DeKalb’s Stage Coach Players is putting its money where its mouth is this holiday season.

On its second year in a hopeful new tradition, Stagecoach, 126 South 5th Street, will perform Charles Dickens’ classic Victorian story, “A Christmas Carol.”

The local theater will exercise the lessons learned in the play by donating all proceeds for one performance to the Toys for Tots charity organization.

The admission requirement for the 2 p.m. matinee performance Dec. 10 will be a toy of at least a $5 value or a cash donation of any size.

“This will be our donation to the Christmas season,” said director G. Scott Morris. “We’re doing a show about giving; we should act on it.”

The director was acquainted with Toys for Tots through a close friend at the Holmes Student Center, where Morris works as audio/visual supervisor.

“When the opportunity came up to direct, I knew my friend, who has since passed away, would want me to use this opportunity and push the Toys for Tots program,” Morris said.

This year also marks a departure from the heavier, darker “Christmas Carol” performed at Stage Coach last year.

Adapted by Patrick Spradlin, a theater professor at Minnesota Central Lakes College, the production utilizes clever multi-level staging, secret doors and more humor to accentuate the light-hearted time of year.

“An interesting aspect of this production is one isn’t so struck with a hatred of Scrooge. We sympathize a bit more,” said Kathy Cain, stage manager.

Last year’s production was well received by the community, and the diverse forty-member cast hopes to keep the tradition alive.

“We have everyone from second graders to 72-year-olds, students from NIU to residents of Rockford,” Cain said.

The two hour production accordingly utilizes many different elements of the stage.

Dickens’ “Christmas Carol,” at the time it came out, revolutionized the Christmas season and has continued to define the holiday’s altruistic sensibilities.

“People are still materialistic, even around Christmas, and we’re lucky to be able to display the spirit of the season on stage,” Morris said. “This show is about joy, happiness, a little bit of sadness and mostly kindness.”

“A Christmas Carol” is always good for a re-evaluation of one’s Christmas ethics and even useful as a message for everyday living.”