Schools
Manchester Students Bringing 'A Christmas Carol' To Life On Radio
The school's holiday program is teaching students new skills while allowing them to put on a holiday program amid the pandemic.
MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester students will be turning back the clock to their grandparents' and great-grandparents' era for their holiday performance this year, presenting "A Christmas Carol" as a radio show.
The performance will stream online for five nights, Dec. 20 to Dec. 24, and takes the place of a live program because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Typically during the fall semester our performing arts groups produce in-person productions with live audiences," said Dwight Weaver, vocal music teacher at Manchester Township High School. "The pandemic propelled us to try something new. Producing a radio show provided the opportunity to perform while still working remotely."
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The performances will be at 8 p.m. each of the five days, and involve nearly 50 students including members of the concert choir, the after-school choir, and the music heater workshop.
From the early part of the 20th century into the 1950s, radio drama programs were the family entertainment, until television took over.
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Weaver said the students are developing acting skills and learning vocal technique, while also learning how to record and edit using a digital audio workstation.
"Along with learning new skills, our goal for the project is to have fun and create something for others to enjoy during the holidays," Weaver said.
The students are presenting the adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" for radio from Charles Dickens’ novella that was written by Anthony E. Palermo, who also composed and arranged the original music score for the radio presentation.
Tickets must be purchased to access the streams, and will raise money for future productions, for gifts for graduating seniors, the end-of-year banquet and spirit gear for the students.
You can purchase tickets online at manchesterhs.booktix.com.
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