December 8, 2025 • 8 mins
How can one actress perform a Christmas classic all by herself? Mindy and Mikaela talk with The Contemporary Theater.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Eighteen eighteen days. So Christmas, have you started chopping?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I have for the little stuff stocking stuffers, how about
you a little bit?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
But I always feel like I'm not going to get
it done. I always feel that way, and then it
always gets done.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, and maybe you gift experiences. That is something that
is great to be able to do, like going to
a play, having an experience in town, and that way
you don't have to go get the physical thing.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
That's a great idea. In fact, remind me, I'm not
going to be in studio on the last Sunday of
this month because of something just like that, an experience. Yeah, okay,
we'll talk more about it.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's all right. Speaking of experiences, this is the time
to have a holiday experience and what better place to
do it than at the contemporary theater. Leida Hoffman, artistic director,
joins us. Now, and you have a classic with a
different spend, Leada, that's what it sounds like.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Hi, Hi, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So what is going on? Tell us about it. We're
trying to get everybody into the holiday spirit for Christmas.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so this week we are starting performances of our
one person production of a Christmas Carol. So actress Angelione,
one of the best actresses I know, does the entire
story all by herself, plays all of the characters, and
this is the third year we've been doing it, so
it's back by popular demand.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It's such a classic story to why do you think
it still resonates with people so deeply?
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You know, I've been working on productions of a Christmas
Carol for over ten years, and I think it's just
one of those stories that gets us all in the
Christmas spirit. It helps us think about who we want
to be, what we want our legacy to be like.
And I think with so many versions for people who
have experienced it before, it's just so much fun to
see how many different ways people can tell this story.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
There's so many different parts of a Christmas Carol, from
the past to the present to the future. How does
one person handle all that and really make it entertain
so the student or so the audience doesn't get bored.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah. So, Angela is just an incredibly well trained actor,
so she can do all sorts of different voices for
the characters, and movement and physicality for the characters. And
the premise of this play is, you know, Charles Dickens,
who wrote the story, used to travel America and read
this story aloud, and this night he's forgotten his script.
It got lost on the train. And so Angela plays
(02:27):
Charles Dickens, who has to share this story, and then
through movement and voices and different accents, she's going to
tell you who all the different characters are.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It looks like there's a sample of video on your
website that Mindy and I are seeing right now, And
is that her? That's a you guys recorded her to
give a feel to it, her facial expressions, her the
use of her body to tell this story.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
My goodness, watching it all right now.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Is incredibly talented.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
For those of you at home, as we continue talking
about a CHRISMS Carrol, we're going to give away two
tickets to see a Christmas Carol during the run. It's
December eleventh through the twenty first. Six one four two
one nine eight eighty six is our number again, that's
six one four eight two one at WTVN to win
a pair of tickets. You know, so many families make
(03:18):
this their annual tradition. You know what will feel magical
about this this season? Do you think based on where
we are right now and how you guys are doing this.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, you know, I think so many people have just
keep telling me that they love the intimacy of this experience. So,
you know, there are so many different Christmas and holiday
events you can go to in Columbus, and we have
so many friends doing so many of them. But you know,
unlike something like the Nutcracker or our friends the Columbus Childrens,
you are doing, mister screwstext door, this is a mostly
(03:51):
adult if you'd like to say, thirteen and up performance.
It's not aimed at kids. So it's a great date night.
It's a great way to get some time, you know,
with the adults in your life to go and experience
this story.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It has lasted to that it has survived the test
of time for sure. What is it about the Christmas
Carol that so many of us love, loved it and
when we were kids love it as adults and we
want to pass that on to our kids. Why what
is it about a Christmas Carol?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah? You know, I think it's both funny and moving.
I mean, Charles Dickens just did an amazing job a
very long time ago writing a story that makes you laugh,
while also having an incredibly important message about leaving the
legacy we want and being charitable and kind to our
fellow people.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You've really made an effort to keep theater accessible to
Columbus families too. What should people know about ticket options
for this show if they're not the ones to win today?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah? So this Thursday is our first performance, and all
of our first performances the contemporary are always pay what
you want. So you can show up. We perform right
downtown at the Rife Center and you can show up
and buy a ticket on the spot for whatever price
you want. So, if you don't win today and you
want to come to our very first audience this Thursday,
December eleventh, we'd love to have you at whatever price
(05:11):
people want to pay.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, we've got a caller on the line. We're gonna
check in with Aaron right now, so you can hear
erin as well erin. We're gonna ask you this a
Christmas Carol, which ghost do you like the most? Which
ghosts do you like the most? The past, the present,
or the future? And if you answer, you win. It's
that easy.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, let's let's go go to the past.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Right off the jump, right off the jump.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
What do you like about the is go to Christmas past?
The one that has the clanking chains? Is that the past?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Is that the one that's Jacob Marley?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's Jacob Marley.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
That's right?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Okay, Well you win through go back through.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
The young character's life is where it all you know
was still good? And go on? That's funny.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, Aaron, congratulations, I you were gonna win these tickets.
Stay on the line. Our producer will get your information
and we'll make sure that you get to enjoy a
Christmas Carol over there within the coming next ten days
or so.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Thank you love the show, ladies.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Ah, thanks, Merry Christmas, Aaron Leda, We have somebody else
on the line who really is interested in tickets. Can
we give away another pair?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Absolutely, we'd be happy to have them.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
All right, John, what you who's your favorite ghost?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
What ghost is the most? In your category?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Ghostest with the most, ghostess.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
With the most?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Is ghostess with the most? Would be the future? If
you don't know what the future holds, and I think
as technology increases, we want to find out more about ghosts.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Et cetera. You know, Lida, what do you think I've
always really liked the future Ghost too.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Ghost of the Future Me Too goes to Christmas Future.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And John, have you seen a Christmas story performed live before?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, that's why I like stuff like that was at
the right there a couple of years ago, and I.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Really enjoyed that stuff. I mean, it's kind of intriguing
to think that one person plays every single part in this.
That's exciting, don't you think.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yep?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Well, John, thank you so much for calling Lyda. Thanks
for giving away another pair. Stick on the line and
our producer will get your information. So we get you
linked up with your tickets and enjoy them. Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
But we love giving things away and we're going to
give away more even after this break. Yes, dance tickets,
dance tickets, dance.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Lead up for anyone who didn't win today, Where do
you want them to go? What do you want them
to know?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, So we've run performances Thursday through Sundays the next
two weekends, so December eleventh through the twenty first, and
you can go to Thecontemporaryohio dot org and there's more
information about the show, the video you were talking about,
and tickets there.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Heyleda, let me ask you something real fast. Okay, we
had the vaud vildiesen studio a couple hours ago. Someone
had called in and told them, hey, break a leg,
break a leg, And we've heard that all of our lives.
When it comes to theater. Where did that come from?
Why do people say break a leg when it comes
to the theater.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You know, there are five different ideas about where that
comes from. One of them is we actually we call
some of the curtains in the theater legs, and so
we break the leg by walking in front of it.
But now, of course we think about breaking our actual legs.
So it's all very debatable depending on who you ask.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Interesting five origin stories and it's been around for decades.
Don't say good luck. Christian was reminding me that we again, yeah,
break a leg. Ask Kristin about the five different nas
will see if.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He knows, well break a leg with this show, Lyda,
thank you for coming on this Sunday afternoon, and our
winners we know we'll certainly enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Merry Christmas, Leada, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
This is what matters
Eighteen eighteen days. So Christmas, have you started chopping?
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I have for the little stuff stocking stuffers, how about
you a little bit?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
But I always feel like I'm not going to get
it done. I always feel that way, and then it
always gets done.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, and maybe you gift experiences. That is something that
is great to be able to do, like going to
a play, having an experience in town, and that way
you don't have to go get the physical thing.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
That's a great idea. In fact, remind me, I'm not
going to be in studio on the last Sunday of
this month because of something just like that, an experience. Yeah, okay,
we'll talk more about it.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's all right. Speaking of experiences, this is the time
to have a holiday experience and what better place to
do it than at the contemporary theater. Leida Hoffman, artistic director,
joins us. Now, and you have a classic with a
different spend, Leada, that's what it sounds like.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Hi, Hi, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So what is going on? Tell us about it. We're
trying to get everybody into the holiday spirit for Christmas.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so this week we are starting performances of our
one person production of a Christmas Carol. So actress Angelione,
one of the best actresses I know, does the entire
story all by herself, plays all of the characters, and
this is the third year we've been doing it, so
it's back by popular demand.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It's such a classic story to why do you think
it still resonates with people so deeply?
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You know, I've been working on productions of a Christmas
Carol for over ten years, and I think it's just
one of those stories that gets us all in the
Christmas spirit. It helps us think about who we want
to be, what we want our legacy to be like.
And I think with so many versions for people who
have experienced it before, it's just so much fun to
see how many different ways people can tell this story.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
There's so many different parts of a Christmas Carol, from
the past to the present to the future. How does
one person handle all that and really make it entertain
so the student or so the audience doesn't get bored.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah. So, Angela is just an incredibly well trained actor,
so she can do all sorts of different voices for
the characters, and movement and physicality for the characters. And
the premise of this play is, you know, Charles Dickens,
who wrote the story, used to travel America and read
this story aloud, and this night he's forgotten his script.
It got lost on the train. And so Angela plays
(02:27):
Charles Dickens, who has to share this story, and then
through movement and voices and different accents, she's going to
tell you who all the different characters are.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It looks like there's a sample of video on your
website that Mindy and I are seeing right now, And
is that her? That's a you guys recorded her to
give a feel to it, her facial expressions, her the
use of her body to tell this story.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
My goodness, watching it all right now.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Is incredibly talented.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
For those of you at home, as we continue talking
about a CHRISMS Carrol, we're going to give away two
tickets to see a Christmas Carol during the run. It's
December eleventh through the twenty first. Six one four two
one nine eight eighty six is our number again, that's
six one four eight two one at WTVN to win
a pair of tickets. You know, so many families make
(03:18):
this their annual tradition. You know what will feel magical
about this this season? Do you think based on where
we are right now and how you guys are doing this.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, you know, I think so many people have just
keep telling me that they love the intimacy of this experience. So,
you know, there are so many different Christmas and holiday
events you can go to in Columbus, and we have
so many friends doing so many of them. But you know,
unlike something like the Nutcracker or our friends the Columbus Childrens,
you are doing, mister screwstext door, this is a mostly
(03:51):
adult if you'd like to say, thirteen and up performance.
It's not aimed at kids. So it's a great date night.
It's a great way to get some time, you know,
with the adults in your life to go and experience
this story.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It has lasted to that it has survived the test
of time for sure. What is it about the Christmas
Carol that so many of us love, loved it and
when we were kids love it as adults and we
want to pass that on to our kids. Why what
is it about a Christmas Carol?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah? You know, I think it's both funny and moving.
I mean, Charles Dickens just did an amazing job a
very long time ago writing a story that makes you laugh,
while also having an incredibly important message about leaving the
legacy we want and being charitable and kind to our
fellow people.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You've really made an effort to keep theater accessible to
Columbus families too. What should people know about ticket options
for this show if they're not the ones to win today?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah? So this Thursday is our first performance, and all
of our first performances the contemporary are always pay what
you want. So you can show up. We perform right
downtown at the Rife Center and you can show up
and buy a ticket on the spot for whatever price
you want. So, if you don't win today and you
want to come to our very first audience this Thursday,
December eleventh, we'd love to have you at whatever price
(05:11):
people want to pay.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, we've got a caller on the line. We're gonna
check in with Aaron right now, so you can hear
erin as well erin. We're gonna ask you this a
Christmas Carol, which ghost do you like the most? Which
ghosts do you like the most? The past, the present,
or the future? And if you answer, you win. It's
that easy.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, let's let's go go to the past.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Right off the jump, right off the jump.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
What do you like about the is go to Christmas past?
The one that has the clanking chains? Is that the past?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Is that the one that's Jacob Marley?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's Jacob Marley.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
That's right?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Okay, Well you win through go back through.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
The young character's life is where it all you know
was still good? And go on? That's funny.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, Aaron, congratulations, I you were gonna win these tickets.
Stay on the line. Our producer will get your information
and we'll make sure that you get to enjoy a
Christmas Carol over there within the coming next ten days
or so.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Thank you love the show, ladies.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Ah, thanks, Merry Christmas, Aaron Leda, We have somebody else
on the line who really is interested in tickets. Can
we give away another pair?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Absolutely, we'd be happy to have them.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
All right, John, what you who's your favorite ghost?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
What ghost is the most? In your category?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Ghostest with the most, ghostess.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
With the most?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Is ghostess with the most? Would be the future? If
you don't know what the future holds, and I think
as technology increases, we want to find out more about ghosts.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Et cetera. You know, Lida, what do you think I've
always really liked the future Ghost too.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Ghost of the Future Me Too goes to Christmas Future.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And John, have you seen a Christmas story performed live before?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, that's why I like stuff like that was at
the right there a couple of years ago, and I.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Really enjoyed that stuff. I mean, it's kind of intriguing
to think that one person plays every single part in this.
That's exciting, don't you think.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yep?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Well, John, thank you so much for calling Lyda. Thanks
for giving away another pair. Stick on the line and
our producer will get your information. So we get you
linked up with your tickets and enjoy them. Merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
But we love giving things away and we're going to
give away more even after this break. Yes, dance tickets,
dance tickets, dance.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Lead up for anyone who didn't win today, Where do
you want them to go? What do you want them
to know?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Yeah, So we've run performances Thursday through Sundays the next
two weekends, so December eleventh through the twenty first, and
you can go to Thecontemporaryohio dot org and there's more
information about the show, the video you were talking about,
and tickets there.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Heyleda, let me ask you something real fast. Okay, we
had the vaud vildiesen studio a couple hours ago. Someone
had called in and told them, hey, break a leg,
break a leg, And we've heard that all of our lives.
When it comes to theater. Where did that come from?
Why do people say break a leg when it comes
to the theater.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You know, there are five different ideas about where that
comes from. One of them is we actually we call
some of the curtains in the theater legs, and so
we break the leg by walking in front of it.
But now, of course we think about breaking our actual legs.
So it's all very debatable depending on who you ask.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Interesting five origin stories and it's been around for decades.
Don't say good luck. Christian was reminding me that we again, yeah,
break a leg. Ask Kristin about the five different nas
will see if.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He knows, well break a leg with this show, Lyda,
thank you for coming on this Sunday afternoon, and our
winners we know we'll certainly enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Merry Christmas, Leada, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
This is what matters
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