Tickets are still available for East Central College’s summer musical, The 1940’s Radio Hour.
John Anglin directs the Walton Jones production for four performances at ECC July 16-19.
Full of 1940s music, dancing and old-time sound effects, the musical portrays the final 1942 holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on New York radio station WOV. Classic songs featured in the show include That Old Black Magic, Our Love is Here to Stay, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Ain’t She Sweet, Blue Moon, I’ll Be Seeing You and many more.
The stage audience becomes the studio audience as the broadcast is sent to troops overseas. The spirit of that bygone era when the world was at war is accurately captured as the harassed producer copes with a drunk lead singer, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mike, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet playing sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller.
Cast members include George Meyer as Clifton Feddington, Tim Sexton as Johnny Cantone, Kelly Biser as Ann Collier, Vickie Danley as Geneva Lee Browne, Jacob Schmit as Neal Tilden; Joe Schimsa as B.J. Gibson, Ellie Schmidt as Connie Miller, and Rebecca Brinker as Ginger Brooks.
Rounding out the cast are Erich Eastman as Wally Ferguson, Darrell Herron as Lou Cohn, Scott Mirly as Pops Bailey, and Alex Kammer as Stanley.
John Phillips is the band director and plays the part of band leader Zoot Doublemann. Paula Nolley is music director for the production and is featured as pianist Kate “Keys” Cavanaugh. Jordan Palmer is cast as trumpet player Biff Baker. They are part of a16-piece band that also includes Alesia White, MJ Orf, Brandi Beanblossom, and Dylan Pich on saxophone; Derek Limback, and Adam Phillips on trumpet; Brandon Yenzer, Jason Stone, and Aaron Bounds on trombone; and a rhythm section that includes Matt Sokeland, Chris Johnson, and Chad Haley.
Joining Anglin on the crew are Bethany Herron, assistant director and choreographer; Chris Swanson, technical director; Vince Niehaus, set designer; and Josh Turk, lighting designer. Greg Nuckolls is stage manager, Deb and Rich Carron are Foley designers and costumers are Elaine Hutson, Carol Buescher and Patty Kellmann.
Based on an idea by Jones and Carol Lees, The 1940’s Radio Hour will be presented Thursday through Saturday, July 16 through 18, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets will go on sale at the door one hour prior to each performance. They may be purchased online at www.eastcentral.edu/tickets, by calling 636-584-6693 or by stopping at the ECC Cashier’s Office located on the first floor of Buescher Hall weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Please Note: THIS PRODUCTION RUNS 1 HOUR, 55 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSION