For most of America, the Thanksgiving turkey will officially usher in the Christmas season.
But in Annapolis this year, Ebenezer Scrooge -- Old Humbug himself -- will be the first to announce glad tidings of the holiday to one and all.
At the Annapolis Dinner Theater, the tree is trimmed, and Victorian settings are already in place for Ebenezer's annual appearances, which begin tomorrow evening at the recently reopened theater on U.S. 50 just east of the city.
Of course, local theatergoers also have a chance to enjoy the perennial Dick Gessner-Rick Wade Dickensian blast which will play, as usual, to sold-out houses Thursdays through Sundays, Dec. 8-18, at The Colonial Players of Annapolis.
But the Annapolis Dinner theater's unveiling of a new "Christmas Carol" will be the area's premiere of the tuneful Doug Yetter-Michael Hulett adaptation of Dickens' immortal work.
The performance will be under the guidance of Roland Chambers, the executive director and producer.
The ADT production is directed by David B. Reynolds, stars Tim King as Scrooge and features Stan Morrow, Bob Rude, Carol Cohen and Anita Patton.
Performances will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons through Dec. 23.
The admission price includes a turkey dinner with stuffing and all the trimmings, and a bowl of steaming wassail. Prices for Thursday evenings and all matinees are $20 for adults, $12 for children; Friday and Saturday evening shows are $25 for adults, $15 for children. For reservations, call 626-7515.
Mr. Chambers and his new partners have the theater up and running after financial difficulties forced the place to close in August. Plans are proceeding for performances of "Driving Miss Daisy" after the first of the year.
The Annapolis Comedy Club is also functioning once again. Basile, the so-called "Centerfold of Comedy," will bring his high-energy improvisational skills to the ADT tonight for two shows; one at 7:45 p.m., the other at 9:45 p.m.
"We couldn't have made any of this work without the total commitment of Annapolis theater people," said an obviously delighted Mr. Chambers. "With this kind of enthusiasm, I think we'll have something special to offer our audiences for a long time to come."
Indeed, this Christmas season, the community will have a chance to celebrate history's most famous birth with a trip to the theater that simply would not die.