“Bah! Humbug!” Those words have been heard a lot lately at Port Arthur Little Theatre. Not because there are fewer shopping days left until Christmas. It is the hallmark phrase of Ebenezer Scrooge, the central figure in PALT's holiday offering, “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Phillip and Roxane Gray.

The seasonal classic will be presented Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 6-9 at the PALT Playhouse, 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. Show times for Thursday, Friday and Saturday features is 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees starting at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $11 for adults and $9 for students and senior citizens, ages 65 and older. Reservations can be made by calling 727-7258 (727-PALT).

Audiences may have seen productions of the musical, Scrooge, or another version of the Dickens classic, but this particular adaptation, by John Jakes, has not been produced in the Triangle before now. Scrooge is, of course, the central character around which the story pivots, and music figures in as well, with original music by John Jakes and Tony-nominated composer Mel Marvin. Throughout the production, traditional carols will be sung by various characters as Scrooge is taken on a journey of memories of the past and those in the making.

This script includes the author himself, Charles Dickens, as narrator. Dickens conducted reading tours in both Britain and America in the 1860s, and included readings of his Christmas books, “A Christmas Carol,” “The Chimes,” and “Cricket on the Hearth,” as well as “Pickwick Papers,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” and his favorite, “David Copperfield.”

Glen Engle, most recently seen as the father in “Cheaper by the Dozen,” will play Dickens. Don Suarez (”Macbeth”) portrays Ebenezer Scrooge, perhaps the most well-known miser in literature. A pair of PALT favorites, Benny Bryan and Ann Holland, seen in many PALT productions, play Scrooge's put-upon employee, Bob Cratchit, and his wife. John Holland “(Macbeth”) appears as Scrooge's former business partner, Jacob Marley. Donny Avery (”When Bullfrogs Sing Opera”) plays Fred, Scrooge's nephew. Joel Sellers (”Cheaper by the Dozen”) will “bless us, everyone” as Tiny Tim.

The large cast includes actors of all ages from across the Golden Triangle, and many of the actors will play multiple parts. Even Phillip Gray, co-directing with his wife, Roxane, will appear in several small parts. The rest of the cast includes George and Patricia Vigreaux and their children, Thomas and Katie, Pat Lene, Jeremie Altman, Gale Walker, Cindy Thomas, Dixie Tucker, Pam Viator, Rosie Einkauf, Kay Lene, Ali Gay, Jordan Sanderson, Grace DeWall, Abigail Pedraza, Danielle Viator, Chelsea Warren, siblings Haleigh and Hunter Courts, Rachel Honza and Michelle Caughlin, as well as Hannah Ivy, Lindsay Gill, Maggie Guillot, Madeline and Meagen Amburg, Madelyn DeWall, Charlotte Gulewicz, Natashia Barker, Lucas Lopez, Carter Holland, and Josh Altman.