The Port Polson Players begin their 50th season with a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's famous tale, “A Christmas Carol,” staged Dec. 5-8 at the Theatre on the Lake in Polson.

“The loving and caring message Scrooge learns is brought to light with the dedication of this inclusive cast, boasting ages 5 to 80,” says co-producer Karen Lewing.

Karen and her co-producer and husband Neal Lewing first staged the musical in 1983 to launch the Players’ community theatre program. It was performed at the Elks Lodge in Polson and featured then Mayor John Dowdall as the mayor. Dowdall was instrumental in launching the Port Polson Players and the nonprofit Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, which has helped the theatre company survive and thrive for a half century.

Other well-known community members in that inaugural production included Mike Lozar as Tiny Tim and Pete Mangels as Scrooge, as well as local newspaper editor Paul Fugleberg, who was one of the carolers. 

Karen recalls that the show had a cast of 65, and a rack of costumes was stored at the Flathead Courier office on Main Street. "We would carol the streets on Saturdays leading up to the show," she said.

This time around, Pat Matt – who first performed with the Players as a high school student – plays Scrooge and Henry Bartel is Tiny Tim. Steven Alexander is Jacob Marley, Desiree Alexander portrays The Spirit of Christmas Past, Cathy Gillhouse is The Spirit of Christmas Present, and J. Lee Cook evokes The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. Mike Gillpatrick plays Bob Cratchit, with Ron Martin-Dent and Bethany Butler playing Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig.

In addition to the musical’s traditional Christmas tunes, the Lewings wrote six other songs to enhance Dickens’s story of generosity and redemption. The music is performed by Gillhouse, who plays piano and helped with vocal direction, and Neal Lewing on keyboards, bass and guitar.

Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Theatre on the Lake. For reservations, visit PortPolsonPlayers.com or call 406-883-9212.