Founded in 2016 by Bonnie Grice, Boots on the Ground Theater has since then presented eight full-scale productions, but no live radio plays — until now. “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play,” adapted by Joe Landry and directed by James Pritchard, will have a two-weekend run at the Southampton Cultural Center starting tomorrow at 7 p.m.
However, Ms. Grice is no stranger to radio, or to radio plays. In addition to three decades as a radio host and D.J., now on the air with Sag Harbor’s WLNG, she has produced plays for radio, including a version of “A Christmas Carol” for WPPB, and directed a radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead several years ago.
“This is the first time Boots is producing one and we’re very excited, especially since building the set is like building my own home,” she said during a phone conversation. “I’ve been in radio for 30 years, and it’s in my DNA.”
About the set, it will be a recreation of a 1940s radio studio, complete with old-time microphones, radios, “Applause” and “On Air” signs, and other equipment, as well as commercial jingles (provided by WLNG), and live sound effects. “It’s a real hoot for the audience,” said Ms. Grice.
“The sound effects table is one of the most brilliant parts of this adaptation that Joe Landry did, because he wanted people to be able not only to hear but to actually watch how the sound effects were made.”
Ms. Grice and Bob Kaplan will be working the sound effects table together. “Bob and I have been collecting all these different things. He’s got the most amazing sound effect for the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. It is so haunting, it’s disturbing.”
The cast includes Kevin Magee as Ebenezer Scrooge, Andrea Harum Schiavoni, Colin Palmer, Geoffrey Milton, Mbachi Kumwenda, Robert Nelson, Gerri Wilson, and Ms. Grice.
The show will open and close with songs performed by the Dickens Carolers. As part of the theater company, the carolers have performed at the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival and at tree lightings in Hampton Bays and Southampton.
Ms. Grice, a Victorian Age enthusiast, has collected costumes from the period for years, and the singers will be so adorned. “It ties in so perfectly with ‘A Christmas Carol.’ “
Performances will take place Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 5, and Sundays at 3, through Dec. 15. Tickets are $35, $25 for students.
