DM Playhouse's Final Act Ensemble Presents THE GIFT OF THE MAGI and A CHRISTMAS CAROL Radio Plays Tonight

The Final Act Ensemble, a Des Moines Community Playhouse troupe that performs classic and original radio plays, will present "The Gift of the Magi" and "A Christmas Carol" at the Des Moines Community Playhouse, 7:00 PM, tonight, Dec. 17. Tickets for the hour-long show are $5 for all ages and will be sold at the door. The performance is recommended for ages eight years old and up.

The troupe will open the holiday program with O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." James and Della Young are down to their final pennies on Christmas Eve in Washington, D.C. Somehow, they manage to find each other the perfect Christmas gifts, learning that being rich in love is what really matters.

Next, Charles Dickens' classic tale, "A Christmas Carol," is brought to life. One cold Christmas Eve night, the ghost of Jacob Marley visits his former business partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge has grown stingy and cruel, and the ghost of Marley warns Scrooge to change his wicked ways. Soon, three more specters, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, visit Scrooge to show him scenes from his lonely life. After these travels, Scrooge awakes in the morning a changed man: kind and generous.

The Playhouse's Final Act Ensemble is comprised of senior citizens who perform radio scripts for both young and old throughout Central Iowa. Their live shows are filled with sound effects, enthusiasm, and character voices as they recreate the feel of a 1940s radio play.

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information on the Final Act Ensemble, contact Kathy Pingel at 515-974-5359. For more information on the Des Moines Community Playhouse and "The Gift of the Magi" and "A Christmas Carol," contact the ticket office at 515-277-6261.