Some communities have to import their holiday entertainment. We just have to get ourselves down to 214 Richmond Road for the Old Time Christmas Radio Show.
The Bluegrass Players, our resident adult and community company at The Spotlight Playhouse, are a genuinely talented group. Their concerts are consistently excellent. We are lucky to have an ensemble like that right here at home, close enough to hear without building a trip around it, and that is worth saying out loud now and then.
A Christmas radio show, live on stage
This time out, the Bluegrass Players are putting that talent to work in a different shape. The Old Time Christmas Radio Show comes to The Spotlight Playhouse on Saturday, November 28, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 29, at 2:00 p.m. It is directed by Joy Lady. The official show listing has the full event details.
This is not a conventional concert. The Playhouse describes it as a live 1940s-style Christmas radio show that combines classic skits, live sound effects and festive music, the kind of Christmas variety show families once gathered around the radio to hear. On our stage, all of it happens in real time, right in front of you.
When a sound effect happens, somebody right there is making it. When a line lands, you hear the laugh next to you. That is part of what makes live theater different from pressing play. You are watching performers build the moment together, and the audience is in the room for it.
A family-friendly Thanksgiving-weekend outing
If the young folks at home have never seen that done live, this will fix that. The show is billed as family-friendly, and all ages are welcome. The Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m., and tickets are available through TicketSource.
A community show gives us a reason to spend an evening together without leaving town. It also gives local performers an audience to play for and neighbors a chance to see the work up close. That is one of the things I value about Berea: we do not have to wait for a touring company to bring a little live entertainment our way. We have talented people here, and we can support them by showing up.
Keep the holiday stage going in December
If you want another outing after Thanksgiving, the Bluegrass Players return with Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dinner Show, December 17 through 20 at The Spotlight Playhouse. Dinner is included, and the runtime is about three hours. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 20, begins at 1:30 p.m.
We talk a lot around Madison County about keeping our money and our talent close to home. The Bluegrass Players are what that looks like when it works. The talent is already here. All we have to do is show up.
✍️ About the Author
Chad Hembree serves as the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. A resident of Berea, Kentucky, and a former member of the Berea Council, he has spent decades working in community theater, arts education, and local journalism. Since 1995, he has operated BereaOnline.com, focusing on local news, civic issues, and stories that highlight community collaboration and grassroots efforts across Madison County.
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📅 Upcoming Community & Theater Events
- November 13–21, 2026: The Cherry Orchard, presented by The Bluegrass Players at The Spotlight Playhouse. 🎭 Show details
- November 13–22, 2026: Beetlejuice JR., presented by Spotlight Acting School at The Spotlight Playhouse. 🎭 Show details
- November 21, 2026: Churchill’s Artisan Market, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 🎨 Visit Berea event listing
- November 28–29, 2026: Old Time Christmas Radio Show at The Spotlight Playhouse. 📻 Show details
- December 17–20, 2026: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dinner Show at The Spotlight Playhouse. 🎄 Show details
- December 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 2026: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever — Spotlight on Faith at The Spotlight Playhouse. 🎭
Tickets and information for Spotlight productions are available at The Spotlight Playhouse.
This article originally appeared on BereaOnline.com – your home for Madison County news, community events, and local updates.
📚 Sources
- The Spotlight Playhouse: Old Time Christmas Radio Show
- TicketSource: Old Time Christmas Radio Show
- Bluegrass Players: What We’re Performing
- The Spotlight Playhouse: Upcoming Events
- The Cherry Orchard: official production listing
- Beetlejuice JR.: official production listing
- Visit Berea: Churchill’s Artisan Market
- Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Dinner Show: official listing