Assignment: Christmas
When journalist Edie Savers is tasked with writing an article about Christmas, she hesitantly accepts. But her understanding of the holiday is unexpectedly changed when she investigates its traditions through the lens of Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol. Not only does Edie learn how Christmas is about more than nostalgia, but she begins to undergo a Scrooge-like transformation of her own.
Listen to "Assignment: Christmas" Promo:
The complete episode will be available on December 10th.
Cast
Dee Smith – Boss
Dee Smith is a NYC-based, professionally trained voice artist, audio engineer, and audio producer, who has been immersed in the world of voice recording and audio production for over a decade.
Dee has voiced projects for NBC, US Bank, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Atlanta Falcons, Under Armour, and many more.
He has also been nominated for Best Narration Award at the 2021 SOVAS Voice Arts Awards.
Christine Holloway – Edie
Christine’s dream of being an actor started when she was three, and she hasn’t looked back since. Whether it’s acting, dancing and singing on stage or television, or standing in front of a mic in her home studio, using her voice to bring the written word to life is her ultimate passion.
She has voiced many projects in both English and Japanese, from commercials, e-learning, narration, meditation apps to video games with her signature deep and rich voice. She is friendly and relatable, and just as comfortable being the mom next door as she is being a cool and edgy millennial.
Christine records from her home studio in a professional quality vocal booth with a Neumann TLM-103. She is available via Source Connect for directed sessions.
When she’s not in her studio, you can find her tap dancing to old Broadway and Jazz numbers.
Richard Stibbard – Charles Dickens
Richard Stibbard is a former academic who specialized in the expressive - and, crucially, meaningful - use of intonation in English. He completed his PhD in the somewhat slippery subject of the effect of emotional arousal on speech, looking at real emotions rather than actors' portrayals. Since leaving academia he has taught Mandarin Chinese in secondary schools, and has created several successful online web development courses, as well as a full course on accurate English pronunciation available on YouTube. In his free time he particularly likes travel and listening to fine (i.e. classical!) music.
Autumn Teague – Sister
Autumn Teague is a versatile voice, television, and theater actor based in Los Angeles. You can hear her voice on radio ads, commercials, and audiobooks, and can most recently be seen on All Rise (CBS), Dave (FX), or as the spokesperson for PixelMixer.
Autumn earned her BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, where she performed in various notable theaters, including A Red Orchid and TimeLine. Her training includes programs with The Second City Chicago, Voiceover Camp, and Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, among others. With a strong background in both performance and voiceover, Autumn continues to collaborate with creators of all kind, bringing her passion for storytelling to life.
Abby Hogan - Hattie
Abby is 15 years old and a current freshman at Visitation Academy. She can be seen around town performing with the MUNY Kids Troupe and the MUNY Kids and Teens Holiday Troupe. She also performs with several local community theaters. Some of her favorites are The Sound of Music (Marta von Trapp- STL MUNY), Mary Poppins (Jane Banks - Missouri Baptist Univ.), Annie (Annie - Visitation Academy). You may also have seen her performing in the youth ensemble at the MUNY in Sister Act, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Matilda and Kinky Boots. She studies voice at Lisa Christine Studios and dance at the Professional Dance Center.
Mark Eischer - Dr. Fan
Mark Eischer is the announcer and senior producer for “The Lutheran Hour.” He has been the voice of “The Lutheran Hour” since 1982. He lives in St. Louis with his wife and enjoys his 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler - Host
Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler began as Speaker of The Lutheran Hour® in October 2018. He previously served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in St. Louis and currently also serves part-time as an Air Force Reserve officer. Dr. Zeigler and his wife Amy have four children.
Rev. Dr. Travis Scholl – Essay Author & Guest
Travis Scholl is Corporate Director of Mission Integration at Lutheran Senior Services, as well as a guest instructor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. A widely published essayist and poet, he is the author of Walking the Labyrinth and holds a PhD in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri.
The Christmas special, "Assignment: Christmas," was inspired by Dr. Scholl's Bible study - Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Four-Session Bible Study for Advent.
