David Coffee has played Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" for 16 consecutive years at the North Shore Music Theatre. That's a lot of ghosts, in addition to young actors from local communities who bring a musical version of the Dickens story to the round stage. And, if you'd like to shake things up a bit, Scrooge et al get a break when "A Festival of Music" uses the stage on Dec. 17 at 7:30 for an evening of traditional and contemporary holiday music featuring the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, NSMT Academy Choir, New England Conservatory Community Gospel Choir, and more. Tonight's Dickens is at 8 p.m. (through Dec. 23) $45-$70, $33.75-$52.50 students, $40.50-$63 seniors. North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly. 978-232-7200. nsmt.org
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