Tannery Pond Center presents Gem Radio Theatre’s radio play production of “A Christmas Carol”
TWO performances! 2 PM and 7 PM
Suggested Donation: $15 for adults
For tickets, please visit the TPC box office, call (518) 251-2505 x128, or click on GET TICKETS to purchase thru eventbrite.
COVID-19 Protocols:
If you feel sick, please stay home. We hope you feel better soon.
Masks will be required while inside the Tannery Pond Community Center for all visitors, users and audience members.
All ADULT patrons must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival at the center if attending a performance or special event that is presented by Tannery Pond Center, the nonprofit organization. Proof can be paper or digital copy of vaccination card and/or NYS Exclesior Pass. Patrons unable to receive vaccination can provide negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of showtime.
The classic tale A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a holiday tradition that never grows old!
The radio play is directed by Robin Jay of North River. Cast members change hats and voices to create the characters. A foley sound artist creates the sound effects live onstage.
GEM RADIO THEATRE was established in 2017 to bring unique, interesting, and relevant projects to life. Since then, they have become well known for the Graveyard Walk at Union Cemetery, the History Tea, several Radio Plays, and most recently The Witches Dance. During the pandemic of 2020-21, projects were recorded and uploaded to social media as the group continued to create unique theater to share with you.
The Cast
Hannah Jay Studnicky (Narrator, Tiny Tim, Boy) is delighted to be part of Gem Radio Theatre’s upcoming production of A Christmas Carol. As a seasoned actor of the stage, she has performed with several repertory theaters across upstate New York in favorite roles such as Chick in Crimes of the Heart, Catherine in Proof, Sally Talley in Talley’s Folly, Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men, Maggie Saunders in Lend Me A Tenor, and Corie Bratter in Barefoot in the Park. She embraces the performing arts as her chief creative medium, drawing on her years in the performing arts and her knack for writing stories to enrich her performances on stage, on screen, and most recently as the voice behind the audiobooks of the adventurous new Nadya Skylung series by Jeff Seymour. As a professional dabbler in all creative forms, she also enjoys beekeeping, making her nephew laugh, and practicing the complex art of inspiring happiness in others.
Mike Corey (Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig) has been active over the past 20 or so years with the Our Town Theater Group, Gem Radio Theater, Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts, and other groups, sometimes as a backstage hand, often as a front stage actor type, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to be involved with such swell groups and their efforts to bring cool theater to the Adirondacks. Whether he is playing the utterly disreputable Owen Musser in The Foreigner, Clarence the helpful guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life, or a somewhat put-upon husband to one of The Merry Wives of Windsor, he is always happy to be a small part of things. Mike is semi-retired currently, having failed several times at being fully retired. He lives with his very patient spouse, Sue, in Minerva.
Barbara Westbrook (Spirit of Christmas Past) loves Gem Radio Theater: The Graveyard Walk, History Tea, Lone Ranger radio play, Chalice of Malice murder mystery dinner theater, and most recently the Witches Dance are a few of her favorite productions. She really loves GRT for giving her opportunities to perform. Barbara has also performed with the Our Town Theatre Group, and the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Arthur Gruen (Jacob Marley, Gentleman) appeared in the Our Town Theatre Group productions of Enchanted April (Frederick) and Mornings at Seven (Carl). Other roles include George in Once in a Lifetime, Throttlebottom in Of Thee I Sing, the Narrator in Into the Woods, Thomson in 1776 and FDR in Annie. His all-time favorite show was a 1986 production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes where he, a tap-dancing chorus boy, met Mary Anne, playing Reno Sweeney, the female lead. They have been together ever since.
Mary Anne Gruen's (Spirit of Christmas Present) favorite role is where she met her husband Arthur 35 years ago, as Reno Sweeney in the Map Player's production of Anything Goes in New York City. Their song is "I Get a Kick Out of You."
Dennis Wilson (Ebenezer Scrooge) earned degrees in English and Drama from schools in Iowa and Illinois, Dennis, and, accompanied by his late wife Barbara, embarked on a ten year career teaching in schools abroad. In 1985 he accepted a teaching position at the North Warren Central School, a post he held until retirement in 2002. Dennis began a career with OTTG when he appeared in his first play, Book of Days. Since then he has been active with OTTG both on stage and behind the scenes. Dennis has participated in several Graveyard Walks at Union Cemetery and History Teas with Gem Radio Theatre, as well as The Lone Ranger Rides Again Radio Play. Dennis is delighted to portray Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Jennifer Zahray (Young Belle, Martha) is a wife, mother/ grandmother, backyard farmer/ gardener. Jenn’s background does not include performance, but she enjoys bringing happiness to others. She is having a grand time trying new things and looks forward to having this opportunity to work on a radio play.
Jason Dora (Foley artist, Fred, Young Scrooge) grew up in the town of Malone located at the top of New York State. He has a Master’s degree in music education from SUNY Potsdam and has been teaching for 22 years. Along with playing varying instruments in the pit orchestras of numerous musicals, he has also performed on stage with Cabin Fever Players and Forever Wild. Most recently, he has been the foley artist for Gem Radio Theater. This will be his fourth production with the group.
Mary Anne Vance Stillman (Mrs. Cratchit, Older Belle) performed a lot of ballet, toe and tap in her early years, if dancing is a prerequisite of being in the choir of A Christmas Carol! In college she sang (with others) and danced in H.M.S. Pinafore (little maid) also in Peter Pan (indian). Mary Anne enjoyed watching radio theater in New Hampshire; it brings her back to the early childhood when she listened to the radio… and watched no TV. When Mary Anne realized that she had entered the realm of Gem Radio Theatre by joining the witches, she was thrilled! Mary Anne can still do a headstand and a cartwheel, and can sing if part of a loud group of good singers.
Robin Jay (Director, Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come) is excited to direct her first project for the stage at Tannery Pond Community Center. A long time costumer for several local theater groups, Robin also enjoyed performing with the Arts Center as one of The Merry Wives of Windsor, in several Forever Wild/Snocade projects, many murder mystery plays with Gem*Boy Productions and Gem Radio Theatre, and small roles for Our Town Theatre Group and the Cabin Fever Players.