"A Christmas Carol"...The Musical? Quiz

Answer: Alan Menken

Yes, Mr. Menken provided the score for "A Christmas Carol: The Musical." Among his other Broadway and Off-Broadway work, he has composed music for a number of Disney films, which include: "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and "Hercules."

Answer: True

In the song "Nothing To Do With Me" and its after parts, Scrooge encounters all three ghosts in human form. The Ghost of Christmas Past is working on a street lamp, the Ghost of Christmas Present is selling tickets to a play to help support a charity and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a blind woman begging on the street. All three sing a foreshadowing line of their respective visits.

Answer: "Link by Link"

Marley sings this song as he describes how the evils in his life literally formed the links in the chains that he wears in death.

The opening lines in my best singing, um, typing voice:

"It is required of every man, that his spirit travel far.
Lending help to those he can, no matter who they are.
But if you don't go forth in life, spreading joy and easing pain,
your spirit will go forth in death, and you shall wear a chain!"

The song lasts about four minutes and includes visits and dances from other ghosts. It concludes with Scrooge thanking the ghosts for "materializing."

Answer: The Ghost of Christmas Past

At the strike of one, the Ghost of Christmas Past comes to visit Scrooge and shows him the "shadows" of his past that formed him into the person he has become.

This rendition of "A Christmas Carol" spends a great deal of time in Scrooge's past, to establish how Scrooge became so bitter. The ghost first takes him to the trial of his father, who is sentenced for failure to pay a debt. As he is taken into custody, John, Scrooge's father, screams to young Ebenezer to "Save your pennies, make your fortune and keep it."

Again, the opening in my best singing voice:

"It's your lucky night
Brought you something bright
Something with a twinkle and a glow
To remember
The lights of long ago"

Answer: Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball

Not too much is said about Mr. Fezziwig, except that it is with him that Scrooge got his start in banking and that he throws one heck of a lively annual Christmas ball. Coincidentally, the song sung during the festive event is titled "Mr. Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball."

"What makes nannies laugh until it hurts
What gets grannies kicking up their skirts
Here do babies dance before they crawl
It's the Fezziwigs' annual Christmas ball"

The tempo is fast and the tune features many people dancing, singing and having a merry old time.

Answer: When Tiny Tim toasts Scrooge and says "God bless Mr. Scrooge"

Yes, young innocent Tim doesn't know of Scrooge's humbug thoughts of Christmas or how he treats Bob Cratchit, he just knows it was his money that bought the family's Christmas feast.

This really stands out to Scrooge, as everyone else he and the ghost visit mentions Scrooge in a negative manner. In fact, the mere mention of Scrooge's name causes the people's Christmas cheer to momentarily vanish.

Answer: Taking and selling Scrooge's possessions

His housekeeper, Mrs. Mops, and two other gentlemen steal Scrooge's clothes off of his corpse and bed curtains and offer them for sale.

Mrs. Mops: "Shame to let a shirt like this go in the ground!"

Undertakers: "Grab the sheets and curtains off his bed!"

Mrs. Mops: "Wasn't worth your spit while he was still around,"

All three: "But just look how much he's worth now that he's dead!"

Answer: Tiny Tim

Yes, in Scrooge's visit to the future, he learns that poor Tiny Tim has succumbed to his ailments and died. A tearful Bob sings a reprise of "You Mean More to Me" as he and the family say goodbye to Tiny Tim.

"I don't have a fortune
Hidden in a shoe.
Many men have fortunes.
All I have is you.

We shall none of us forget you, Tiny Tim. My little child."

Answer: "Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today"

After the three ghostly visits and witnessing the lack of concern about his death by the townspeople, Scrooge has a moment of revelation and sings his song of repentance. The song is titled "Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today":

"I have seen a future full of darkness,
All the darkness of my heart,
At my door a world in need of kindness,
From man's kindness,
I departed,
All the hours and days and years I've wasted,
All the joy and love I never tasted,
All the errors of the past replaced with something strange...
Give me time to change,
I can see a future full of beauty,
and my spirit starts to fly!
I can change the world, yes, it's my duty!
God forgive me,
Let me try - I'll,
spend my fortune on the ones who need me,
Go where kindness and my conscience lead me,
Give my heart and soul to all-God speed me on my way,
And to God I pray...
Let the Christmas spirit live within me,
Yesterday, tomorrow and today!"

Answer: Give the deed of his shop to charity

Scrooge sets out to right his wrongs. He cancels debts, hands out money and even kisses Mrs. Mops. He encounters all three human forms of the spirits and gives them each a donation. He makes his way to the Cratchits' house and finally to Fred's house. Though through all of this, he never gives his shop away.