A Christmas Carol

From "Joy to the World" to "Good King Wenceslas," Christmas carols are a beloved holiday tradition. But the most influential Christmas carol of all is not a song, but the novella by Charles Dickens. The phrase "Merry Christmas" was popularized by the story and many historians cite A Christmas Carol as the spark that transformed the holiday from a church-centered observance to a secularized celebration of generosity. Lindenwood University Theatre students scare the dickens out of old Ebeneezer Scrooge as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future take the miser (and the audience) on the harrowing journey of a lifetime. 7:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sat. & Sun. (December 2-7). J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on Lindenwood University campus (2300 West Clay Street; 636-949-4433 or www.lindenwood.edu/center). $8-$10
Dec. 2-5, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 6-7, 2 & 7:30 p.m., 2014