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by Walton Jones

Feb. 12 - March 7, 2010

It is December 1942, and our troops overseas are listening to the radio for news and entertainment from back home. The 1940’s Radio Hour, written by Walton Jones, is opening at the Wimberley Playhouse February 12, is a nostalgic musical about a radio broadcast – but this time you, the playgoers, are the actual audience.

Reminiscent of the setting of the recent film, “A Prairie Home Companion,” the play shows how a radio broadcast is put together. Only this time the music is not country, but favorite old ballads from the 40’s – “Kalamazoo,” “Blue Moon, “Ain’t She Sweet?” “Blues in the Night,” “You Go to My Head,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” and many others. The music will be presented onstage by a small orchestra consisting of bass (Guy Ben Moshe), trumpet (Sean Palmer), trombone (Tom Van Tassel), drums (John King), piano (Robert FitzGerald), saxophone (Robert Eaton) and tenor sax (Donna Heath).

The 1940’s Radio Hour is directed by Jennifer McKenna, new to the Wimberley Playhouse but known in Austin theatre (Crimes of the Heart at City Theatre and The Diaries of Adam and Eve at the Baker Theatre). Producer is Kay Allison, a long-time member of the Players board. Musical Director is Jonna Beck, who acted in the Players’ last production, Inspecting Carol. Carole Hofstad, a Players actress, is choral director and rehearsal pianist.

Several actors are also Wimberley veterans. Ann Collier is played by Juli Dearrington, most recently seen in Stop the World, I Want to Get Off and in My Fair Lady (Emily Ann). Lou Cohn is Derek Smootz, seen in Man of La Mancha and The Mousetrap at the Playhouse. Gary Yowell plays Clifton A. Feddington; Gary was seen last year in Leading Ladies. Johnny Cantone is portrayed by Dan Stephens, minister of music at First Baptist Church. last seen on the Players stage in Man of La Mancha. Robert FitzGerald, who plays Zoot as well as the piano, was seen in Inspecting Carol last fall.

Rounding out the cast are Abreeta Goode as Geneva Lee Browne; John Kenneth Harder, playing Pops. Laura Cannon, as Connie Miller; Alexandra Russo as Ginger Brooks, Brandon VanGieson as B.J. Gibson, Benjamin Wright as Neal Tilden and Andy Fleming as Wally Ferguson. Sean Palmer plays Biff as well as the trumpet.

1940’s Radio Hour will run February 12 – March 7. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8:00 pm and Sunday shows are at 2:30. Tickets are $18 except opening night ($25, with a reception at 7:00), and may be purchased online or by calling (512) 847-0575.
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