Limited seating is available in the Shepherdstown Opera House, pictured here, so advance registration for the movie showing is advised. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — This evening, Tiny Tim will be heard once again proclaiming the happy phrase, “God bless us, every one!” inside of the Shepherdstown Opera House.

The character of Tiny Tim is one of many portrayed in a new, one-hour movie adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol,” about an an old miser being visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and and the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come.

Directed by Shepherdstown resident Mike Baker Jr., the adaptation was brought to life in The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA) in Alexandria, Va. and filmed in the theater during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Baker, who is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, reporter and producer and award-winning videographer, also portrays the role of the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, in the movie.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of portraying Scrooge five times, under the tutelage of some wonderful directors – Roland Gomez, Rachael Keep Hubbard and Donna Ferragut,” Baker said. “My journey as Scrooge has given me an everted view of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and the Dickensian terrain, as a whole. I have endeavored to sculpt a portion of the tale from the actor’s perspective – how Scrooge perceives the world and his audience, instead of the reverse.”

Baker noted that, unlike with some other adaptations, his adaptation includes often overlooked scenes in the novel.

“Things discussed, but never seen, come to life in this latest LTA rendition. The chapel, the schoolhouse, Scrooge’s bed chambers, Marley’s underworld and Scrooge’s own funeral procession are but a few of the new revelations. Each serves to enrich Scrooge’s metamorphosis and highlight the play’s overall themes of gratitude, generosity and hope,” Baker said, noting the stage was built to look like a village in 1843 England. “Even Ali Baba, a childhood favorite of Dickens, and other self-proclaimed visions come to life in this rendition, exemplifying Dicken’s invisible world of ‘Fancy,’ and his love of literature and the imagination.”

According to Shepherdstown Opera House co-owner Harriet Pearson, agreeing to show this movie was a no-brainer.

“When Emmy-award winning videographer Mike Baker suggested that the Shepherdstown Opera House screen his original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ [we] quickly agreed,” Pearson said.

In a spirit of giving similar to the one Scrooge develops throughout the story, tickets will be pay-what-you-will, and all of the proceeds from them will go to the nonprofit, Shepherdstown Shares, which provides food and other living essentials to those in need.

“The Shepherdstown Opera House is pleased to be able to bring this production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to our community on December 22, with ticket proceeds going to benefit those in need,” Pearson said.

Because of the popularity of this classic story and the limited seating in the opera house, advanced ticket reservations are encouraged.

Tickets are being sold in-advance online, up to two hours before the movie’s 7:30 p.m. showtime, at https://shepherdstownoperahouse.thundertix.com/events/221878. If available, tickets will also be sold at the doors, which will open at 7 p.m.

A brief, in-person interview with Baker will precede the movie showing.