It’s become a local holiday tradition and this weekend the Orpheum Theatre’s Christmas Radio Play returns to the historic stage.
The theatre is turned into the likeness of a 1930’s radio studio, where the actors are playing actors playing various roles in the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.”
Meanwhile there are also foley artists, making the appropriate sound effects to tell the story, in old time radio style.
Erin Glasnovich, the theatre’s Operations Manager as well as one of the performers says actors are pulling off multiple roles in the show.
“You can expect to see us all in costume – 1940’s era dress – as well as the stage all set up like that,” she tells WGIL, adding “There’s an ‘On Air’ sign and an ‘Applause’ sign so we’ll ask the audience to participate and applaud when the sign lights up. So it’s really fun.”
Glasnovich this can be an exciting challenge for an actor, having to take on several different voices.
Orpheum Executive Director Kevin Maynard has a few roles himself in the show but mainly in the narrator which allows him to take in the actors’ versatility.
He tells WGIL “I think the really cool part for me is listening to those voice actors do their character at the beginning of the show, and call that character back at the end of the show. And recalling those voices and doing it the same way they did it in the first half… it’s really impressive to listen to and watch.”
This is the fourth year The Orpheum has staged the radio play, when they put on “It’s a Wonderful Life” in years one and two and in year three they put on “Miracle on 34th Street.”
Tickets are available at the theatre’s box office or online for Friday and Saturday shows.
Balcony and floor seats are $10 and mezzanine seats go for $15.
