A Radio Christmas Carol

When first begun in 2013 Re-Imagined Radio re-imagined historical radio dramas and other programs as live literary-media art and performance for contemporary audiences. We envisioned voice actors and Foley artists, multimedia, an historic movie theatre, live streaming, social media, and radio broadcasts. Not a community tradition. We offered A Radio Christmas Carol that first year because it seemed appropriate. The next year public demand convinced us to reprise our original performance. We've continued doing that every holiday season, and A Radio Christmas Carol has become a community tradition, bringing joy and festivities to the seasonal holidays.

Our annual performance evolves from A Christmas Carol, written and published by Charles Dickens in December 1834, and never out of print since. The plot is well-known. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser cold of heart and spirit is transformed by three Ghosts of Christmas into a kind, generous, and compassionate man. He gives Bob Cratchit a raise and becomes a second father to Tiny Tim. The point: humanity outweighs riches, and brings redemption.

A number of adaptations have been made of A Christmas Carol. Notable was the 24 December 1939 Campbell Playhouse radio dramatization narrated by Orson Welles and starring Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge. Welles voiced the part of Scrooge in an earlier Mercury Theatre on the Air performance, 23 December 1938. We like to think our re-imagined telling of A Radio Christmas Carol evolves from this pedigree.

2020 Performance

24 December 2020

Re-Imagined Radio presents a recorded performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors and other community volunteers. Broadcast and streamed by KXRW.FM (Vancouver, Washington), KXRY.FM (XRAY.FM, Portland, Oregon), and AM 1310 (Portland, Oregon).

Listen

This two-hour performance was recorded for radio broadcast.

Part 1

Part 2 Credits

Cast
Narrator = Julie Steinbrenner
Ebenezer Scrooge = Jeffrey Puukka
Bob Cratchit = Will Johnson
Charity Gentleman = Kristen Heller
Nephew Fred = Greg Shilling
Ghost of Marley = Jason Weed
Ghost of Christmas Past = Barbara Richardson
Fezziwig = Jason Weed
Belle = Kristin Heller
Young Scrooge = Will Johnson
Ghost of Christmas Present = Jason Weed
Mrs. Cratchit = Kristin Heller
Martha Cratchit = Barbara Richardson
Tiny Tim = Greg Shilling
Ghost of Christmas Future (a non-speaking part)
Man on Street = Jason Weed
Beggar on Street = Kristin Heller
1st Man = Jason Weed
2nd Man = Will Johnson
Goose Person = Barbara Richardson

Director
Barbara Richardson

Audio Recording
The actors themselves

Sound Design
John Barber

Post Production
Martin John Gallagher

Broadcast Services
Joe Clemons, KXRW, Vancouver, Washington

Social Media and Graphic Design
Holly Slocum

Dramaturge and Producer
John Barber

Press & Feedback

WSU Vancouver Partners with Re-Imagined Radio for Holiday Tradition, The Reflector, 18 Dec. 2020.
Re-Imagined Radio Performances, Visit Vancouver USA, 11 Dec. 2020.
Hewitt, Scott. For Clark County Performing Groups, The Show Must Go On(line). The Columbian, 3 Dec. 2020, pp. B1, B5.

2019 Performance

18 December 2019

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Audience count: 250. Broadcast and streamed on KXRW.FM (Vancouver, Washington), KXRY.FM (XRAY.FM, Portland, Oregon), and AM 1310 (Portland, Oregon).

Listen

Unfortunately, no recording of this performance has been identified.

Credits

Cast
Narrator = John Barber
Ebenezer Scrooge = Jeffrey Puukka
Bob Chartchit = Greg Shilling
Charity Gentlemen = Derek Nolan
Nephew Fred = Ethan Radcliff
Ghost of Marley = Bob Meek
Ghost of Christmas Past = Arianna Dorenbosch
Fezziwig = John Barber
Belle = Rebekah Hetrick
Young Scrooge = Derek Nolan
Ghost of Christmas Present = Larry Taylor
Young Girl with Cratchit family = Arianna Dorenbosch
Mrs. Cratcit = Laura Hankins
Martha Cratchit = Rebekah Hetrick
Tiny Tm = Rylan Lewis
Man on Street = Larry Taylor
Begger on Street = John Barber
1st MAN = Ethan Radcliff
2nd MAN = Bob Meek
Goose Person = Rylan Lewis

Director and Producer
John Barber

Sound Design
John Barber

Promotional Graphics
Laura Evancich

Photo Gallery

Photography by Steve Hart

2018 Performance

20 December 2018

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Audience count: 270. Streamed live on KXRW-FM, Vancouver's community radio.

Listen

This performance was recorded live.

Credits

Promotional Graphics
Betsy Hanrahan

Press & Feedback

"A Radio Christmas Carol." The Columbian, Weekend Section, 14 Dec. 2018, p. 26.

Photo Gallery

Photography by N.E.H. Photography

2017 Performance

20 Decemeber 2017

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors, the Metropolitan Performing Arts Carolers, The Juleps, and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Audience count: 320. Streamed live on American Senior Radio Network.

Listen

This performance was recorded live.

Press & Feedback

Hewitt, Scott. The Sound of Scrooge: Vancouver Group Steps Up To Keep "A Radio Christmas Carol" on the Air The Columbian, 15 Dec. 2017, pp. D1, 2.

Photo Gallery

Photography by N.E.H. Photography

2016 Performance

21 December 2016

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by Willamette Radio Workshop actors and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Audience count: 300+. Streamed live on American Senior Radio Network. Rather than paid admissions, audience members donated non-perishable food items for The Clark County Food Bank. Donations of 763 pounds of food and $325.00 provided 2,228 meals for hungry families in Clark County.

Listen

This performance was recorded live.

Credits

Director
Sam Mowry

Promotional Graphics
Sam Mowry

Producer
John Barber

Press & Feedback

Hewitt, Scott. Willamette Radio Workshop To Present 'A Christmas Carol' at Kiggins. The Columbian, 11 Dec. 2016.
Hewitt, Scott. The Sounds of Scrooge Come To Life. The Columbian, 17 Dec. 2016, pp. D1, D2.

2015 Performance

16 December 2015

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by the Willamette Radio Workshop at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

Listen

This performance was recorded live.

Credits

Director
Sam Mowry

Promotional Graphics
Kate Palermini

Producer
John Barber

Press & Feedback

Facebook page for this event.

Hewitt, Scott. Christmas on the Radio. The Columbian, 11 Dec. 2015.

2014 Performance

18 December 2014

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by the Willamette Radio Workshop at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

Credits

Curtis Hanson = Scrooge
with Cindy McGean, Chris Porter, Renne King, Alyson Ayn Osborn, and Sam A. Mowry

Live Sound
D. Neil Blake and Phillip Bursch

Projections
Joe Medina

Director
Sam A. Mowry

Promotional Graphics
Sam Mowry

Press & Feedback

Facebook page for this event.
WSUV Brings Program, Artwork To Downtown. The Columbian, 13 Dec. 2014.

2013 Performance

19 December 2013

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by the Willamette Radio Workshop at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. The second performance presented by Re-Imagined Radio, A Radio Christmas Carol has been presented every year since 2013.

Credits

Director
Sam Mowry

Promotional Graphics
Sam Mowry