Indiana Public Radio's "A Christmas Carol"

Charles Dickens's classic holiday tale, "A Christmas Carol," comes to the airwaves this weekend. Indiana Public Radio will present a live radio drama based on the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Saturday, December 5 in Pruis Hall at Ball State University. Tickets are just $10 ($5 for students) and are available at Emens Box Office at 765-285-1539, or through TicketMaster.com. A cast of 20 will bring to life the voices of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Marley's Ghost, and of course the three spirits. Among the cast members will be Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora, Muncie Civic Theatre's Marty Grubbs, The Herald Bulletin's Rodney Richey, and IPR's own Stan Sollars. Other cast members include: Brandon Allmon, Megan Andrews, Mike Bloxham, Erin Bowden, Phil Bremen, Jon Conrad, Ross Delong, Gary Demaree, Rebecca Fiedler, Missy Hannah, Marty Grubbs, Marcus Jackman, Al Rent, Sara Rust, Kyle Sechrest and Todd Terrell. Benjamin Lancaster is producer/director; associate producer is Nancy Carlson. Completing the authentic radio-drama will be live, practical sound effects (not digitized or recorded), performed by sound designer Brian Boswell and Joe Misiewicz, a live orchestra performing original arrangements by Matthew Hooper and a choir. Attendees should arrive and be seated by 7:30pm for the 8pm live performance, and will be treated to a pre-program presentation by IPR's classical music director and Dickens' enthusiast, Steven Turpin. A short sound effects demonstration will also be presented. The "A Christmas Carol" live radio drama will be simulcast on Indiana Public Radio's five stations (92.1 FM Muncie, 89.5 FM Anderson, 90.9 FM Marion, 91.7 FM Portland and 91.1 FM Hagerstown/New Castle), as well as in the Ball State area of Second Life. WIPB Public Television (DT 49.1 or Comcast cable channel 2--check local listings) will televise the radio drama on Saturday, December 12 at 8pm and Thursday, December 24 at 5:30pm. IPR's 2008 radio drama re-enactment of the panic broadcast, "War of the Worlds," was honored recently with a Spectrum Award from the Indiana Broadcasters Association. The Spectrum Awards recognize broadcast excellence for outstanding achievement in broadcasting by Indiana radio and television stations. "A Christmas Carol" is sponsored by First Merchants Bank, with additional support from Ball State University's Department of Telecommunications and College of Communication, Information and Media. For more information, visit bsu.edu/ipr, or call Executive Producer, Marcus Jackman, at 765-285-5888.