“A Christmas Carol” is the quintessential story of a human’s ability to change.

The evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge throughout Charles Dicken’s classic story has warmed hearts for many holiday seasons.

Many Dallas residents have made attendance of this play at the Dallas Theater Center a Christmas tradition, which is why anytime it changes, people notice.

When they changed the script about five years ago, it was an adjustment that has come to be appreciated, but this year the cast has shifted.

Kevin Moriarty said in a press release that the idea was to make every actor play a role they’d never played before.

For those who might not know (shame on you!), “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of Scrooge, a lonely miser with a cold heart.

The book and the play take place in one night, upon which Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his business partner Jacob Marley, who sends him three spirits: the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

Scrooge is forced to confront his actions, and when he awakes on Christmas morning, he is given a fresh start.

Chamblee Ferguson, who has played Bob Cratchitt for years, is now filling the role of Scrooge.

Ferguson is one of the better Scrooge’s to take the stage in the Kalita Humphreys Theater, as he doesn’t pander for inappropriate laughter. In fact, at the beginning of the play he is one of the more evil Scrooges I have ever seen.  

He is extremely set in his ways, making it all the dramatic when he slowly breaks down to the point that when he awakes on Christmas morning and shrieks “I feel like a baby,” it brings a tear to the eye, rather feeling like it was the obvious solution.

The other major casting change was that of Liz Mikel in the role of Marley.

Mikel, who was the ideal ghost of Christmas present, doesn’t make sense in this part.

Even though she plays the part well, it is jarring to see a woman in this part.

Other than that, this play will always be enjoyable. Matthew Gray is one of the best directors in town, and his tightened pacing of this year’s show allows the narration to be snappier.

The rest of the cast is remarkably strong, although no one shines any more than usual in their roles.

Although, Tiny Tim seems especially young this year.

The SMU students in this production are especially  strong, and blend right in with the professionals in the cast.

Rachel Werline, David Gorena and Tiffany Hobbs take on various roles throughout the play, all of them without struggle.

This tradition is all the things it should be: heartwarming, a little scary and a whole lot of Christmas cheer.

“A Christmas Carol” runs at the Kalita Humphreys Theater through Dec. 24.

For more information, visit dallastheatercenter.org.