The story remains the same, following the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his hatred of Christmas, but fairy tale characters will be replacing the normal characters found in this story.

“It’s basically your classic Christmas Carol story told with fairy tale characters,” Dane Simmons, Guidance Counselor and one of the Class of 2023 advisors said. “Scrooge is the Big Bad Wolf. Prince Charming works for Scrooge and is the Bob Cratchit character. The kids have also been putting in their own ideas as well and putting their own stamp on it.”

The story comes from an already existing script that other schools have done in the past, and the senior class chose it because they wanted to do a play that is fun for both them and the community, according to Simmons.

“A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol” will take place on Dec. 2 and 3 at Panama Central School. Tickets are $5, but elementary students can attend for free.

Mackenzie Greene is pictured as fairy godmother Meriwether during a recent rehearsal of A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol.

So far, Simmons said the senior class has been having a lot of fun.

“They are some of the busiest kids I know,” Simmons said. “They have football, volleyball, swimming, some have jobs, and yet we meet at odd hours and late at night to practice and they are still having a lot of fun. I think they are really looking forward to it. Most of them have never acted before, so this will be very new to them.”

Additionally, Simmons said he expects the audience to have as much fun watching the play as the Class of 2023 is having getting ready for it.

“I’m very confident that the audience will have a lot of fun,” Simmons said. “It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s charming, and I think the audience will be impressed with what the class has added to it. They will have a good time.”

Simmons said while most of the kids are novice actors and the play is nothing like professional plays, he still expects it to be fun.

Donovan Schnars is pictured as Mother Goose in a recent rehearsal of the Panama Central School Senior Class production of A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol.

“Again, most of these kids are novices,” Simmons said. “This is for entertainment. It’s not Shakespeare. The kids just wanted to do a production for their school and community that they can have a lot of fun with. It’s going to be fun.”

Jo Bailey is pictured in costume as the Queen of Hearts in a recent rehearsal.