A 1940s Christmas Carol Radio Show

A Special Christmas Present For Our Followers

We have a special treat for you, our friends and family and patrons!

Last July, we presented a play at the 95th Street Pavilion. Our theme was "Christmas in July!" Our stage was turned into a 1940's radio station. Our players enacted a radio broadcast of the favorite Dickens tale A Christmas Carol. 

Today, as our gift to you, we let you pretend you're actually listening on your radio to that very show. And now...

We recorded one of our performances and now present it for your listening pleasure.

Our story is a little different from the original Dickens tale. Local playwright and director Christopher Corrigan set the story in Chicago 1944, Scrooge is the publisher of a major newspaper, and nephew Fred is home on leave from the war in Europe. Chris, who first presented this show at Cantigny, made a couple modifications and brought the show to us so we can present it to you.

We hope you enjoy the show. And now a little bit about the talented folks who brought the show to you:

The Cast of Our Show

Don Gingold

Scrooge

Don is President of the Summer Place and helps in many capacities to bring our productions to life, but every so often he gets to be on stage as well, and this counts among his favorites. "Scrooge is a bucket list role for me and this is such a novel way to perform it." He's been in 20+ productions with us since 2004, plus has led our Ghost Stories in the Park in the Dark for the past 10 years. A 30+ year Naperville resident with wife and local author Kate, together they run two small companies: Gnu Ventures does publications, training and voiceover; Sprocket Websites does Internet Marketing. They have two grown children: James, a producer in LA and Emma, a Summer Place officer and vocal director.

Rick Love

Bob Cratchit
Mr. Fezziewig
Guest 2
Jacob Marley
Thief 2
Commercial actor 2

Rick is delighted to return to Summer Place and once again portray a father, this one having such plucky Christmas spirit — and to portray an actual spirit — to help celebrate his favorite season. He had recently appeared in Mamma Mia! (Harry Bright) and Footloose (Rev Shaw). And, in several other Naperville area productions, starting at Kidz Kabaret. Other favorite roles include Mr. Bumble, Geppetto, and Grandpa Joe. He’s wanted to act in a radio play for quite some time, and prepared for the audition by reading many books aloud to his family, over many years. He moonlights as Santa.

Justin Cooper

Fred
Christmas Present
Male Charity Worker (Joseph)
Peter Cratchit
Young Scrooge
Little Scrooge

"Hello my name is Justin. I have had a lot of experience working as an Emcee and a host for Mortgage events and even appeared in an infomercial. This has led me to the most logical next step, local Theater! After my long awaited return to stage in last year's Backwards Broadway, I could not resist the chance to perform in the Radio Play of A Christmas Carol."

Isabella Chinnici

Mrs. Cratchit
Female Charity Worker (Maryland)
Bertie
Belle
Guest 1
Commercial Actor 1

Isabella is delighted to be performing in her first live show since the beginning of quarantine! Currently, she attends the University of California, Irvine as an incoming second-year Drama student (Go Anteaters!). She graduated from Naperville North where she performed in the spring musicals including Les Miserables and 42nd Street, and competed in show choir. She hopes you enjoy some Christmas cheer on these Summer nights and thanks everyone who made this show a success!

Nicole Astra

Amy
Fan
Martha Cratchit
Christmas Past
Tiny Tim
Thief 1
Choir Director

Nicole Astra is a trained stage actress and agent-represented voice actor. She runs a small but mighty business, Moxie Vox, providing focused and authentic content helping you tell your story to the world. She has been active in community theater for the last decade.

Our Production Staff

Christopher Corrigan - Writer and Director

Corrigan is a Chicagoland actor and director with a BA in theatre from North Central College. He is the Public Engagement Coordinator at Cantigny Park where he wrote, directed, and performed in the original production of A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play. He is honored to bring this show to Summer Place Theatre and the Naperville Community! Previous Credits include: God of Carnage (Director); Goldilocks on Trial (Director); And Then There Were None (Wargrave); The Nerd (Rick Stedman); A Streetcar Named Desire (Mitch); Merry Wives of Windsor (Master Ford); Miranda Writes (Dominick Doherty); The Conservation Caper (Multiple Roles); Robin Hood (King Richard)

Sara Blankestyn - Producer

Sara Blankestyn became part of the Summer Place Family in 2016, as a follower in Jesus Christ Superstar. This was a return to the stage after a long hiatus and she couldn't be happier. Since the summer of 2016, Sara has been seen on stage with SPT in Anything Goes and Sugar - the "Some Like It Hot" Musical. When Sara is not on stage, she still likes to be part of the team that makes the magic happen, lending her skills in Production Management, Costumes, Props, and now as a board member with SPT. Sara holds a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management and works as a Senior Account Executive at Groupon.

Nickolena Sellen - Stage Manager

Nickolena is thrilled to be involved in her first Summer Place show! She has previously worked in varying roles with several local community theatres including Playhouse 38, River Front Playhouse, and Fox Valley Theatre Guild. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication Media and Theatre at Northeaster Illinois University where she fell in love with stage management. She hopes you enjoy our Christmas in July!

Emma Hughes - Asst Stage Manager and Foley Artist

Emma is so excited to be creating foley sound effects again for her first performance back in person! A Christmas Carol the radio play will be her first production with summer place theatre but it is not her first production working on a radio play. She has done a couple radio plays in her theatre career and always looks forward to doing more. She says that creating the sound effects for Christmas Yet to Come are her favorite and hopes you get the opportunity to listen extra close when they enter the scene. She hopes you enjoy this production of A Christmas Carol.

Kevin McOlgan - Pianist

Kevin McOlgan is a distinguished music educator who frequently serves as guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician at area schools. He has conducted pit orchestras for musicals at Lewis University, Joliet Central High School, Riverside Brookfield High School, Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, and Morton West High School. He is a retired music director from Riverside Brookfield High School. Prior to RB, Kevin taught grades 4-8 band at Laraway School in Joliet. Born and raised in Galesburg, IL, he holds an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University, and the Master of Music degree from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor School of Music. He has been named an Outstanding Chicagoland Music Educator. Kevin serves as piano accompanist at Grace United Methodist Church in Joliet, is a member of the Joliet Community Band, and teaches piano, saxophone, music theory, and clarinet privately in Forest Park.

Enjoy the Show

And as Tiny Tim was observed to say, "God bless us, everyone!"