Several members of our Work Study family have been rehearsing for weeks to present one of the most beloved stories of any holiday season, a play called “Ebenezer’s Christmas Carol,” in the McLean High School Black Box Theatre Dec. 11-14.

The four student performances with set, props and costumes – two shows in the daytime and two in the evening- are free and open to parents, teachers, family and friends. Tickets to the shows, with limited seating, can be reserved online.

“This is probably the ultimate Christmas story, combining the true spirit of the season with an important message about being kind and generous,” says Work Study teacher Jessica Berns, who is directing the play with teacher Caroline Sumlin. “We might all have a little Scrooge in us once in a while, but after seeing this play performed by our kids, you will join Ebenezer in ‘keeping Christmas all the year.’”

Condensed a bit from the original, the play is based on Charles Dickens’ “ghost story of Christmas” published in England in 1843. The tale of a bitter miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and how his life changes with visits from spirits one Christmas Eve has been told and retold in every media format. Dickens himself, who wrote and published many famous books, traveled and gave public readings of the story up until his death in 1870.

The students performing the roles are excited to share their hard work with all those who attend the performances. According to Michael Shank, who portrays Scrooge, the goal is to communicate the message of Dickens with the story of how visiting spirits help the old man, especially when it comes to how he treats loyal employee Bob Cratchit, his wife and many children.

“It’s easy for me to change while people are watching,” says Michael. “They are seeing all these things that happened to Scrooge, and all the sad things in his past that make him the way he is. In the end, Ebenezer gives the Cratchits presents and a turkey.”

“It’s about how you should treat people kindly,” adds student Abby Criswell, who portrays the Spirit of Christmas Past at the beginning of the show and a peddler near the end. “People can change and share what they have.”

Many members of the “Christmas Carol” cast (Michael and Abby, along with Trevor Sheehan, Jacob Devore and Ben Shue), are writers for this publication, as well as veterans of last year’s two stage productions at McLean,“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Aladdin.”

Rounding out the colorful cast are Marika Bak, Maia Stewart, Kathryn Knight, Polina Leonova, Noor Haag, Jack Dennis, Adrian Guevara, Juan Ramirez, Kendall Lyons and Vishaal Anumandia. The behind-the-scenes tech team for “Christmas Carol” includes Adrian Guevara, Andy Pauliukonis, Bardia Amirian, Jimmy Rivera, Max Wieczorek, Mo Soubra and Peter Connors.