A Christmas Carol!
Well, we did it. Dubbing ourselves the Empty Bottle Theatre Group, I assembled a cast of my closest friends to perform something that I have wanted to do for a long time, a live, old-time radio serial. When I asked everyone if they were interested, I got back an enthusiastic response, but since everyone was so busy this season, we had to improvise. So here is the theme, some characters were changed around and everyone got an un-edited script. It was one I found online that was used in Orson Well's original radio drama. Everyone was responsible for editing their own lines and could do whatever they wanted. We got together and ran through one scene, changed a few characters off the cuff, cracked open a few bottles of wine and ran with it.

So what you are hearing is a completely un-rehearsed, ad libbed version of A Christmas Carol. You can tell that as it nears the end of the show, we all are getting drunker and drunker...

I did very little editing and we all just had a blast. Granted MY ACCENTS ARE HORRIBLE, but it was all in good fun. You can hear us laughing in the background and several times, we almost couldn't contain ourselves as everything was done impromptu, which resulted in much spontaneous laughter.

A big thanks to Gary Dring from the Clever Little Pod podcast, my friend from the UK. He was kind enough to record the narration for the show. Thanks to Marco Rossetti for taking some great shots while we were recording, thanks to Dan Byers for helping with production and another big thanks to all my crazy friends who made this a great night of fun.

Links:

Clever Little Pod

Marco Rossetti Photography

Dan Byer's Goofy Graffix blog

Goofy Graffix site

Cast:

A Worlds of Wayne Christmas Carol

As performed by the Empty Bottle Theatre Group

 Producer/Director/Head soak: Wayne Brekke

 Narrator: Gary Dring

Scrooge / now Rita Scrooge: Laura Leininger

Bob Cratchit / now Bobbi Cratchit: Angie Ankenbauer

Small boy: Dan Byers

Fred / now Freda (Scrooge's neice): Gini Magnuson

Charity Gentleman / now Donation Chick: Laurie Brekke           

Marley: Wayne Brekke

Ghost of Christmas Past: Jacob Houser

Fezzwig: Gini Magnuson

Belle / now Bill: Michael Campbell

Young Scrooge: Laura Leininger

Belle's Husband / now Bills Wife: Gini Magnuson

Ghost of Christmas Present: Angie Ankenbauer

Cratchit girl: Laurie Brekke

Mrs Cratchit / now Mr. Cratchit: Michael Campbell

Martha: Lori Umstead

Tiny Tim: Dan Byers

1st. Man: Dan Byers

2nd Man: Eric Magnuson

Boy: Wayne Brekke         

It was a tragic week last week. Our city is stunned by the violence that happened at the Westroads Mall here in Omaha Nebraska and are still trying to make some sense out of it. It's not the only time this year that our community has suffered a loss due to gun violence, but on a scale like this and with no apparent cause or motive, it is truly heartbreaking.

So many lives affected by this. Families rocked with suffering. It was a place where anyone could have been, it always seemed so safe. This show is dedicated to those suffering. I don't know if I said anything very profound, but it is a medium I have to pay tribute with.

I wish all those that lost someone this year due to senseless violence will find peace somehow...

It's December already and things are gearing up for the Christmas season. This episode I take a little doctor visit as I seek medical help for my strep throat. Korey Anderson also stops by the studio and records a couple of songs for a Worlds of Wayne exclusive.

As we are getting things together for our Christmas specials, I am asking my listening audience to call the show and leave a message I can play on an episode in December. You can leave a Christmas greeting and make it sexy, funny, stupid, silly, or whatever you want. Just call the number below: