Alexander, who is in negotiations, would play Jacob Marley to Grammer's Scrooge. Martin is set to play the Ghost of Christmas Present, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Arthur Allan Seidelman (Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks) has joined to direct the project. The television event — previously announced to air in November — will be headed by executive producer Robert Halmi Sr. of Hallmark Entertainment ( "Gulliver's Travels" and "Merlin"). Menken and Ahrens are onboard for the teleplay.

Shooting begins this summer in Budapest following Grammer's last "Frasier" shoot March 20 and some time off. The deal came as reciprocity for another Grammer Halmi project in the works—"Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" — which the network had originally passed on.

Alexander recently finished a stint in the Los Angeles staging of The Producers as Max Bialystock — a role Grammer was recently reported to be in talks for on Broadway. Martin is best known for his work on "Law & Order" and in the original cast of Rent.

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.