Back again after a run of several years and a year off, "Christmas Is Comin' Uptown" can't yet claim to be a tradition along the lines of CLO's "Christmas Carol" or Pitt's "Nativity," but it's already that much fun.

A lively black musical comedy version of a classic, "Christmas Is Comin' Uptown" is to "A Christmas Carol" as "The Wiz" is to "The Wizard of Oz."

The Uptown in question is Harlem, though it could be parts of Pittsburgh. The general plot follows Dickens, but Philip Rose and Peter Udell's dialogue accommodates a contemporary Scrooge who is a black slum landlord who oppresses tenants, social services and churches ("if they don't pay, they don't stay/play/pray").

Kevin Brown, left, and Les Howard give Dickens a twist as Scrooge and Cratchit in "Christmas Is Comin' Uptown."

'Christmas Is Comin' Uptown'

• Where: Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater, 542 Penn Ave. (second floor), Downtown.
• When: Through Dec. 23; Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m.; also 1 p.m. Dec. 15.
• Tickets: $17-$20; 412-621-4445.
• Also: Senior/student matinees, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Dec. 18; Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty; $7.

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This Scrooge welcomes Christmas, because the commercialism of the season rejoices his mercenary soul. And he has a comic song worthy of a Grinch: "Somebody's Gotta Be the Heavy."

Marley's ghost comes to share a snappy number with him, followed quickly by the three spirits, played by the same tenant, social activist and minister Scrooge has already dissed. Each takes him on a short journey, omitting many of Dickens' characters and scenes. Then it's Christmas morning, and Scrooge hustles off to the Cratchits, briefcase full of money, to turn over a new leaf.

The time saved by the paring down of plot and dialogue is devoted to the lively songs of Udell (lyrics) and Garry Sherman (music). There are some 15, starting with the whole cast of 12 in an introductory Broadway number. Others express the characters and advance the plot, and there are familiar Christmas songs and powerful gospel numbers.

No time is wasted on transitions between scenes, thanks to director Jeannine Foster-McKelvia. The whole show runs well under two hours, intermission included.

Musical director Buster Alston shares credit with the performers for the stomping church sequence in Act 1; it's immediately followed by the show's sweetest, simplest song. The recorded accompaniment isn't pretty but serviceable.

Kevin Brown's Scrooge is never subtle but always robust and in command. His powerful redemption song at the end of Act 1 shows he's one of Pittsburgh's true talents. Les Howard is a funny, eager Cratchit, and Ben Blakey rattles his chains as both Marley and a soul-belting preacher.

Teri Bridgett plays the activist who was Scrooge's former love, Kim El Harris is Mrs. Cratchit and Carter Redwood's Christmas Future is a ghostly song and dance man. In Dickens, he is a faceless shape, which gives comic point to Redwood's "Everybody Say They Want to See My Face, Nobody Really Do."

Three cute dancers -- Danielle Mason, Saharan Nzongola and Maya Randolph -- doff many wigs and costumes to play varied roles with enthusiasm.

"Uptown" was originally produced on Broadway with Gregory Hines in 1979 and was first staged in Pittsburgh by Connie Portis' Renaissance Publications six years ago. Now it is continued by the African American Council of the Arts. All it needs is an audience to find its way to the small Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre.

Actually, a huge potential audience floods past its door every night, because the theater is on the first floor of the Jackman Building parking garage, right around the corner from Heinz Hall above the Subway shop.

The tiny theater is very basic, without any Heinz Hall glitter. But there's an enthusiastic community theater cast stiffened with solid pros. And for a senior citizen and student audience, there are also two matinees in East Liberty.