Pair of Scrooges ready to entertain the kids

As the winter holidays approach, curtains at local theaters are rising on seasonal family favorites. Chief among them is the perennial "A Christmas Carol," opening today at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theater, and Wednesday at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Set in the 1800s, "A Christmas Carol" is based on Charles Dickens' timeless tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a hard-hearted task master who emerges as a good-hearted soul following visits from four ghosts on Christmas Eve.

Both productions boast casts composed of Chicago and Broadway theater veterans, with Gene Weygandt (the Wizard of Oz in "Wicked") and William Dick (Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Steppenwolf Theatre productions) in the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge at Marriott and Drury Lane, respectively.

What makes this holiday evergreen resonate with families year after year?

"It's the classic tale of redemption," said Scott Calcagno, director of the Drury Lane production. "It's a reminder of what human beings are capable of. ... 'A Christmas Carol' is that way of life, that way of hope that everyone can relate to on so many levels in so many ways."

A former Bob Cratchit (about eight times), Dick plays Scrooge for the first time in his career, as does Weygandt. Dick says the story is what the holiday season is about.

"This is the age of hope, isn't it? [Scrooge's] transformation is a new beginning, a rebirth, the birth of new hope," Dick said. "No matter how far gone, how lost somebody becomes, they have a chance to rejoin the family of man."

As for playing such a well-known character, both men are up for the challenge.

"I think of it as a big responsibility to do a credible job to play this iconic character, finding all the darkness in his heart and then the joy his epiphany brings to him," Weygandt said. "Day by day, I'm feeling more confident about it."

Weygandt described Scrooge as "mean in the broadest sense of the word. There's another definition of mean, and that is poor. He is poor in spirit; he is bereft of all the best parts of humanity."

"It's one of those parts you kind of have to grow into," Dick said. "It's one of the great redemption stories of all time. The journey he makes is remarkable. It's a challenge and a lot of fun for an actor."

Describing his character, Dick said, "He's a bit like the Grinch, or the Grinch is like Scrooge. He's a man with a very small heart who gains a bigger heart. He's a miser who learns to become generous, monetarily and spiritually."

What makes these productions unique and suitable for families?

Music -- composed by Alan Menken of Disney film fame -- is a large part of the magic at the Marriott, according to Weygandt and director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell.

"It's one of the only entirely all-musical 'Christmas Carols' in the area," Rockwell said. "It's also more inclusive of younger children. Because it's a musical, it makes it more accessible to younger audiences."

Rockwell described the score as "Beauty and the Beast" meets "A Christmas Carol."

While the Drury Lane production takes a more traditional approach, Dick said he was impressed by how well the tale is condensed into one hour without impacting the story, calling it a "beautiful pop-up book" recreation -- an analogy director Calcagno loves.

Both shows are followed immediately by question-and-answer sessions with the cast and crew.