Written by Walton Jones
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
1942. The world is at war. On the evening of December 21st. The Mutual Manhattan VARIETY CAVALCADE is preparing its weekly, live broadcast from the Hotel Astor's Algonquin Room. The characters of this screwball comedy step out of a bygone era and evoke memories of favorite backstage musical films. Zany antics and the live renditions of songs such as "BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY," "LOVE IS HERE TO STAY," "BLUE MOON," "THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC," and "I'LL BE SEEING YOU" with an onstage band and swing-dancing studio-audience will heat up the night.
"Radio lets people see things with their own ears."
- New York Times; 30, January 1986.
Saturday, December 21, 1942
Welcome to the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade. As you read this, the staff of WOV is putting the finishing touches on tonight's show. Producer/Director, Florence Feddington is working with Toots Doubleman, the Cavalcade's Music Director to make last minute changes to the script and music arrangements.
Pops Bailey is here, as always, and he'll try to keep the studio floors clean, the coffee hot and the performers in line. He's also helping keep the war time economy moving by taking horse race bets over the studio phones.
Stage Manager Lou Cohn is rounding up actors, preparing sound effects and getting ready to handle any problems that might pop up during the performance. She will also try to cram in some extra rehearsal time, before the show.
Stanley Briarcliff is always busy trying to hang new lights, run sound cables, set up chairs and do the thousands of other chores that are part of live radio broadcasts. Wally Ferguson, the energetic delivery boy, will be dropping by with Stanley's coffee, along with hot dogs, sandwiches and other nourishment for the Cavalcade crew. Undoubtedly, Wally will be badgering Lou about when he'll get a chance to perform in the show.
Freddy Selsdon is the Control Room Technician, he is also very popular with the young people in this part of town since he helps recruit fresh young talent for the Cavalcade. Lou might be recruiting some of these kids to dance and sing in the show tonight. The show you're about to see requires a lot of rehearsal and preparation. As Flo Feddington often says: "We have a show to do, and we're gonna do it well."
So relax and enjoy the show. For a couple of hours, try to forget about wars in distant lands. The cast and crew of the Cavalcade hope to make you laugh, sigh and remember the simpler, gentler and more innocent times of your life. As Humphrey Bogart says in the new hit movie CASABLANCA:
"I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for rest of your life. Here's looking at you kid."
- Rick, CASABLANCA, 1942
CAST
(in order of appearance)
Pops Bailey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith MungerStanley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rian Krahn
Florence "Flo" Feddington . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Lorca
Toots Doubleman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katherine Chapin
Wally Fergusson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anthony Andrade Jr.
Lou Cohn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katherine Hill
Johnny Cantone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luis Nuñez
Ginger Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Gallagher
Connie Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leighanna Edwards
B.J. Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Brandon Hutchens
Neal Tilden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harley Tallett
Ann Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Assarsson
Geneva Lee Browne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patricia Urbano
Biff Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Justin Basl
Freddy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Knott Studio Audience: Dancers/Singers
Nadine Chiarito, Stacey Greenberg, Isha Leon, Sara McCay, David Montgomery, Angela Rodriguez, Cassandra Sasano, Emily Slayter, Jessica Wolfsen
THE TOOTS DOUBLEMAN ORCHESTRA
Musical Director - DEBRA LAMBERT
Jazz piano - Dolores Duran
Keyboard - Debra Lambert
Trumpet - Larry McGowan
Drums - Brian Sears
Bass - Aaron Schaul
Production Staff
Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael B. Elkins
Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael B. Elkins
Music & Vocal Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Debra Lambert
Scenic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R. Dutch Fritz
Costume Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Hill
Choreographer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amy Lyn McDonald
Lighting Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R. Dutch Fritz
Make-up, Wigs, and Hair Design . . . . . . . . . Jeanna Hurd
Assistant Director/Dramaturge . . . . . . . .Adriana Chavez
Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Knott
Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexandra Knight
Assistant Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Elkins
Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom R. Earlywine
Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R. Dutch Fritz
Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Karen Byrnes
Sound Technician. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A.J. Giannini
Lightboard Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Hill
Props Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . .Debra Broock, Melissa Cole, Becca Waldo
Running Crew . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny Scaringe, Rian Krahn
Theatre Shop Assistants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Justin Basl, Nadine Chiarito, Melissa Cole, Brian Hill, Matthew Hutchens, Jennifer Scaringe
Costume Shop Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Koski, Connie Croker
Box Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melissa Cole, Carly Ozard
House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle Koski
The Company would like to thank the following for their continued support throughout the year:
Richard's Dry Cleaners
R. Dutch Fritz
Starbucks
Ralston Middle School
NDNU Theatre Alumni Association
Karen Byrnes
Coastal Repertory Theatre, HMB for use of the sound effects table
West Valley Light Opera for use of the microphones
Mr. Rick Deviolet for use of the wall pay phone
Cameron's Restaurant Pub & Inn for use of the Coke machine
1940'S RADIO HOUR, Written by WALTON JONES
Based on an idea by Walton Jones and Carol Lee, as originally produced by the Ensemble Company and Yale Repertory Theatre and further developed by the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Broadway production presented by Jujamycn Productions, Joseph P. Harris, Ira Bernstein and Roger Berlind.
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