February 23, 2005

Theater group dials in retro radio musical

'The 1940s Radio Show' opens March 4 at GT Resort and Spa

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       Taking their audience back to an era of Glenn Miller, nickel phone calls and World War II patriotism, "The 1940s Radio Show" is a rollicking slice of life at WTCAcme.
      This fictitious radio station is filled with characters (with a capital C) who indulge in pre-production wrangling and conflicts before coming together for a "live" broadcast set on December 21, 1942. Featuring characters such as Ginger, Tootsie, Pops and Johnny Cantone, the show examines the fast-paced world of live radio 60 years ago.
      During the Grand Traverse Mutual Variety Cavalcade, as the radio show is dubbed, the cast sings nearly two dozen classic songs that helped define a generation. David Chown is the show's musical director who also plays bandleader Zoot Doubleman. He taps into modern technology to recreate the sounds of a big band backing up the singers.
      In keeping with the live broadcast theme, "The 1940s Radio Hour" also includes commercials read by the radio personalities, a sound effects guy and prompts for applause.
      Debuting Friday, March 4, at the Trillium Restaurant atop the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the show will run on Friday and Saturday evenings through April 9. The $35 price per person includes a four-course dinner and the show.
      The newly-formed Theater North TC presents this adventure in dinner theater. Old Town Playhouse veterans including John Dew, Mike Kelly, Ron Murden and Denni Don Hunting formed the semi-professional company last year. They had been kicking around an idea like this for a few years, recalled Dew, when everything suddenly gelled last fall: the show, the venue, the new company.
      "Mike came up with the show, which he had seen in the Detroit area," said Dew, the company's general manager/marketing who also acts in the production. "The title says it all and frankly the appeal for the typical dinner theater customer couldn't be better - the nostalgia appeal is high and it seems to be getting a wonderful, a phenomenal response."
      "The 1940s Radio Hour" is Theater North's first production, slotted for the resort's slower months of March and April. If this first venture is successful, Dew said they hope to continue this collaboration.
      "My guess is that we could do three maybe four shows a year," he said, excepting the Resort's busy summer season. "And we've even had inquires about taking this show on the road or even to the Cherry Festival, though that's a remote possibility at this point."
      The company held auditions late last fall and received so many female applicants that they double cast those parts. The 18 cast members, nine per show, have been rehearsing since the year began and last night staged their first run-through at the Trillium.
      "We have a deep talent pool, we didn't have to stretch to fill the roles," noted Kelly, the show's director.
      He was pleased that the auditions brought in many singers who had never performed before at Old Town Playhouse.
      "We brought in Marcia Minervini, she hasn't done anything at Old Town that I'm aware of," Kelly said. "I've got several other people who've never done anything there, so we're tapping the community for talent that's there but has just been waiting for a show that they would like to do."
      Some of the cast members are veteran performers although only in high school. Emily Williams, a senior at Traverse City West High School, appeared in the sell-out school productions of "Les Mis" two years ago and "West Side Story" last spring. The Elk Rapids resident commutes daily to West to take advantage of the arts opportunities there.
      Williams had previously auditioned for a role in "Proof," which Kelly directed at the playhouse. She did not get the role but caught Kelly's eye; he called her when casting for "The 1940s Radio Hour."
      "This show is a lot like a concert, it's very fun but relaxed for the audience because it's like being in a radio theater," said Williams, a member of West's Chorale who has also directed a play for the school's drama department. "It is pretty straight-forward musically but the harmonies are very tight."
      "I think the audience will love it," she noted.