Wichita Community Theatre takes on ‘Christmas Carol’ radio play

A year ago, Nathan Betzen was in the audience for Wichita Community Theatre’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play.”

This year, he’s in the cast for WCT’s radio play version of “A Christmas Carol,” which opens next week.

“The reason I actually tried out for this was because I loved it so much,” Betzen said. “I thought it was really cool.”

Betzen plays Scrooge’s nephew Fred, the Ghost of Christmas Present and Santa Claus.

“It’s been an interesting experience. I have to create the characters of Fred and Christmas Present, but I also have to create the character of the actor doing those voices,” he said of the roles, which include quick changes. “I think it’s a really refreshing way to go about staging a show. The opportunity to switch characters on the fly is something I haven’t experienced before.”

According to its website, WCT has only staged one version of the Charles Dickens classic before, called “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” in 2004. It staged radio plays of “Wonderful Life” in 2013 and 2023.

“It presents some unique challenges, because we can’t block it and have as many costumes or staging and props,” director Cole Adams said. “It adds a lot of layers, because not only can we construct a scene just off their voices and pantomime, but also even when they’re not at their microphones we get to see them interacting as the actors, whether that’s chatting in the background or getting ready for the next scene or just goofing around and messing with each other.”

This is Adams’ first time directing a radio play, although he has experience in voice acting and is sound and voice director for “Mangai Project,” an online production.

Although it’s not mentioned in the script, the radio version of “Christmas Carol” is set in a small radio station in New York City, circa 1950.

“The fun thing is it’s so drenched in ‘50s nostalgia. We’ve got old-timey advertisements, and even the clothes they’re wearing, and the radio set itself,” Adams said. “It feels like you’re stepping back in into the ‘50s.”

Adams said he wants the audience to have an immersive experience.

“Kind of from the moment people walk in, it’s gonna feel like they’re walking into a radio set. There’s not really audience participation, but the actors are speaking to the audience as if they’re an audience watching this show,” he said. “It really feels like you’re a part of the show, not watching a disconnected play.”

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’

When: Dec. 5-15; performances at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain

Tickets: $18, discounts for students, senior and military; $14 opening night, from 316-686-1282