HOMER GLEN – Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” has long been a holiday favorite for its uplifting message of transformation and forgiveness. Now, a local theater group has added a spiritual spin to that classic tale of rebirth.

The Homer Glen-based Little Flowers Catholic Dance and Theater Troupe, a local traveling arts group that presents faith-based shows, is performing “The Conversion of Scrooge,” a Catholicism-infused retelling of the Christmas chestnut that retains its central plot and details but adds God into the mix, particularly in Scrooge’s reformation.

“The Conversion of Scrooge” will be performed at the Lemont High School Performing Arts Center this weekend for one show Sunday; it also will be at Plainfield’s St. Mary Immaculate Parish for two shows Dec. 14.

“The essence of the show is the same. The idea is that Scrooge is a horrible man who is a miser and self-centered, who has closed himself off from the world,” said Simonetta Pacek, the creator, producer and director of the play.

The biggest difference in the productions, Pacek added, is the conclusion.

“In the traditional show, he reconciles himself only with the world,” Pacek said. “In my show, he goes to church and also reconciles his life with God.”

There also are little stylistic additions that lend it a religious feel as well, including a friend of Scrooge who is a priest who pops up at key moments throughout the show, most notably at the end, where he assists Scrooge in his conversion to a positive path.

“To me, the entire theme of the show is that God forgives us and we as people can forgive each other,” Pacek said. “It so beautifully shows how the town, the Cratchits, his own family, forgave him, and I wanted to add God to the story as well, to show that God also forgives us and we are always welcome to come to Him for reconciliation.”

This is the second year for Pacek’s “Conversion of Scrooge,” although she’s been producing and directing shows for 19 years and doing a holiday show since 2008, when she debuted “The Silent Nativity,” which was a re-enactment of the classic Biblical tale through actors, musicians and dancers – performers who, as with those in “Conversion,” echo the values they’re portraying in the work.

“I think it’s important that our players are living the message off stage as well as presenting it on stage,” Pacek said of her cast and crew. “You can’t just put actors up there with a fake belief, and you can feel in their words and their passion that they really truly do believe in the message behind this show. All of the actors do a phenomenal job, and our Scrooge is really the best. He’s just fantastic, both on and off the stage.”

Jeff Sniegowski of Plainfield plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the iconic curmudgeon and millionaire who has hoarded his money and gated his heart, obscuring both from the outside world.

By day, the 51-year-old delivers the mail in Lemont (Sniegowski has been a mail carrier for 32 years), but by night he’s been donning the cloak and scowl of a hollow man in search of a flame to ignite the coals of his heart.

Sniegowski never had acted until he was asked, in 2008, to take part in Pacek’s sacred passion play, “The Seven Last Words of Christ,” in which he played various roles, he said.

His daughter, Grace, had been a part of Pacek’s dance troupe, so Sniegowski said he took the stage to pitch in, help make the show a reality and be involved in something with his family.

“I loved it,” Sniegowski said. “It was a lot of fun and a chance to share my faith with my acting. All of the time and effort was so worth it because of the positive messages of the show.”

Sniegowski then played a part in Pacek’s Christmas Nativity show. When Pacek had the idea to take on Dickens, Pacek said she knew Sniegowski would be “perfect” for the part. He wasn’t quite as sure but was excited to try.

“It’s a big part. Last year was the first time I did it, and it’s easier this time, but it’s still a lot of work,” Sniegowski said. “But I don’t think there’s a better role you could ask for than Ebenezer Scrooge. It covers the gamut of emotions, and he’s such a universal character to relate to. We’ve all made mistakes, we’ve all done things we regret. I think at different points of the show, everyone in the audience will be able to look at him and say ‘That’s me – that’s something I need to work on.’ ”

Pacek agrees that having viewers leave happy and uplifted is her primary goal, a nice antidote to the proliferation of negative entertainment the world offers.

“In my life, what I want to do is work as much as I can to bring meaningful things to my life and others,” Pacek said. “I think, ultimately, that’s one of the things this show is all about, that we can and should work to do what’s right. That’s a message for the Christmas season and year-round.”

This story was updated to correct the day the Lemont High School show takes place. The Herald-News regrets the error.