Henshall's official website reports that the musical theatre star will play the mother of young Scrooge in the musical by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. Scheduled for broadcast this Christmas, shooting begins this summer in Budapest. Henshall joins a cast that includes the previously announced Kelsey Grammer (Ebenezer Scrooge), Jane Krakowski (Ghost of Christmas Past), Jesse L. Martin (Ghost of Christmas Present), Jason Alexander (Jacob Marley), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Scrooge's lost love Emily) and Geraldine Chaplin (Ghost of Christmas Future). Arthur Allan Seidelman (Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks) is directing the project. The musicalized version of A Christmas Carol, based on the Charles Dickens classic, was created and directed by the late Mike Ockrent (Crazy For You, Me and My Girl). The adaptation features songs by composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island). The production was overseen by his widow, Susan Stroman, the multi-Tony Award winner (The Producers, Contact) who also provided choreography.

After ten years of performance, the MSG staging ended its traditional holiday run this past season.

Ruthie Henshall made her professional debut in A Chorus Line, and her other West End credits include Cats, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Oliver!, Crazy for You, She Loves Me, Peggy Sue Got Married and Chicago. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in Crazy for You and Chicago, and she nabbed the Olivier for her performance in She Loves Me. In New York, Henshall was seen in Chicago, Miss Saigon, Putting It Together and the City Center Encores! staging of Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. Her solo albums are entitled "Pilgrim," "The Ruthie Henshall Album" and "Love Is Here to Stay."