Tom Zillich
Black Press
The former Clova theatre will be a stage for radio-play readings of A Christmas Carol from Dec. 2 to 4.
Actors with local community-theatre group Imagine That! Productions will perform the popular Charles Dickens script in front of an audience during four show times that weekend.
The 14-person cast has been rehearsing since September, said show producer/director Faith Toronchuk – “not only getting comfortable reading the story, but working at building and gathering materials to be used at the Foley table, also known as table-top sound effects.
“In the golden years of radio when drama stories were popular, background sound effects were made by hand, and that is what Imagine That players will be doing as part of the [show].”
The theatre has been renovated since Crossridge Church bought the property in 2014.
A Christmas Carol is intensely theatrical, Toronchuk said.
“Enormous pieces of scenery are not necessary to create its magic. It’s pure storytelling. And nearly everything that’s in the script is out of the novella. The cast will take the audience along on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformational journey as three ghostly visitors lead him on a trip through Christmases past, present and future.”
Performers in the Imagine That! show are Chelle Tanner, Jared Erickson, Miranda Croft, Zavier Tanner, Ward Pervan, Talitha Fagan, Leigh Labrecque, Julie Kliewer, Anthony Labrecque, Aimee White, Mike Brownlee, Andy Faust, Ashley White and Austin Schwartz, with musical direction byPaul Kobilke.
Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets are on sale online. If there are any left for a particular show, they will be available at the door.
The Clova is at 5732 176th St.
The Cloverdale Christmas Parade begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.4 and there will be no street parking that afternoon.
More information is at imaginethatplace.com.