Holiday shows are another must-see in the East End this year. To get you in the holiday spirit this week, we’ve put together a list of must-see holiday productions in the East End, including two of his great shows west of the Shinnecock Canal.
Quogue’s “A Christmas Carol: Live Radio”
Hampton Theater Company will present “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” at Quogue Community Hall the weekend of Dec. 15-17.
The company has previously presented “Miracle on 34th Street,” a video performance during the pandemic, and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a radio play. The show’s co-director, Andrew Botsford, is excited to work with company president Roger Morley to bring back the unique format this year.
“I wanted to do a radio show again, and I wanted to do it as a holiday special,” Botsford said. “It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol are timeless. They are considered the most Christmassy shows…A Christmas Carol movie is watched by many people. It has been remade millions of times. I’ve done it many times on stage, but doing it as a radio play made it easier for various reasons. But the reason we chose it is because it’s a holiday staple. ”
Playwright Joe Landry adapted Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic. This story tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by his three Christmas ghosts (past, present, and future) to teach him the Christmas spirit.
The company aims to make its holiday radio play, based on a 1940s radio troupe, an annual tradition.
Company regulars Matthew Conlon, Rosemary Klein, Botsford, Rebecca Edana, George A. Loizides, Amanda Grimesman, Terrence Fiore, and Roger Morley perform multiple roles in costume. It transports listeners to the WBFR radio station in New York City in the 1940s.
Botsford said the radio play format allows the cast and crew to relax and enjoy the production. Many of his works are cut from traditional works. The company is building radio sets with “applause” and “on air” signs so the audience can get in on the action. Another advantage is that the actors can read the script, so there are very few blocks. The low-key environment also lends itself to audience enjoyment.
“It still has all the characteristics of a regular piece,” Botsford said. “Audiences love them. Most actors can play multiple roles, and it’s fun for viewers, too. Audiences love holiday classics because they love seeing actors play different roles. I really enjoy watching it and I really enjoy watching the same person use different voices and different mannerisms on the radio without costume changes or anything like that, playing as different characters. So it’s fun for everyone.”
Morley and Botsford strive to make the play feel as realistic as possible. Since Morley is a musician, she is working on adding musical interludes and songs, and there is also some music for commercials that will be written into the show.
Mr. Botsford was pleased with the response the company received last year for its first theatrical radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The company has learned that these shows are best held during the day to make them family-friendly events.
“A Christmas Carol: Radio Live Play” will be held Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Quogue Community, 125 Jessup Avenue, Quogue. -Performed in the hall. , 2:30 p.m. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy complimentary mulled cider, hot chocolate and cookies provided before the show. The show’s lighting is by Sebastian Pazinski and the costumes are by Teresa LeBlanc. All tickets are $18 at hamptontheatre.org or 631-653-8955.
Riverhead’s “Rockabilly Christmas”
Suffolk Theater will present the beloved tradition “Rockabilly Christmas,” starring Jason D. Williams, Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks and The Vendettas, on Friday, December 15th.
Williams is a pianist, singer, and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee who has recorded for RCA and Sun Records. Casey is a local hero, in the East End he has been performing for 20 years and The Vendettas play his 1950s jukebox hits.
“It’s very high energy,” Casey said of the tradition. “It’s a combination of a good old Christmas show and a good old 1950s rock ‘n’ roll show. It’s not an oldies show, but it has the classic feel of a Christmas show.”
Casey and his band have been performing in Suffolk at Christmas for the past few years, only to be canceled due to the pandemic. He is excited to perform three original songs this year, including his single “Here Comes the Holiday” (a classic rock’n’roll Christmas song) released last year. Another Christmas song written by Casey is the country tune “A Cup of Coffee Christmas,” which he performs.
“I always thought it was too sad to play in concert,” he said. “But now it has kind of a following because people are asking for it.”
This song is about a father who shows up at his ex-wife’s house on Christmas morning.
“He just wants to say ‘hello’ and see the kids and go home right away because she has a new man and he’s coming,” she said. “When he showed up, she gave him a cup of coffee.”
The third original song, “Christmas Lights,” is about the fact that it bothers Casey that people start taking down their decorations as soon as Christmas is over. They also play great rock and roll Christmas songs and other rock and roll tunes.
The show will take place on Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $49 to $55, plus fees. Available for purchase at thesuffolk.org. Suffolk Theater is located at 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.