ROCHELLE — The Vince Carney Community Theatre will hold its 6th Annual Winter Gala and Fundraising Event featuring "A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play” on Saturday, Dec. 4. 

The gala will be the first since VCCT opened its newly-renovated building at the old Lincoln School. It will feature food catered by the Flight Deck Bar & Grill and a silent auction. It is VCCT’s main fundraiser for the year. 

“We do fundraisers throughout the year, but this hopefully will be our big one,” Kimberley Ekes, the show’s director and secretary of the VCCT board, said. “It's something in the winter. It's something for people to get out and do. It's a fun excuse to dress up and have dinner and see a Christmas show and hear music."

The entertainment portion of the night will be a live radio play in a throwback to the earlier part of the 20th century when radio shows were recorded in front of a studio audience. Actors will stand at microphones and sound effects will be used. 

“It was a special thing to go see the recording of your favorite show live,” Ekes said. “We're transporting people back to that era when they're performing A Christmas Carol on the radio in front of a live studio audience. Everyone's dressed up. It's a nice evening out watching the radio show. 

Heather Arreguin will serve as assistant director of the show. Doug Kroupa will be producer/announcer and Man one & two, Ivan Zwinklis will do sound effects and play Fezziwig, Man (Belle's husband), Old Joe, Girl and Boy, Zach Crabtree will play Charles Dickens, Alex Cremeans plays Bob Cratchit, Sydney Webster plays Fred, Gentleman two, Martha and Laundress, Dianne Jenner will play Jacob Marley and Charwoman, Lisa Chrisco will be Ghost of Christmas Past and Mrs. Cratchit, Jessica Garrison plays Fan and Ghost of Christmas Present, William Sunderlin plays Young Scrooge and Gentleman one, Lucas Arreguin plays Tiny Tim and Bart Pillen plays Scrooge.

Heather Arreguin, who attended Lincoln School as a child, is excited to see the theatre decorated for the season. 

“That's something I'm really looking forward to, kind of decking the halls of the entire building,” Arreguin said. “It's going to be the first time that's happened since this location opened."

VCCT has had two productions since opening its new building. Arreguin said each show did better as the word got out more. Ekes agreed.

"The shows so far have gone very well,” Ekes said. “It was almost a total sellout. We did Four Old Broads and Frankenstein after that.”

Tickets cost $60 each and include the meal, show and silent auction. They are on sale at www.vcctrochelle.org. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 6 p.m with the show beginning at 7 p.m. The silent action takes place throughout the night. Tickets will not be sold at the door. For more information, email vcctrochelle@gmail.com.