Project Shakespeare will perform Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. at The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey.

Additional shows in the Peterborough/Jaffrey area include Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 6 Payson Hill Road, Rindge; Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main St., Peterborough; Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. at First Church in Jaffrey, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey Center; and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. at the Dublin Community Center, 1123 Main St., Dublin. Information about additional performances can be found at projectshakespeare.org.

“We’ve been working really hard, and it’s a fantastic show,” said Project Shakespeare founder and artistic director Deborah Thurber Shakespeare before the dress rehearsal. “We have a few kids out sick, so it’s always something, but this is just a great group of kids, and they’ve done an amazing job.”

Twenty-eight students, ages 10 through 20, participate in this year’s “Carol.”

Thurber notes that this year’s adaptation of the classic play focuses on the tale as a “ghost story,” expanding the role of Jacob Marley and giving the audience a peek into Ebenezer Scrooge’s early life through the interventions of the “Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.”

“The story reveals Ebenezer as a dreamer, an eager young businessman and a young lover transformed into a rich, miserly old man who finally is redeemed through the Ghosts’ life lessons,” Thurber said.

Jem Russell, 13, who has performed in Project Shakespeare’s “A Christmas Carol” before, said he is excited to play the role of Fred Scrooge this year.

“I’ve always wanted to be Fred because he’s very dynamic; you can play with the role,” Jem said. “There’s a lot of versatility with his part.”

Russell is one of seven students from Pine Hill Waldorf School participating in this year’s “Christmas Carol.”

Tess Geana, a homeschool student who plays Charles Dickens and Mrs. Cratchit, has a one-hour drive each way to be part of Project Shakespeare, but said it is worth the effort.

“I’ve been doing Project Shakespeare for over a year, and I just love it. I play two roles this year, and there are some quick costume changes, but it is a lot of fun,” Tess said.

Tess and many other cast members also acted in Project Shakespeare’s summer performance of “Macbeth.” Lily Helsel, 12, a student at Gathering Waters Charter School in Keene, said the show is her third with Project Shakespeare.

“I play Martha and a spirit from Christmas Past, which is really fun,” Lily said.

Margaret Bennett, 12, a student at The Well School, said she participates in her school theater program and Project Shakespeare. Abigail McKinnon, 13, and Ariella Leifer, 13, are both students at Pine Hill School and both Project Shakespeare veterans.

“Project Shakespeare is one of my favorite things to do,” said Abigail, who plays the wife of Fred Scrooge.

Ariella said she is sharing the role of Belle with her friend Eleonora Kishinevsky.

“Everyone is going to really, really enjoy this show,” Ariella said. “It’s awesome.”

The cast of “A Christmas Carol” includes Lif Petrova as Ebenezer Scrooge, Benjamin Michaud as Bob Cratchit and Old Joe, Corbin Sanders as Jacob Marley and Tess Geana as Charles Dickens. Rounding out the acting company and tech crew are Margaret Bennett, Alexander Brand, Leila Burk, Leo Burk, Counsel Chronopoulos, Eliza Hammer, Madelyn Hammer, Riley Hammer, Lillianna Helsel, Sienna Johnson, Eleanora Kishinevsky, Ariella Leifer, Lachlan Linn-Boggs, Harold McCarthy, Henry McDonald, Abigail McKibben, Elise Nicklin, Ethan Papastefanou, Vincent Papastefanou, Renzo Patterson, Miranda Pipitone, Amelia Rosbach, Jem Russell, Corbin Sanders, Ella Wakeman, Halleigh Wakeman and Matthew Wakeman.

Attendees at the show will also have the opportunity to participate in Project Shakespeare’s raffle for a handmade quilt by quilter Judy Michaud. Michaud has been a fan of Project Shakespeare since her grandson, Benjamin, started working with the company at age 5 in 2014, and she has donated many quilts to Project Shakespeare in the past 10 years.

Raffle tickets are $5 for one ticket or $10 for three tickets. Raffle tickets and performance tickets to Project Shakespeare’s “A Christmas Carol” are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. To reserve tickets, send email to projectshakespeare@gmail.com. Tickets may be paid for at the box office the day of the performance, except for The Park Theatre performance. To purchase tickets for The Park Theatre show on Sunday, Dec. 15, call 603-532-8888.

For information, visit projectshakespeare.org.