Island Players virtual “Christmas Carol” a hit

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island Players were a hit with their online, two-night limited engagement of an original version of “A Christmas Carol,” their holiday gift to the community.

The hour-long performances took place on Dec. 18 and 20 with both the audience and the actors on Zoom. The virtual performances kept everyone safely socially distant, but provided the community with a much-needed return to the theater even though the Island Players’ Theater stage technically remained dark during the limited engagement.

Updated to reflect some of the issues of current times by director and writer Jeffrey Steiger, the play told the age-old story of Ebenezer Scrooge rediscovering his love of Christmas and humanity as he’s visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future through a Zoom feed. The longer the night goes on, the more Scrooge, played by Heiko Knipfelberg, realizes the errors of his way and rushes to make the Christmas wishes of those near and dear to him come true before time runs out.

Click for the entire review at the AMI Sun

If you wish to make a donation to Island Players by credit card, please call Peg Faarup, VP and Box Office Chair, at (941) 778-7374. If you wish to write a check, you may send it to The Island Players, P.O. Box 2059, Anna Maria, FL 34216. We appreciate your generosity in these difficult times.

Founded in 1949, The Island Players, Inc. is located on Anna Maria Island, and is Manatee County's oldest Community Theater. We are an Award Winning organization dedicated to providing artistic experiences for the communities of Anna Maria Island and its neighboring cities through the presentation of stage productions.

The Island Players Theater is located on

Anna Maria Island, Florida
(corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue)

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Island Players Updates!

We hope each of you is well, healthy and coping during this difficult time. Thankfully, all of us at Island Players are doing well.

We wanted to reach out to you to let you know that we are feeling positive about our future and that our plans are to re-open when it is safe to do so. We are already working on plans to have measures in place to keep you safe when that time comes.

During the past 9 months since Covid-19 hit us, we have been very busy renovating and updating our beloved theater and are now very pleased to unveil our accomplishments.

Click Here to see what we've done! - President's Message

"One of the many reasons I'm praying for a vaccine is so that The Best Little Theater In Florida can come fully alive again.” - Mary Selke

"Your wonderful volunteers certainly have been busy. We look forward to next season when, hopefully, we can once again experience some normalcy and enjoy our favorite theater. Thanks to all who make it happen.”- Bette Conner & Ruth Jansson

“Nice job on the theater!  Makes me nostalgic for the good old days!”                                                                                                              - Linda & Ted Davis

"Can't wait for the next play.  Thanks to all the hard workers.“ - Pauline Fleischer

“Great job and well done to you all.”  - Beverly & Ian Jennings