RSC Christmas

The RSC Christmas

On its 30th anniversary, we present the complete audio of The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas, which walked so The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) could run, and was first recorded and broadcast on Public Radio International in 1995. Featuring conversations with both the crew of Yule-Sat and Charles Dickens; festive (and occasionally dated) partying at the RSC HQ in Northern California; the ten-minute “The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged);” and the original in-context version of that would-be holiday classic “Mrs. Santa Claus.” (Length 47:35)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 47:35 — 54.5MB)

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By austin, ago

Remembering ‘Little Dickens’

Matt Croke, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor remember the creation of the RSC’s second radio show The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas in 1995, and how it paved the way for the RSC’s eighth stage show The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged). Matt, Reed, and Austin reveal their audio inspirations (like Firesign Theatre and ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic); how the new golden age of radio is called podcasts; how we failed to achieve novelty hit status with “Mrs. Santa Claus;” how we incorporated inside-baseball Ringling Brothers jokes and personal holiday memories; and how the heart the recording is its ten-minute reduction A Little Dickens: The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged); and how Austin went from playing parody Scrooge to playing the real guy for Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. (Length 15:02)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 25:02 — 28.7MB)

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By austin, ago

Special Christmas Encore!

For this special encore podcast episode, we present – in its entirety – the complete and unabridged recording of A Little Dickens: The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged). (Dickens’s story is abridged, not the recording. You’ll work it out.) First heard on Public Radio International in 1995, this antic audio adaptation features Reed Martin as Jacob Marley, Matthew Croke as Tiny Tim, and Austin Tichenor as Ebenezer Scrooge (the role he’s currently playing at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre). May it warm your cockles! (Length 10:47)

Podcast: Download (Duration: 10:48 — 12.5MB)

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By austin, ago

A Little Dickens: The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged)

Want to experience all the wonder and joys of Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic but only have about ten minutes? You’re in luck!

A Little Dickens: The Complete Christmas Carol (abridged) (complete with 46 second encore) is an audio production written by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, first heard on Public Radio International in 1995, and produced by Connie Blaszczyk, Peter John Marquez, and the Reduced Shakespeare Company.

Free for the whole family!! Or just for you alone!! Just click the Play Triangle below.

From all of us to all of you…Happy Merry Chrismakwanukahhanzukah! (song not included)

Podcast: Download ()

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By austin, ago

Episode 628. Very Reduced ‘Christmas’

In honor of the holiday, we present excerpts from a live performance of The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)! Featuring music and laughter, a traditional English panto, gay apparel, interrupted epiphanies, travel nightmares, decked halls, and warm cockles. ‘Tis the season! Happy Merry Chrismakwanukkahanzukkah! 

Podcast: Download (Duration: 23:12 — 26.9MB)

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By austin, ago

THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

We traveled a lot in 2016 — China, Qatar, Edinburgh, all across the US — and we barely made it home in time for the holidays. Let our own Austin Tichenor tell you what happened… ‘Twas a night before Christmas, with such snow and rain Not a creature was stirring, including my Read more

By austin, ago

The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)

"Critic's Choice!" Boston Globe. "Brought down the house with gales of laughter." Theatre Mirror. The fruitcakes of the Reduced Shakespeare Company take you on an irreverent yet heartwarming trip through the holidays in The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged). It's festive funny Read more
By austin, ago

The Ultimate Christmas Carol

Long-time fan Sebastian Singer wondered where he could get his hands on the lyrics to the RSC's Reduced Time-Saving Christmas Carol that we sing on The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas.  Since the lyrics aren't published anywhere else, we thought we might Read more
By austin, ago