This holiday season, NAU’s theater department sifted through the archives and took on Romulus Linney’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol — a play that hasn’t been performed at NAU since 1984. The performances began at the Clifford E. White Theatre on Nov. 20, and will continue until Dec. 6.

Kathleen McGeever, the director of the play and an associate professor of theater, said Linney’s version is more accurate to Dickens’ novel in revealing and unraveling Scrooge’s past.

“I looked for a script that closely captures Dickens’ novel,” McGeever said. “In this particular play, we get to understand why Scrooge is the way he is, alluding to Scrooge’s loss of boyhood.”

Brad Bultman, a senior theater education major playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, said he agrees the script reads close to the novel.

“There are so many versions of A Christmas Carol out there, so adapting to the Romulus Linney version took a little time in keeping it distinct from everything else out there,” Bultman said. “This script stays very close to the novel though, so it was nice to work with something more grounded and traditional.”

Because this play incorporates special effects, a large cast, and constant changes in time and scenery, McGeever encountered many challenges creating and transforming the set in a way that would not be chaotic or confusing to the audience.

“There have been huge challenges creating the sets, jumping from past to the present and going to multiple places,” McGeever said. “We have to make sure we clarify for the audience if the scene is a nightmare or if it’s real. We have to create that, and we have to meet expectations.”

McGeever said managing the special effects — including sound, lights, projections, fog and rigging — took much more preparation than what the department was used to.

Caleb Reed, a senior theater major playing the role of Bob Cratchit, said the audience can expect the special effects to enhance the play and create an element of surprise.

“We have a lot of magic because, obviously, [Scrooge] travels between different periods in his life,” Reed said. “So there’s a lot of stuff that’s going to disorient the audience, like appearances you wouldn’t expect from certain characters. We have a lot of ghost shenanigans and big things happening on the stage.”

As for his role as Tiny Tim’s father, Reed said Cratchit was a difficult character to relate to because of his mature nature.

“It’s tough; we did a lot of research, and I’ve been trying to put a lot of work into it,” Reed said. “My character is 35 going on 40, and it’s difficult to get into that fatherly aspect, as far as adapting. It takes a lot of work to be believable in a role that I have no experience in.”

Despite the challenges the cast and director have faced, McGeever said A Christmas Carol will be an enchanting production and a holiday treat.

“This story is for everybody, and it’s a special thing to see year after year,” McGeever said. “I’ve only ever seen it in the movies, so it will be exciting to see it live. It’s also a fun way for students to end the semester.”

A Christmas Carol continues showings through Dec. 6 at Clifford E. White Theatre. Performances are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. for matinee shows on Dec. 5 and 6.

For tickets, call 523-5661.