Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham will mutter the traditional "Bah, humbug!" this year as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Performances are set to run from Nov. 29-Dec. 29 at the 5,600-seat house in New York City.

Abraham, who earned his Oscar in the movie version of Peter Schaeffer's "Amadeus" as composer Antonio Salieri, is currently slated to star in the upcoming Broadway production of Paper Doll. His other stage credits include Triumph of Love, A Month in the Country, Angels in America [Perestroika and Millennium Approaches], King Lear as the title role and The Fantasticks.

This 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). His wife, Susan Stroman, the multi-Tony Award winner (The Producers, Contact) oversees the production and choreographs. The production features songs by composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island).

The creative team includes scenic designer Tony Walton (I'm Not Rappaport, Guys and Dolls), costume designer William Ivey Long (Hairspray, The Producers) and the lighting design team of Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (Elaine Stritch At Liberty, Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk).

Past Christmas misers have included Tim Curry (2001), Frank Langella (2000), Tony Roberts (1999), Roger Daltrey (1998), Hal Linden & Roddy McDowall (1997), Tony Randall (1996), Terrence Mann (1995) and Walter Charles (1994). For tickets ($29-$79) and information on A Christmas Carol at the Theater at MSG, call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171.

— by Ernio Hernandez