Brooke Hardman Ditchfield and Brian Ditchfield at Circuit Arts have made a significant impact. They have launched a brand-new live radio play version of "A Christmas Carol" with caroling and wassailing. This performance will run from Thursday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Grange and will also be broadcast on WMVY Radio on Christmas Eve.

Partnership and Holiday Spirit

WMVY Radio Executive Director P.J. Finn reflects on the exciting partnership. "The collaboration is truly in the spirit of the holiday! Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day programming always has a 'throwback' element. It's the one time of the year when the station mixes in classical music and golden-era standards. To be able to add an old-fashioned radio play to this mix is a perfect fit. We're grateful to share the fruits of Circuit Arts' hard work."

Meeting at Theater Camp

The couple met at theater camp as teenagers and have been collaborating ever since. They studied, performed, produced, and directed shows together at Boston University. After school, they worked in theater and film together. Brian says, "It's been a joy to be creative together again."

Reimagining "A Christmas Carol"

The idea for the live radio play came when Brian reread the Dickens novella. He was taken by its intricacy and beauty and felt other versions didn't focus enough on the text. Brooke said, "Let's dive in and work on it together." Brooke did the first pass, cutting the story and formatting it as a script, deciding on dialogue, narration, and potential music and sound effects. The couple then worked on it together, sometimes stealing moments.

Cast and Challenges

There will be about a dozen in the cast, a cross-section of community members with a love for and experience in theater. They didn't hold auditions; it grew organically as they invited friends. There have been challenges, such as finding time with their hectic schedules. Brooke comments, "Although we work in the arts, a lot of time goes into non-glamorous tasks like raising money and grant-writing." The show was supposed to be performed last winter, but the heat broke in the theater. Brian laughs, "We took it as a blessing in disguise and gave ourselves more time."

Long-Term Hopes

Brooke has long-term hopes for the show. She has been in a recurring production playing the Ghost of Christmas Past. She knows "A Christmas Carol" has the potential to be a beloved tradition. It's a great ghost story but also about redemption and being a good person. She hopes it will become a special part of the community here. "We should always be like this, especially during the holiday season when we reflect on our gratitude and show our kindness.""A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play" at the Grange, Thursday, Dec. 19, to Sunday, Dec. 22. Pay-what-you-can tickets are available at circuitarts.org/achristmascarol.