Production notes:
Coming off the heals of last season's very successful production of "It's A Wonderful Life", which was our initial experience in putting on a holiday show for the greater Bloomfield metroplex, your Rotary Club, immediately became excited about the 2017 show, and in January, the plans began!
Getting director Greg back from New York City was a very key element. The professionalism of last year was due in great part to the professionalism Greg displayed to the cast and crew, who, in turn, did a phenomenal job emulating our director's example. The decision to try to adapt a play to fit the Radio Show format was a gamble, which we think has paid off. You can be the final judge of that tonight.
We wanted a finger lakes centric story set in "modern" times, so who better to adapt, than Charles Dickens, author of arguably the most well known Christmas tale ever written. No pressure!
When Dickens wrote this ghost story in 1843, many of our holiday traditions, such as a "Christmas tree", were still newly emerging. He set it in "modern times", that was, 1843 London, England during the reign of Queen Victoria. Obviously, much has changed in the world in the past 175 years or so, but the Spirits of Christmas remain as strong and alive as ever. The story still thrills and delights the hearts of the young and the "less young" alike.
The tale has been told many, many times on film and on stage and in opera and yes, even on radio.
You will find the characters that you have known and loved, albeit somewhat "modernized". You may also discover some changes that allow for the modern day, the new setting, to accommodate the live radio concept and our specific performance venues.
The reason for the radio format is really quite simple. First, it is pretty novel for this region. Secondly, it is not necessary for the actors to fully memorize roles. At this busy time of the year, that is certainly a plus for filling a cast with very busy people. The entire rehearsal schedule is the week of the production, so our actors' commitment is just that single week. Thirdly, the radio format was wonderfully received last season. This format permits the audience to engage their imaginations without the distraction of someone else's perception of that which the author intended. In short, you provide the magic! Welcome to theater! The audiences were greatly entertained by watching the Foley Artist create the sound effects that added so greatly to the enjoyment of radio audiences during the 1930,s, 40's and 50's. We are so lucky to have our Foley Artist, Cassie Stauffer back with us again this year.
