach, and Rob Waddell.

It is highly recommended to buy your tickets online, but you also can buy tickets at the door. Just bear in mind “a dear note from Mr. Charles Dickens himself ‘Scrooge accepts only cash at the door, as does our concessions and raffles, so prithee, bring your jingling coins and crinkled notes,’” says the ticket website.

Adults $20, Students/Seniors $10, Under 5 free. Buy tickets at https://neccachristmascarol.ticketleap.com/necc-a-christmas-carol/