A New Take On Another Holiday Classic In "A Christmas Carol" by Ilana Jael
Some of the fun and creative props used to create foley sound in New City Players’ production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.
Whether or not you got a chance to catch the New City Players kick off our 22-23 theatre season with It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, we hope that you’ll be excited by the equally holly-jolly way we’re going to be getting back in the swing for 23-24. That’s right—we’ll be following up our acclaimed hit with a radio play version of another holiday favorite, one that some even consider to be the greatest Christmas story ever told: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. But if you, like most, have already heard this particular story a few times over, perhaps I can pique your interest with the fact that this iteration will feature a brand new script—which happens to have been written by NCP’s very own Tyler Johnson Grimes!
If you were lucky enough to see Wonderful Life last year, then you’re already familiar with Grimes’ work as the sound designer responsible for the sound design and live-on-stage Foley effects that were a critical element in leaving audiences so enchanted. Along with being singled out for his excellence by a few critics, he was even nominated for a Carbonell Award for his efforts, and he’ll be back at it this time around creating another stellar soundscape for his own reimagining of another classic.
For this year’s festivities, we’ll be checking back in to WNCP, the imaginary radio station we devised as the setting for the aforementioned production. A little over 20 years later, its 1971, and a group of actors has gathered there to perform in a broadcast of A Christmas Carol, a treasured annual tradition. But because Scrooge-like manager Alastair Filmore is about to sell off the station, this will likely be the last time they get the chance…unless, of course, a little bit of Christmas spirit might be enough to change his heart. As this behind-the-scenes story increasingly comes to parallel the story of A Christmas Carol itself, the result is a fun-filled and family-friendly show that has all the enduring impact of the original and plenty of fresh new twists that’ll keep things interesting.
The “WNCP” logo as debuted in New City Players’ production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.
Also returning from It’s A Wonderful Life will be Timothy Mark Davis as director, Casey Sacco as costume designer, and four of our very favorite actors: Marlo Rodriguez, Carlos Ayaleto, Noah Levine, and Caroline Dopson. Finishing out the cast will be newcomers Laura Argo and Gustavo Garcia, and joining the production team will be Amber Mandic as Stage Manager, Andrea Guardo as Assistant Stage Manager, Jameelah Bailey as Props/Set Dressing Designer, Annabel Hererra as Lighting Designer, and Aubrey Kestell as a scenic painter.
Meanwhile, as I again find myself designated documentarian, I’ve found that I’m already having a blast as I begin to contemplate the themes and dive into the history of such an undeniably influential story. As with It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol is clearly a work that continues to strike such a chord because the lesson its main character learns remains a vitally important one. And though it illustrates the point from a somewhat opposite perspective, in the end the truth it seems to uncover is primarily about the oft-invisible rewards of investing in something beyond ourselves.
But while George Bailey is shown how impactful it has been for him prioritize the welfare of his community over his own wants and needs, Ebenezer Scrooge must instead come face to face with what not taking into consideration the needs of others has already cost him —and with how much it might come to cost him still. In the end, what A Christmas Carol serves to show is that having the biggest fortune in the bank may by no means be the surest road to meaning or fulfillment; but by choosing to be generous with whatever resources we have, we may find our way to a richer life than we ever could have imagined.
In the spirit of this lesson and of NCP’s broader goal of impacting our own community, we are also partnering with the organization Handy in conjunction with this project. A prolific Broward County nonprofit, Handy’s mission is to educate and empower at-risk children and youth, whom they provide with programs and resources. Through our platforms, we are already working to draw attention to Handy’s current Thanksgiving food drive, and we will be hosting a toy drive at our show during the first few weeks of its run.
Finally, we will be inviting Handy’s students and staff to join us free of charge at a Christmas Carol performance. Certain staff members may also join us to further engage with the play’s themes at our post-show talkbacks, which will take place after every Sunday performance.
For more insight into this collaboration and into all things A Christmas Carol, feel free to check in for updates on NCP’s social media channels, and be sure to keep your eye out for any news of upcoming blogs! Next up, be prepared for a blast from Christmas past as we travel back in time to examine the story’s origins, learning what inspired author Charles Dickens to set down the original version of the tale and about the outsized impact it has had on the way we’ve thought about Christmas since. In the meantime, if you want to get a head start on securing yourself the best possible Christmas future this year, you’re free to go ahead and reserve yourself a few tickets!
A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play
Reimagined by Tyler Johnson Grimes
Directed by Timothy Mark Davis
Suitable for ages 10+
The year is 1971 and WNCP presents “A Christmas Carol,” the timeless Christmas tale reimagined once again as a live radio broadcast on stage. A jolly ensemble brings to life dozens of iconic characters and countless locales through the magic of live sound effects. The all too familiar story of scary spirits visiting Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve takes new twists and turns as unexpected people learn valuable lessons that might change their lives forever. This fresh and festive take on the greatest Christmas story ever told has something new for the whole family to enjoy!
WHEN
November 30-December 23, 2023
WHERE
Island City Stage
TICKET PRICE
$25-40
Make sure to plan your visit after booking tickets!