The weekend before Thanksgiving, Pleasant Valley High School Drama Club will be ushering in a taste of Christmas.

The students are performing Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Nov. 21, 22 and 23. Show times are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

This is the first time middle school teacher and musical director Rhonda Sawyer has stepped in as director of the PVHS Drama Club’s performances.

“I’m just so excited. This is my first show here,” Sawyer said. “The seniors were all in my first show at the middle school. I just think it’s so wonderful. It’s like watching your kids grow up.”

Sawyer said its been 10 years since the play was performed at the high school, so she brought it back.

“It brings in the Christmas spirit and makes everybody happy,” she said.

Sawyer said she enjoys seeing her students grasp the deeper meaning of the story. They all know the story of “A Christmas Carol” from their childhood, but now that they are getting older, they are seeing its more than just understanding a man being visited by three ghosts. Its Scrooge realizing the importance of family and friends, empathy, compassion and showing love for mankind over materialism and money.

“It’s nice to see that realization coming to the kids’ minds, now that they’re more mature to understand it,” she said.

Robert Leuthardt, a senior who plays the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, has empathy for his character.

“He’s a broken individual,” Leuthardt said. “He’s had many troubles in the past and the only thing he has now is money. He shuts everybody off, because they don’t really serve a purpose to him.”

Leuthardt described Scrooge is a very solitary man, but “he realizes how lovely and valuable the connectedness of people is.”

Leuthardt called the story a classic tale. “It’s almost like a fairy tale. There’s the whimsical element that kids can enjoy. At the same time, there’s the deeper element that adults can enjoy.”

“It’s magical to watch; seeing the characters come to life,” said Olivia Joseph, also a senior who plays the part of a serious girl. She enjoys seeing her friends become the character.

“It’s a very charming play,” Leuthardt said.

“And it’s short enough to keep your kids’ attention,” added Alayna Boland, a junior who plays the part of Ebenezer’s girlfriend, Belle.

The version Sawyer chose is short, only about 40 minutes long.

In addition to being a shorter version, the Drama Club has put their own spin on it.

“The second scene in the show we literally just added,” Leuthardt said.

Sam Lowell, a junior who plays the part of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, said, “It wasn’t in the script. Every song was added, except the figgy pudding.”

These kids are used to writing scripts. Many of them have been together since middle school, and took part in the summer writing camp. The students would write a completely new play and perform it in November. This year’s PVMS Drama Club play was “Camp Odyssey,” and took the stage on Nov. 14, 15 and 16.

The high school cast encourage the public to come out to see their play and get in the mood for the holidays.

“It makes me so happy to see people in the audience,” Leuthardt said.

Olivia Joseph said she loves hearing the audience talking before the show and their excitement. “It’s like the best feeling.”

The cast also includes: Arlo Calhoun as Charles Dickens; Isaac Mitchell as Bob Cratchit; Julian Dempster as Jacob Marley; Dylan Caroll, Ghost of Christmas Past; Gianna Bullock, Ghost of Christmas Present; Alma Ortiz, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come; Steven Roberti, Young Ebenezer; Brooke Burke, Fan; Zuzanna Romanczyk as Mrs. Fred; Hayden Impellizeri, Mr. Fezziwig; Emerie Gonzalez, Mrs. Fezziwig; Khloe Gutai, Mrs. Cratchit; Sophia Dobson, Belinda; Jacqueline Hollman, Martha; Harrison Sullivan, Peter; Emerson Impellizeri, Tiny Tim; Kailey Grave de Peralta, Dum; Rachel Costello, Dee; Jamie Rodriguez, guest one; Madison Zorn, giggling girl; Cindy Page, chairwoman; Lydia Peters, Joe; Lennox Tomasch, Richard; and Audrey Alicea, second woman.

Ticket are available for purchase at the school. Please parking in the football stadium parking lot and follow the signs to the auditorium.