Community Connection (https://indianapublicradio.org/communityconnection/) is an Indiana Public Radio (https://indianapublicradio.org/) original program that tells the story of nonprofit organizations in our listening area of East Indiana. Each month, we focus on one organization and what its volunteers and staff are doing to make East Central Indiana a better place to live and work. We’re here to tell their story: what impact they have on our community, how they do what they do, and how you can help.
Presenting "A Chris-Mystery": IPR's Live Radio Drama
A Christmas Eve party. A missing ring. A down-on-his-luck private eye. It’s a combination that has all the makings of a perfect mystery. Or should we say, “Chris-Mystery?”
As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of A Chris-Mystery, IPR’s radio drama broadcast live on Friday, Dec. 16, from Sursa Performance Hall at Ball State University.
Written by local Radio Drama veteran Michael Kleeberg and produced by Jennifer Blackmer, with direction from David Little and musical direction from Michael Elliott, A Chris-Mystery is sponsored by Michelle Walker Thrivent Financial and The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory.
12/24/2022 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 58 seconds
Presenting "This American Carol": IPR's Live Radio Drama
As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of This American Carol, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 17, live from Sursa Performance Hall.
This American Carol is a contemporary comedy mashup of A Christmas Carol and The Office, as told in the style of NPR’s This American Life. The new production is written for IPR by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and professor of theatre at Ball State University, Dr. Jennifer Blackmer.
The main character is Carol, a successful branch manager who has a misguided idea of what celebrating the holidays at work actually means. Carol, who wants things done in a very specific way, won’t listen to anyone’s input and, after a fit of epic proportions (her staff literally fear for their jobs), she decides to cancel the party. The next day, three mysterious meetings pop up on Carol’s Outlook calendar (ghosts) who come along to teach Carol that respecting your coworkers and listening to them not only makes for a good team, but they can also become the family you need but never had.
12/25/2021 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 36 seconds
Presenting "Comfort and Joy": An IPR Radio Drama Retrospective
Indiana Public Radio aired a live re-enactment of Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast on the show's 70th anniversary in 2008. The IPR radio drama has since become an annual holiday tradition at Ball State University, growing over the years as a unique collaboration among community members, Ball State faculty, and Ball State students. "Comfort and Joy, An IPR Radio Drama Retrospective" reveals the process of creating this local holiday tradition and explores why storytelling in this format - "theater of the mind" - has found such an enthusiastic audience in today's fast-paced world.
12/12/2020 • 59 minutes, 40 seconds
Presenting the WBST 60th Anniversary Special
Community Connection is proud to bring this special broadcast online. IPR's flagship station, WBST 92.1 FM, Muncie, celebrates 60 years on the air through a look back at the station's rich broadcasting history.
This special broadcast includes audio from WBST's 50th Anniversary Show, produced by Brian Eckstein and broadcast on September 12, 2010, which in turn featured audio from WBST's 30th Anniversary Radio Program, produced by Dan Skinner and broadcast on September 12th, 1990.
Host and producer Sean Ashcraft guides us through these past 60 years with a local programming update focusing on the last decade of Indiana Public Radio. New material for this special broadcast was written by Michelle Kinsey.
9/12/2020 • 58 minutes, 54 seconds
Presenting "Christmas Gifts": IPR's Live Radio Drama
As a special treat for the holidays, we're proud to bring you IPR's production of "Christmas Gifts”, our radio drama broadcast on Friday, Dec. 13, live from Sursa Performance Hall.
Matthew Reeder directs a cast of local talent in a live performance of this story adapted by David Little. "Christmas Gifts" brings two O. Henry stories to life. "Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf" are intertwined to tell a holiday story that spans generations and recreates the magic of old-time live radio programs with community actors, musicians, and foley sound effects.
12/20/2019 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 2 seconds
Presenting “A Few Houses Down”: IPR’s Live Radio Drama
Something a little different from the normal here, Community Connection is proud to bring you IPR’s production of an original piece by Michael Kleeberg, “A Few Houses Down”, performed live on Friday, Dec. 14, on-air and before an audience in Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State campus.
Kleeberg is an assistant professor of English at Ivy Tech Community College. His new radio drama, “A Few Houses Down” tells the story of two families brought together by Grandpa, who imagines himself to be all of the characters in a classic holiday novel.
Directed by Matthew Reeder, assistant professor of directing and Shakespeare at Ball State. This performance features community actors, authentic sound effects (produced by a foley artist on stage) and a live ensemble of musicians.
