Members of the Christian theater group, Players of the Stage, have been rehearsing for three months to present “A Christmas Carol” this weekend at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Lower Macungie.

This two-act play, from the novella written by Charles Dickens, is set in London, England, in the 1800s.

The play tells the story of a angry old man named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a kinder man after being visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Thomas Buonanno plays Ebenezer Scrooge, Tim Diem portrays Bob Cratchit and Maddie Wolfe plays Mrs. Cratchit.

Daniel Goonewardene portrays Fred and Samuel Masenheimer has the role of Tiny Tim.

Buonanno said Scrooge is an old miser who is focused exclusively on himself and sees everything for its monetary potential, but the spirits of Christmas show him life is so much more than mere material things.

“My favorite part about playing Scrooge is experiencing the metamorphosis he undergoes,” Buonanno said. “I loved acting through the transition from a miser to a dedicated Christian.

“By simply seeing Scrooge’s progression, the audience members are almost forced to examine their own lives.”

Diem said Bob Cratchit is a poor man who works for Scrooge and has a large family but is still filled with Christmas joy, despite his poverty and struggles and having a crippled son.

“I enjoy playing Cratchit because of the challenges of having to play someone who is so different from myself,” Diem said.

Wolfe said her character, Maddie Cratchit, is a motherly, strong and caring woman.

She is the wife of Bob Cratchit and the mother of six children.

“Even though she is in poverty, she still keeps a strong face for her family and youngest son Tiny Tim who is dying,” Wolfe said.

Goonewardene said his character, Fred, is a very energetic and joyful man who has a very positive attitude at all times throughout the play.

“I love how much energy and enthusiasm Fred has and it is very fun expressing that energy and enthusiasm on stage,” he said.

Michael Scutto portrays Marley’s ghost. Ralee Tilton plays the Spirit of Christmas past and John McClure portrays the Spirit of Christmas Present.

Scutto said Marley is a tormented soul, doomed to wander through the world as punishment for not walking among fellow human beings while he was alive.

“He seeks out Scrooge in an attempt to help him to avoid the same fate,” Scutto said. “Marley is an interesting character to play.

“I personally love exploring his motivation. It’s also fun to play around with his physicality as he has been wandering around the world in pain for seven years.”

Tilton said the Spirit of Christmas Past is a powerful, helpful and kind character who shows Scrooge all the things of the past.

“It is fun being a ghost,” Tilton said. “Helping Scrooge and walking with him through his past is something I enjoy a lot.”

McClure, who plays the Spirit of Christmas Present, said his character is jolly and loves Christmas and everything that comes with it.

“I love playing the Spirit of Christmas Present as he is the essence of Christmas,” McClure said.

This play is directed by Sharon Gerdes with help from production manager Elisabeth Barshinger, assistant director Anna Lauffer, student director Lindsay Swavely, stage manager Hannah Mills, production assistant Andrew MacDonald and costume manager Betsy Gahmen.

Gerdes said they chose this play because “A Christmas Carol” is a classic Christmas story, one they have done before and will do again.

“It’s a tradition for us to perform it on the ‘fives,’” she said. “We celebrated our 10th anniversary with ‘A Christmas Carol’ and we are performing it again to celebrate 15 years of theater.

“This play follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a hardened, old miser, on an adventure with three Spirits who expose his greed and lack of compassion, attitudes and sins that weigh him down as if wrapped in chains,” Gerdes said. “It is also a show about redemption as the Spirits give Scrooge a second chance to right his wrongs and live in the freedom of considering others more than yourself.”

Gerdes said she loves it when they do this show for the Allentown Rescue Mission because it fits so well with what they do.

“We choose the Allentown Rescue Mission because we’ve worked with them for over the past 10 years and it has become a tradition to do our Christmas show for them,” Gerdes stated.

No tickets are needed but reservations are required.

In lieu of a ticket price, an offering will be taken for the Allentown Rescue Mission.

The Allentown Rescue Mission works to provide emergency shelter, food and rehabilitation services to homeless men in crisis.

The theater group will perform “A Christmas Carol” 7 p.m. Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10 to 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, 330 Schantz Road, Lower Macungie.

To reserve tickets, email potstickets@gmail.com or call 610-310-7604.