Sesame Street Presents: A Christmas Carol

Sesame Street Presents: A Christmas Carol is a Sesame Street Christmas special which aired on PBS on December 12, 2021. As the title implies, it is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with the story's characters portrayed by the Muppets of Sesame Street, led by Oscar the Grouch as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Elmo as Tiny Tim. As such, it is darker in tone than most Sesame Street productions, containing some scenes too scary for children under 7, and multiple references to death (as in the original book).

New puppets used for Oscar as Scrooge were built for this special. The puppet is built with a lighter shade of green fur than the regular puppet, a magenta tongue, a darker brown brow, and has radio-controlled eyes. Eric Jacobson (who performed the Grouch's head, mouth, voice and left hand) was assisted in performing Oscar by Jim Henson Company puppeteers Colleen Smith (his right hand and occasional lead puppeteer) and Grant Baciocco (his eyes and occasional lead puppeteer), with Donna Kimball and Russ Walko occasionally operating his legs and standing in for other puppeteers. Other stand-in puppeteers include Nate Begle, Dorien Davies, and Rachel Herrick. For wide shots of Oscar moving around, he was played by actor Dana Michael Woods in a life-size character suit.

Moishe Oofnik as Marley's Ghost was also an elaborate puppet. Louise Gold served as Oofnik's main puppeteer, performing his head, mouth (lip-syncing to a vocal track by Gilles Ben-David) and right hand, assisted by ventriloquist Darci Lynne (his left hand), John Kennedy (his RC eye controls), and David Quesal (his legs). Likewise, Abby, the Count and Trevor Monster as the three spirits required only three puppeteers each.

The special received positive critical reviews, being notably hailed one of the most faithful adaptations of the original novel ever produced (especially for a project starring the Sesame Street Muppets), and also praised for its acting performances (especially Eric Jacobson's turn as Oscar the Grouch/Ebenezer Scrooge, which would earn him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program). Shout! Factory released the special on DVD on February 19, 2022, complete with bonus features (including a behind-the-scenes featurette and "Sesame Street Celebrates Dickens", which explains the legacy of A Christmas Carol and compares the original book to the feature's adaptation).

Plot
The special begins with a powerful blizzard on Sesame Street. Elmo and his friends, safe and warm inside Elmo's apartment, decide to listen to a Christmas story. Trevor Monster, after passing on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, picks up A Christmas Carol, a story he praises as "a timeless holiday classic." After everyone is settled down, Trevor turns to the first page.

Trevor begins reading the story as we travel to mid-19th century London. We are introduced to miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (described as a "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner"), who bitterly walks to his rundown business, Scrooge & Marley. The only other employee at his firm is his neglected clerk, Bob Cratchit, who is given the unenviable task of paying Scrooge's taxes. Scrooge's nephew, jolly and optimistic Fred, asks him to come over for Christmas dinner. He refuses, still bitter over Fred getting married and asking why he still celebrates a merry Christmas in spite of being poor, to which Fred asks why so Scrooge is so grouchy in spite of his wealth. Fred then gives a rousing speech about still wishing to celebrate the holidays even though he receives little to no pay, to which Scrooge sarcastically asks why Fred doesn't pursue a political career. After Fred exits, two charity collectors arrive to ask for a donation from Scrooge to help children in need of a home and food. Scrooge refuses, certain they'll be taken in by prisons and workhouses, both of which are still in business. When the collectors try to tell Scrooge that many children would rather die instead, Scrooge snaps at them, "Then they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population!" The mortified gentlemen leave, past two young carolers outside Scrooge's door. An annoyed Scrooge asks Cratchit if he wants Christmas Day off, calling the holiday "a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every 25th of December." The latter tells him it's only once a year, and Scrooge relents, but tells the clerk to arrive early the next morning. As Scrooge returns home, he grumpily observes townspeople acting merrily and playing; Scrooge even ruins the fun for some people ("I Hate Christmas").

Finally, Scrooge reaches his house, but as he walks up the stairs and reaches for his door knocker, it morphs into the face of his late partner, Jacob Marley ("dead as a doornail" for seven Christmas Eves), which scares Scrooge into falling down the stairs. Giving an indignant "Humbug", Scrooge enters his house, and walks to his room, where he eats tuna and gherkin porridge by an open fire. Suddenly, bells all over his room begin to ring on their own, much to Scrooge's horror. Before Scrooge can come to his senses, lockboxes wrapped in chains mysteriously appear in the room, and before Scrooge appears the ghost of Jacob Marley himself, who wants "much" with his old partner. Marley explains to a disbelieving Scrooge that for seven years since his passing, he has been doomed for all eternity to walk the Earth, fettered in the chains he forged in life through his greed, and too late to make amends and help those he chose to ignore, while also reminding Scrooge that his chain is even heavier and longer than Marley's. Scrooge laments that Marley always was a "good man of business," to which the latter exclaims that "mankind", "the common welfare", "charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence" were his business. Marley finally gets to the point; he warns Scrooge that he has one chance to avoid Marley's fate, with the help of three spirits, and unless Scrooge takes heed and reforms after their visits, he'll be doomed to suffer a worse fate after death than his old partner. The first, says Marley, will arrive tomorrow when the bell tolls one; the second will appear at the same hour the night after; and the third at the last stroke of twelve. With this, Marley disappears through Scrooge's window, directing his attention to other Grouch businessmen suffering similarly to Marley, trying to contribute to good causes, but having lost that power forever. The horrified Scrooge hops back into bed.

Soon, Big Ben strikes one, and as promised, a fairy-like figure appears before Scrooge. She is revealed to be the Ghost of Christmas Past, the first of three sent to help Scrooge reform. Scrooge holds Past's hand and is sent flying above London. The first location Scrooge revisits is the boarding school to which he was sent to by his neglectful father, where the only parental figure he had was his schoolmaster. Suddenly, a young girl named Fan arrives to pick up Young Scrooge for the holidays. Scrooge reveals that Fan died giving birth to Fred. Next, Scrooge arrives at the office of Mr. Fezziwig, his former boss, a jolly figure who loved throwing parties, especially around Christmas. Scrooge reveals that one of his ballroom dance parties was where he met a beautiful (for a Grouch) woman named Belle, and the two fell in love. He also spots a younger Jacob Marley and a waiter who looks exactly like Fred (both characters are played by Grover).

Next, Scrooge revisits the day he and Belle had an argument, with Belle convinced that Young Scrooge loves money more than he loves her. As Scrooge tries to explain himself, Belle decides that she'd be better off if she left Scrooge, so she does, as Young Scrooge begs her tearfully to come back. Scrooge reveals that it got worse; the man Belle decided to marry instead was his old friend Dick Wilkins (another employee of Mr. Fezziwig); the two settled down and started a family together. Overcome with envy, wrath, and lust, Young Scrooge decided to find Belle's new residence and murder Dick Wilkins by shooting him in the back, in the hopes that she would finally believe him about his love for her, much to Past's horror. Overcome with guilt and despair for the pain and suffering he brought upon Belle's family, Scrooge asks the ghost if she thinks he still deserves redemption, to which she gives no answer. When Scrooge asks the ghost to return him home, she torments the miser with the faces of people from his past until he forcefully destroys her with her cone-shaped hat.

Scrooge returns to his room. Just as he becomes certain that the ordeal is over, the clock strikes one again. This time, Scrooge encounters a vampire-esque figure in Father Christmas clothing in a neighboring room, sitting atop a mountain of food, who introduces himself as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Scrooge, having finished his encounter with Past, is ready for Present's company. Scrooge is sent flying above London again, this time coming across bakeries (Scrooge wonders why the ghost seeks to close the bakeries every seventh day if more children are growing hungry), coal mines, and a banquet hall before arriving at Fred's house. His guests are playing a guessing game where the answer is Scrooge, much to his anger and dismay. Fred laments Scrooge not accepting his invitation, but still remains good-hearted about it; Scrooge is the only one missing Christmas dinner.

Scrooge then arrives at the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Due to his being underpaid, Bob's family has a small but satisfying Christmas dinner. After discussing their affairs, the family says their prayers over their meal, ending with Cratchit's youngest son, sickly but joyful Tiny Tim, exclaiming "God bless us, everyone!" Scrooge, charmed by the boy, asks Present if he will be OK. The ghost is not optimistic, telling Scrooge that if he doesn't reform and change the future, Tiny Tim will die. A terrified Scrooge pleads with Present to say that Tim will live, to which the ghost replies, "But why? If he's about to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population," echoing Scrooge's own words about children in poverty. It's implied that those words shook Present to his core, as he rhetorically asks Scrooge if he thinks he can choose who lives or dies, before calling him "worthless [and] less morally fit to live than millions like [Tiny Tim]!"

Scrooge and the ghost travel to a large church (with a large clock adorning its walls), where Present reveals that his time is nearly gone. Scrooge then notices a foot protruding from the ghost's robe. Present lifts it to reveal two grungy Anything Muppet kids clinging to him. Scrooge asks if the children are his. "They are Man's," says the ghost, who introduces them as Ignorance (the boy) and Want (the girl). Scrooge must beware them, for they will bring doom upon anyone who denies or dismisses their existence. As the clock begins striking twelve, Scrooge asks the ghost if they have any refuge or resource, to which Present menacingly replies, "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?!" once again haunting Scrooge with his own words as the miser is carried through these exact places and attacked by AM child prisoners and laborers in spite of his pleas to have himself released. By the eleventh stroke, Present has disintegrated into dust.

At last, the clock strikes midnight, and Scrooge anticipates the arrival of ghost #3. However, he doesn't appear immediately. Disappointed, Scrooge leaves the church and walks through town. Suddenly, a large shadow casts over Scrooge, who fearfully turns around to see a tall, faceless, silent, black-hooded figure with a protruding, pale arm; Scrooge correctly presumes this is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Intimidated by him the most, but knowing he will greatly benefit from the ghost's actions, Scrooge prepares for his final journey. The ghost waits until Scrooge grows impatient to bring him to the future.

Scrooge first sees four businessmen discussing the death of an unknown man and lamenting that his will be a cheap funeral. One of the men reveals he wouldn't mind attending...if lunch is provided. As they leave, Yet to Come directs Scrooge to a collector named Old Joe, being sold many of his possessions by a funerary undertaker, a laundress, and his charwoman Mrs. Dilber, in spite of Scrooge's protests. Incensed that no one seems to care about this man, Scrooge asks the ghost to show him emotion connected with his death. Yet to Come complies, showing Scrooge a couple celebrating that the man is dead; he was apparently their landlord, so now, they can find one to better help them financially.

Scrooge, now more annoyed than ever, demands the ghost show him negative reaction to any death. The ghost responds by returning him to the Cratchit household, where the family is mourning the loss of Tiny Tim, who had, indeed, died of his illness. Bob Cratchit is the most affected by this, having the closest emotional bond with Tim, but nevertheless bravely leads the family prayers over the dinner table. Upon seeing Tim's crutch and hat near their fireplace, the shocked and heartbroken Scrooge moves away from the house and cries out, "What have I done?!" before breaking down in tears. As he does, he sees Fred enter the house, and offer to help the Cratchit family through their troubling loss. This bothers Scrooge even further, now certain it's too late for him to ever change for the better.

Yet to Come next shows Scrooge a candle-lit room with the shadow of a dead body on a bed, under a blanket, cast on one of its walls, all underscored by ominous spiritual chant music ("Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine afar here [...] And see his good deeds springing from the wound, to sow it with life immortal!" as a Gregorian chant). As he walks down the hallway away from the room, Scrooge, sensing that Yet to Come will leave soon, asks him who was the dead man they had just seen.

The ghost answers by transporting Scrooge to a dark cemetery amid a blizzard and a thunderstorm, and pointing to a frozen tombstone. Before Scrooge takes a look at it, he asks, "Are these the shadows of things that will be, or the shadows of things that may be?", citing that if he starts changing his actions in life, he can avoid the potentially grim future. The ghost blows ice off the tombstone, revealing Scrooge's name, February birth date, and Christmas Day death date. Scrooge, realizing that his was the dead body he had seen earlier, tries to escape the cemetery, but gets dragged into his own grave by snowy quicksand. Scrooge cries out for Yet to Come to save him. His once bitter and merciless attitude already shattered beyond repair, and on the verge of tears, Scrooge promises to become a better man, and keep Christmas in his heart all year long, never to ignore the lessons of the past, present or future, before begging the ghost to tell him he can "sponge away the writing on that stone!" Suddenly, a coffin opens and releases long, heavy chains that wrap around Scrooge. More terrified than ever, the miser pleads for mercy from Yet to Come, who apathetically allows the chains to drag Scrooge into the coffin, as he screams an elongated "NNNOOOOOOOOO!" Yet to Come dissipates into thin air.

Scrooge finally finds himself back in his bedroom. Though happy he's still alive after all this, he begins to worry that he missed Christmas. Scrooge rushes to the window and notices a boy (resembling Mr. Fezziwig, as both are played by Ernie) pulling a sled. He asks the boy what day it is, to which he responds, "It's Christmas Day!" This leaves Scrooge amazed; the three spirits completed their visits in one night. A now joyous and enthusiastic Scrooge decides to keep his vow to change for the better, and to make amends with the people to whom he had once been so cold (but not before telling the boy to bring him the giant prized turkey from the poulterer so he can deliver it to Bob Cratchit's family). First, he visits the two charity collectors he had told off, and donates $1,000 of his money to help the poor. Next, he arrives at Belle's house, not expecting any forgiveness for killing Dick Wilkins many years ago. Belle forgives him anyway, knowing that even a man like Dick Wilkins himself would've forgiven Scrooge despite what he had done, and besides, no one can hold a grudge forever.

Scrooge then visits his nephew Fred, apologizing for telling Fred off when he invited Scrooge for dinner. Fred, being the jolly chap he is, immediately allows his uncle in; he's just in time for roast turkey; only, everyone is afraid to touch the oversized knife for carving the turkey. Scrooge volunteers, and cuts up slices for the other guests. Fred wishes his Uncle Scrooge a merry Christmas, to which Scrooge returns the favor before leaving, briefly forgetting his cane as he starts to head down the street. The next morning, Scrooge sits at his countinghouse, growing impatient that Bob Cratchit has yet to arrive, being 15 minutes late. Once Bob does arrive, Scrooge, feigning his cold, bitter attitude, demands the clerk enter his office. Bob fearfully apologizes to Scrooge and tells him he won't make the mistake again, because Christmas is once a year. Scrooge claims he's tired of the excuses, approaching Cratchit as if to fire him. Instead, Scrooge announces he'll raise Cratchit's salary (the news of which causes Cratchit to faint), and help find a cure for his youngest son (whom Scrooge misnames as Thomas), then discuss Cratchit's affairs over roast turkey and hot punch. Scrooge helps Cratchit put on his coat and hat and sends him out the door, telling him to "buy another coal scuttle before [he] dot[s] another 'I'!" Bob Cratchit, still startled by what just happened, tremblingly walks home.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reappears and removes his hood, revealing himself as Trevor Monster, who reveals that Scrooge was "better than his word", becoming "a second father" to the still alive Tiny Tim, and a joyous, respectable figure across London, undoubtedly leading by the ghosts' examples. The story ends with Trevor walking by the Cratchit house, where Tiny Tim exclaims one last "God bless us, everyone!" The book closes, and the camera zooms out to a wide shot of a snow-covered Sesame Street, with "Keep Christmas with You" playing over the end credits.

Cast
Oscar the Grouch (Eric Jacobson) as Ebenezer Scrooge

Elmo (puppetry by Ryan Dillon, voice by Kevin Clash) as Tiny Tim

Elmo's Dad (puppetry by Tyler Bunch, voice by Bill Barretta) as Bob Cratchit

Grover (Eric Jacobson) as Nephew Fred & Christmas Party Waiter

Moishe Oofnik (puppetry by Louise Gold, voice by Gilles Ben-David) as Jacob Marley

Grundgetta (Pam Arciero) as Belle

Abby Cadabby (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) as the Ghost of Christmas Past

Count Von Count (Matt Vogel) as the Ghost of Christmas Present

Trevor Monster (puppetry by Karen Prell, voice by Mark Hamill) as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Ernie (Peter Linz) as Mr. Fezziwig & Boy with Sled

Elmo's Mom (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Mrs. Cratchit

Rudy (Frankie Cordero) as Peter Cratchit

Rosita (Carmen Osbahr) as Belinda Cratchit

Zoe (Jennifer Barnhart) as Martha Cratchit

Big Bird (Matt Vogel) as Scrooge's Schoolmaster

Irvine (Martin P. Robinson) as Fan

Prairie Dawn (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Mrs. Dilber & Mrs. Fezziwig

Bert (Eric Jacobson) as Dick Wilkins and Topper

Mr. Snuffleupagus (Martin P. Robinson) as Old Joe

Phoebe Furchester-Fuzz (Sarah Burgess) as Fred's Wife

Cookie Monster (David Rudman) as Charity Collector #1 & Christmas Party Chef

Gonger (Warrick Brownlow-Pike) as Charity Collector #2 & Christmas Party Chef

Herry Monster (Peter Linz) as Gentleman #1

Telly Monster (Martin P. Robinson) as Gentleman #2

Baby Bear (David Rudman) as Gentleman #3

Ingrid (John Tartaglia) as Caroline

Humphrey (David Rudman) as Caroline's Husband

Baby Natasha (Ryan Dillon) as Caroline's Child

Murray Monster (Matt Vogel) as Undertaker

Ovejita (Carmen Osbahr) as Laundress

Little Bird (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Parrot

Mr. Johnson (Matt Vogel) as Christmas Party Customer

Two-Headed Monster (Eric Jacobson and David Rudman) as Carriage Driver

Lefty the Salesman (Ryan Dillon) as Himself

Roosevelt Franklin (puppetry by Ryan Dillon, voice by Chris Knowings) as Ignorance & Caroler #1

Segi (puppetry by Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, voice by Christy Knowings) as Caroler #2

Betty Lou (Lisa Buckley) as Want

Samuel (Spencer Lott) as Homeless Boy #1

Julia (Stacey Gordon) as Homeless Girl #1

Farley (Peter Linz) as Homeless Boy #2

Gabrielle (Megan Piphus) as Homeless Girl #2

Benny Rabbit (Tyler Bunch) as Fiddler

Slimey (puppetry by Martin P. Robinson, voice by Dick Maitland) as Himself

Barkley (Bruce Connelly) as Stray Dog

Kermit the Frog (Matt Vogel) as Himself

Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson) as Herself

Bear (Noel MacNeal) as Himself

Gobo Fraggle (John Tartaglia) as Himself

Red Fraggle (Karen Prell) as Herself

Wembley Fraggle (puppetry by Frankie Cordero, voice by Steve Whitmire) as Himself

Mokey Fraggle (puppetry by Donna Kimball, voice by Kathryn Mullen) as Herself

Boober Fraggle (Dave Goelz) as Himself

Princeton (John Tartaglia) as Himself

Kate Monster (Stephanie D'Abruzzo) as Herself

Theo Lion (Peter Linz) as Himself

Cleo Lion (Jennifer Barnhart) as Herself

Lionel Lion (puppetry by Noel MacNeal, voice by Anthony Asbury) as Himself

Leona Lion (puppetry by Pam Arciero, voice by Kathryn Mullen) as Herself

Uncle Travelling Matt (Dave Goelz) as Himself

Tutter (Peter Linz) as Himself

Ojo (Vicki Kenderes Eibner) as Herself

Pip (Peter Linz) and Pop (Tyler Bunch) as Themselves

Treelo (Tyler Bunch) as Himself

Julie (Alice Dinnean) as Herself

Kiki (Carmen Osbahr) as Herself

Ben (Jim Martin) as Himself

Leon (Noel MacNeal) as Himself

Skye (Peter Linz) as Himself

Jody (Alison Mork) as Himself

Basil (Tim Lagasse) as Himself

Ginger (Leslie Carrara-Rudolph) as Herself

Lily (Carmen Osbahr) as Herself

Root (Heather Asch) as Himself

Gary Gnu (Jim Martin) as Himself

ALF (puppetry by Rick Lyon, voice by Paul Fusco) as Himself

Chamki (puppetry by Stephanie D'Abruzzo, voice by Ghazal Javed) as Herself

Nuzzle (Peter Linz) as Himself

Sizzle (Alice Dinnean) as Himself

Twiddlebugs (voices by Rickey Boyd) as Themselves

Oscar/Scrooge Assistant Puppeteers: Colleen Smith, Grant Baciocco

Oscar/Scrooge Stand-In Puppeteers: Donna Kimball, Russ Walko, Rachel Herrick, Dorien Davies, Nate Begle

Abby/Ghost of Christmas Past Assistant Puppeteers: Sean Johnson, Patrick Johnson

Count/Ghost of Christmas Present Assistant Puppeteers: Drew Massey, Victor Yerrid

Trevor/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Assistant Puppeteers: Mike Quinn, Alice Dinnean

Oofnik/Marley Assistant Puppeteers: Darci Lynne Farmer, John Kennedy, David Quesal

Snuffy/Old Joe Assistant Puppeteer: Bryant Young

Big Bird/Schoolmaster Stand-In Puppeteers: Noel MacNeal, Peter Linz, Rick Lyon

ALF Assistant Puppeteers: Julianne Buescher, Jim Kroupa

Oscar/Scrooge Stunt Double: Dana Michael Woods

Additional Muppet Performers: Brad Abrell, Rachel Appelbaum, Steve Axtell, Greg Ballora, David Barclay, Billy Barkhurst, Lawrence Basgall, Jake Bazel, Tau Bennett, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, Tim Blaney, Cheryl Blaylock, Lindsey "Z" Briggs, Lee Bryan, Kevin Carlson, Raymond Carr, Brian Carson, Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo, Brian Clark, Ceili Clemens, Josh Cohen, Austin Michael Costello, Melissa Creighton, Carole D'Agostino, Nathan Danforth, Jamie Donmoyer, Ben Durocher, Jodi Eichelberger, Artie Esposito, David Matthew Feldman, Roberto Ferreira, David Fino, Galen Fott, Bradley Freeman Jr., Mark Gale, Aymee Garcia, Rob Gardner, Cameron Garrity, Noah Ginex, James Godwin, Jerome Green, Alex U. Griffin, BJ Guyer, Liz Hara, Terri Hardin, David Liebe Hart, Christopher Thomas Hayes, Andy Hayward, Joshua Holden, Patrick Holmes, David Hosay, Bill Remington Hubner, Dave Hulteen, Haley Jenkins, Scott Johnson, Avery Lee Jones, Brian Michael Jones, Ulysses Jones, David Jordan, Nameer El Kadi, James Kemp, Kathleen Kim, Doug Kincaid, Joe Kovacs, Mary Robinette Kowal, Adam Kreutinger, Scott Land, Bruce Lanoil, Michael Latini, Jayden Libran, Michael Lisa, Weston Chandler Long, Lara MacLean, Amanda Maddock, Greg Manion, Alexander Mantia, Boitumelo Betty Maretele, Olga Felgemacher Marin, Ed May, Cathy McCullough, Paul McGinnis, Jess McKay, Megan McNerney, Andrew Moriarty, Paul Louis Muller, Jason Murphy, James Murray, Jim Napolitano, Russell Nauman, Michael Oosterom, Brett O'Quinn, Anney Fresh Ozar, Adam Pagdon, Christine Papalexis, Annie Peterle, Marc Petrosino, Abby Roderick, Tim Rose, Joey Rudman, Benjamin Schrader, Michael Schupbach, Michael Schwabe, Tracie Mick Shoemaker, Michelan Sisti, David Skelly, Thom Stanley, David Stephens, Neil Sterenberg, Kenny Stevenson, Andy Stone, Lisa Sturz, Allan Trautman, Steve Troop, Gabriel Velez, Robin Walsh, Steven Widerman, Susan Widerman, Mark Bryan Wilson, James Wojtal, Chase Woolner, Eric Wright, Evy Wright, Matt Yates, Connor Asher, Phil Baron, David Bizzaro, Mary Brehmer, Matt Brooks, Kristin Charney, Neil Cicierega, Paul Vincent Davis, Emily DeCola, Bill Diamond, Peggy Etra, Bob Fappiano, Genevieve "G" Flati, Thom Fountain, Dan Garza, Sam Koji Hale, Chris Heady, Gwen Hollander, Charles Hubbell, Victoria Johnson, Kate Katz, Andy Rocco Kraft, Tiffany Lange, Matthew Lavin, Mindy Escobar Leanse, Todd Gerson Levin, Len Levitt, Karen Maruyama, Ted Michaels, Danny Montooth, Kevin Noonchester, Eric Novak, Sarah Oh, Cynthia Von Orthal, Chris Palmieri, Ian Petrella, Felix Pire, Jared Ramirez, Steven Ritz, Melissa Roja, Misty Rosas, Phoebe Rudman, Carla Rudy, Paul Rugg, Nicolette Santino, Joe Selph, Pam Severns, Benjamin Siemon, James Silson, Scott Silson, Jessica Simon, Jeff Speetjens, Trey Stokes, David Strassman, Ian Sweetman, Norman Tempia, Blair Thomas, Winston Tong, Basil Twist, Tony Urbano, Cheri Lynne VandenHeuvel, Art Vega, Jack Venturo, Alex Villa, Daniel Weissbrodt, Wayne White, Vanessa Whitney, Scott Woodard, Paul Zaloom

The Baker (Voice) by Jim Henson

The Mad Painter (Voice) by Paul Benedict

Crew
Executive Producer: Benjamin Lehmann

Produced by Ken Scarborough

Screenplay by Christine Ferraro

Based on the book by Charles Dickens

Directed by Jack Jameson

Puppeteer Consultants: Fran Brill, Brian Henson

Music by Hans Zimmer

"Keep Christmas with You (All Through the Year)" and "I Hate Christmas": music by Sam Pottle, lyrics by David Axlerod

Puppet Captain: Matt Vogel (N.Y.), Kevin Clash (L.A.)

Puppet Design Consultant: Ed Christie

Puppets, Costumes & Props by The Jim Henson Company New York Creature Shop: Paul Andrejco, Heather Asch, Lauren Attinello, Carol Binion, Ronald Binion, David Bizzaro, Erin Slattery Black, Cheryl Blaylock, Mary Brehmer, Matthew Brennan, Matt Brooks, Lisa Buckley, Michael Bush, Brian Carson, Ceili Clemens, Frankie Cordero, Melissa Creighton, Carole D'Agostino, Andrea Detwiler, Isabelle Dufour, Ben Durocher, Richard Dyar, Victoria Ellis, Henri Ewaskio, Ed Eyth, Bob Fappiano, Alex "Jurgen" Ferguson, Bob Flanagan, Rob Gardner, Joel Gennari, Vanessa Gifford Gillis, James Godwin, Muriel Stockdale Grabe, Brian Haimes, Tyler Hall, Elizabeth Hara, Paul Hartis, Deb Hertzberg, Michelle Hickey, Joshua Holden, Ann Marie Holdgruen, J. Douglas James, Ulysses Jones, Jean Marie Keevins, Ariella Knight, Joe Kovacs, Rollie Krewson, Jim Kroupa, Sarah Lafferty, Tim Lagasse, Kari Love, Peter MacKennan, Lara MacLean, Amanda Maddock, Laura Manns, Cathy McCullough, Tom McLaughlin, Megan McNerney, Casey Miller, Thomas O. Newby, Colette Nickola, Danielle Obinger, John Orberg, Anney Fresh McKilligan Ozar, Constance Peterson, Jane Pien, Lily Rosen, Stephen Rotondaro, Kate Rusek, Sierra Schoening, Michael Schupbach, Jessica Simon, Polly Smith, Keely Snook, David Valentine, Jason Weber, Stacey Weingarten, Julie Wigg, Matt Witham, James Wojtal

Production (Jim Henson): Gabriella Degennaro, Jonathan Ehrich, Carolyn Fanelli, Joseph Roddy, Jason Seck

Visual Effects & Animation by Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm Ltd.