For its 25th annual production of "A Christmas Carol," Civic Theatre of Allentown pulled out all the Scrooges.

Jim Long, Stan Zukowski and Barry Glassman alternate the role of Ebenezer Scrooge during the show's run.

Tony Kohl was to have been part of the rotation, but was injured in a car accident.

For Civic's final 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 performances this year, seven who've previously played Scrooge in Civic's production are to alternate: Pat Kelly, Tom Onushco, Sharon Lee and Barry Glassman, Long, Zukowski and Kohl, if he is able.

The Charles Dickens' novella, "A Christmas Carol," was adapted for the Civic stage by William Sanders, Civic artistic director who directed the play, and Sharon Lee Glassman, Civic Board of Directors President, who played a female version of Scrooge onstage at Civic.

"It's a way to get everyone involved and make it a celebration," Sanders says of casting multiple Scrooges.

"They were great. They were like Team Scrooge. They were really supportive. And they weren't competitive," Sanders says of the actors playing Scrooge.

Of the Dec. 20 performances Sanders says, "I think it's more fun if the audience is surprised. I call it a tag team."

Sanders has directed all but three of the 25 Civic "Christmas Carol" productions. JoAnn Wilchek-Basist twice directed Civic's "Christmas Carol." The late Don Horton directed one Civic "Christmas Carol."

Sanders reassessed Civic's 25-year run of "Christmas Carol" when he saw "Celebrate Like The Dickens: A Story, A Play, A Tradition: 25 Years At Civic Theatre," on exhibit through Jan. 3, the Liberty Bell Museum, 622 West Hamilton St., Allentown.

"It didn't really hit me until I went down to the museum. It was very moving to me," Sanders says of the exhibition curated by Sara Jane Brace, Liberty Bell Museum Manager, and Frank Whelan, area historian.

Sanders says Civic's "Christmas Carol," with an estimated 3,000 participating over the years, changes each year:

"Every actor brings something different each year. Some things have changed and stayed changed. Some go back to the way we did it originally. The script is still pretty much the same from 1989."

The size of the cast has grown. This year, the cast tops out at about 100.

"I kind of stopped counting," Sanders says of the size of the cast which includes Ivy and Holly casts that rotate children through the shows.

There's an Urchin Wrangler. This year, it's Dee Cameron Rhoads. The children wait in the 19th Street Theatre upstairs rehearsal room until needed on stage.

"There's a video monitor upstairs. The Wrangler makes sure that the proper kids get there. Parent volunteers help. So, the children have a parent escorting them to the stage."

This year's Costume for The Ghost of Christmas Past is based on a design for Civic's first "Christmas Carol" production by Michael McDonald, a Tony Award nominee for Broadway's "Hair."

Will Morris, Civic "Christmas Carol" Costume and Lighting Designer, and Nina Reilly constructed the costume worn by JoAnn Wilchek-Basist

"Will [Morris] did that sundial of a hat. It's like a satellite dish," Sanders says.

Reflecting on his directing of Civic's "Christmas Carol," Sanders says, "I didn't realize how quickly time passes. You don't know how much time you have."

Referring to Scrooge, Sanders quotes from the play: "and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well."

As does Civic Theatre of Allentown with its annual production of "A Christmas Carol."

Tickets: Civic Theatre Box Office, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown; CivicTheatre.com, 610-432-8943