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If there's two things San Diego County theatergoers know, it's Shakespeare (courtesy of the Old Globe's 74-year tradition) and "A Christmas Carol," which San Diego Rep produced for 30 years straight (and other troupes have since picked up).

As a result, it's hard to be innovative in San Diego with Charles Dickens' "Carol," but a new musical version of the classic holiday fable at the Welk Resorts Theatre comes mighty close. Welk is producing the San Diego professional premiere of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent's "A Christmas Carol: The Musical," and it does indeed take a very fresh look at the redemptive tale of miserly Victorian humbug Ebenezer Scrooge. The show is well-sung, especially well danced and entertaining, but it's not the "Christmas Carol" most San Diegans grew up with.

You might call this adaptation "A Christmas Carol"-lite. Running a zippy, intermissionless 90 minutes, this adaptation dispenses with much of the prologue and subplots (as well as most of the emotional payoff) for a high-stepping, ever-smiling, relentlessly hurtling story with an ear-pleasing score and a running time ideally suited for families with small children (provided they're not frightened by headless zombies ... but more on that later).

Ockrent and Ahrens must've found Dickens' original story too long and too maudlin, because their version is as peppy as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (yes, there is a Rockettes-style dance number). Even the chain-laden ghost of Jacob Marley smiles all the way through his not-at-all spooky haunting, which ends with a big zombie dance number (there's a headless zombie in the mix and a few obviously fake body parts tossed here and there, but it's all done for laughs). The ghosts of Christmases past, present and future are dressed in dazzling white and are more comic than creepy. The usually ominous spirits of Ignorance and Want are everyday kids. And even Scrooge, known for his vile temper and miserly ways, seems only mildly cranky, and only now and then.

In this streamlined "Carol," the only set is a London street scene with rows of doors which are frequently rolled out and spun around frequently for dance numbers (the building walls in designer Mike Buckley's clever set are covered in lines from the book, written in manuscript as Dickens originally delivered them to the publisher). The Cratchit family has just two children. Scrooge's childhood, doomed romance and partnership with Marley is handled in just under 10 minutes. And nephew Fred's Christmas party scene is gone.

What's been added is a lot of lively dance numbers, well staged by director/choreographer Sha Newman, and a thoughtful concept ---- where the three ghosts who visit Scrooge on Christmas morning are reinterpretations of people he mistreated on the street that evening (and played by the same actors). Christmas Past is a glamorous, diamond and satin-wearing version of the poor lamplighter he refused to help; Christmas Present is vaudeville-style showman (like the carnival barker whose tickets Scrooge refused to buy); and Christmas Future is a sparkle-fairy version of the blind beggar woman he pushed out of his way. This gives their appearance more the feel of dream fantasy than spooky haunting. The upbeat show will leave audiences smiling, but the lump-in-the-throat poignancy is mostly lost and Scrooge's turnaround loses some redemptive power.

Leading the cast as Scrooge is actor Michael G. Hawkins, whose seriously understated performance may be part of the whole "don't make it too scary" concept. Nathan Holland is a terrific showman as the Ghost of Christmas Present; Cynthia Ferrer is a cheery Ghost of Christmas Past; Jill Townsend is sweet and beautiful as Scrooge's young love Emily, and his niece-in-law Sally.

Making his professional debut as Tiny Tim is precious Jared Gray, the 7-year-old son of Welk's longtime music director Justin Gray, and it's clear from his ease onstage, singing skills and focus that he's a chip off the old block. He splits the role of Tiny Tim with Robby Young, a 10-year-old fourth-grader from Poway.

Stephen Knoll-Gentry is gallant as Young Ebenezer; Luke H. Jacobs does double-duty as Young Marley and nephew Fred; Shawn Goodman Jones and Sue Goodman add comic relief as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig; Michael Dotson and Julie Kirkpatrick are a very modern Bob and Mrs. Cratchit; Katie DeShaun is a dazzling Ghost of Christmas Future; Justin Wilcox plays both Mr. Smythe and Mr. Hawkins. Completing the very large cast are Chester Lockhart, Lorena Provencio, James Thomas Bowen, Avalon Patricia Penrose, Taryn Murphy; Ellie Barrett; Celia Tedde and Brielle Mussomeli.

At the performance I attended, the actor cast to play Jacob Marley was indisposed, so actor David Kirk Grant stepped in on just a few hours notice. Grant gets the trooper award for learning the melody of Marley's song and the stage blocking (if not the lines, which he read from the script) in the brief time he had to prepare.

Music director Justin Gray produces a huge sound from the pit with just four musicians. Carlotta Malone's costumes are rich and varied. Patrick Hoyny designed sound, Gene Hicks created props and Jennifer Edwards-Northover designed the lighting.

"A Christmas Carol: The Musical"

When: 1:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; through Jan. 3

Where: Welk Resorts Theatre, Welk Resorts San Diego, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido

Tickets: $58-$63, adults (includes buffet lunch or dinner); $44-$47, adults, show only

Info: 760-749-3448

Web: welktheatresandiego.com