MARION — The cast and crew of “Emmalina Scrooge” are preparing to bring a modern adaptation of a Christmas classic to the Marion Art Center stage this holiday season. On Monday, Dec. 2 they ran through one of their final rehearsals and got to ask questions about the script to the writer herself.

Written by Steph Deferie and directed by Jennifer Palmer, the play centers on Emmalina Scrooge, a young descendant of Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. 

The once-happy girl grows bitter in the years following her sister Jamie’s death, and takes her frustration out on her friends and adopted sister Sarah, spoiling the Christmas spirit for those around her.

Ebenezer’s ghost takes on the challenge of changing her unpleasant ways, and recruits Charles Dickens and two eerie ghosts to show her Christmas past, present, and future.

At just 12-years-old, Zoe Pateakos stars as Emmalina. She said that it is fun to be in a remake of a popular play, and that some of the challenges posed by her role are learning all of her 160 lines and trying to create her character for an audience.

When asked about why people should attend the show she said that “it’s a nice twist on a story that they’ve probably heard hundreds of times.”

Jack Boesen plays Charles Dickens, and said that it is a fun and interesting role to play. To prepare for his portrayal of the prolific writer, he said he “read a great amount of his stuff” and worked on his British accent (with the help of Palmer).

When asked about the dynamic between his character and the younger Scrooge, he said that “she’s very mature, and very mean.”

Before Monday’s rehearsal, actors held a Skype interview with Deferie, and asked her exclusive questions about the script and her writing process.

One actor asked about how Emmalina’s sister Jamie died, but DeFerie said that she preferred to leave that to the imagination of the audience. Another asked her how long it took to write the play, to which she replied “maybe a couple of months.”

Pateakos said that speaking with DeFerie was an interesting experience because typically “you don’t get to talk to [the writer] because they’re either really famous or dead.”

While there are a few adults in the play, the majority of the cast are kids. Palmer said that she loves working with children because they have “no preconceived notions” and can become increasingly creative as they grow more comfortable on stage. 

Shows will be held at the Marion Art Center on Dec. 6,7,13,14 and 15.

All Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., while the Sunday, Dec. 15 matinee will begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now to art center members for $18, $20 for nonmembers, and $12 for children aged twelve and under. Tickets can be purchased in person, online or by phone. Visit marionartcenter.org for more information.