"A Christmas Carol" is, of course, a long-standing tradition, but it's one that finds many merry variations onstage. Take, for instance, Chestnut Street Playhouse's version. It's a musical "Carol" created by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Lynn Ahrens. Menken's credits include Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "Little Shop of Horrors," while Ahrens' include "Ragtime" and "Seussical." Ahrens co-wrote the book for the show with Mike Ockrent, who directed "Crazy for You" and "Me and My Girl."

Derek Corriveau, who plays Scrooge, says you can hear echoes of Menken and Ahrens' other works in some of the "Christmas Carol" music, although not the lyrics.

"A lot of the play is underscored, so there's music throughout whether it's sung or just played," Corriveau says. "A lot of the segue music in between scenes. You can tell. ... You definitely know who the writers are."

He notes that there are several poignant songs, and Corriveau particularly likes "A Place Called Home," a small, recurring theme throughout the show that he says is "really beautiful to listen to."

As for the visuals, he says that director Lisa Foss, who is also the playhouse's board president, has created a steam-punk atmosphere for the production.

"So there's gears and locks and things like that on the stage," he says. "The costuming is a mix of things, but there's some steam punk with goggles and keys and different things attached to costumes."

As for Scrooge himself, Corriveau says that while many actors play the miser as an old man, in his 70s or so, he and Foss did some research and came to the conclusion that he probably isn't that old and is more likely in his mid- to late-50s.

"He's a little bit younger than normal. Speaking in terms of the Victorian age and how early people died, that's how we came to the conclusion," he says.

A lot about Scrooge, Corriveau says, "is spelled right out. It's either in the words of the text or (from) other characters of the story — they tell you how he is, they sort of describe him. ... I just listened to what other characters say about Scrooge and molded myself into their words," Corriveau says.

This is the first holiday season for the Chestnut Street Playhouse. This inaugural year, Corriveau says, "has been crazy, but it's been really good. The community has been incredibly supportive to us, taking over from the Spirit of Broadway."

He says the theater's ticket sales and pre-sales have increased with each production.

The theater recently announced its 2016 season. Corriveau, who is part of the theater's seven-person artistic committee, says, "When we're not onstage or working our normal jobs, we're doing research in terms of finding shows to do."

It's a proudly eclectic line-up: the parodic puppet musical "Avenue Q" (April 14-30), followed by the priest drama "Doubt: A Parable" (June 16-26). Then comes the Kander-and-Ebb classic "Cabaret" (Aug. 11-28) and "Greater Tuna" (Oct. 6-16), in which two actors portray all the characters in a small town in Texas. The year closes with, naturally, another holiday show: "White Christmas: The Musical" (Dec. 2-18).

Corriveau says, "I think there's something in the season for everybody."

"A Christmas Carol — The Musical," Chestnut Street Playhouse, 24 Chestnut St., Norwich; through Dec. 20; 7:30 p.m. Thurs. (but no show Dec. 17) and Fri., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sat. (no matinee Dec. 12), and 2 p.m. Sun.; $30 adults, $25 seniors, $15 children/students; (860) 886-2378.