From staff reports
Community Playhouse’s annual Honky Tonk production is sure to help folks remember those pre-television days when radio provided hours of family entertainment in households across the U.S.
With what seemed like magical powers, popular disc jockeys would spin “Platters” on a “record player” in their radio stations and send out over the air waves “fantastic, fond, formidable, favorite” hit songs of the day along with weather reports, sports announcements, news and comic commentaries right into the hearts and homes of thousands of enthralled listeners.
Everyone had their favorite DJ and their favorite radio show. While listening to the radio is still vogue, Community Playhouse is set to take audience members back to yesteryear in radio history with this year’s Honky Tonk, “The Radio Show.”
Tickets for the show only are $12. Tickets for the show and meal are $22. Reservations will be taken until Monday for meal and show and until Wednesday for show only by calling (814) 677-7469 and leaving a message. Any unreserved show seats will be available at the door each night of the performance. No dinner tickets will be sold at the door.
Those with cabin fever has who are yearning for a wacky mid-winter night on the town, may join the exuberant audience of DJ Doug Kennedy at WAKY FM radio station as he takes them through a medley of musical memories ranging from the ’40s through the ’80s. A longtime radio station employee and very popular DJ, Kennedy tells radio station sidekick, Joe Gerzina, that he longs to retire, but his boss, Sherry Switzer, is reluctant to let him go without finding a big name replacement.
The fictitious Oil City radio station, ailing with aging equipment and small town obscurity, needs a booster shot. At an important radio station meeting, Switzer announces that she has entered WAKY FM in a radio station contest called “Fifty Years of Fantastic Fond and Formidable Favorites.”
To win the contest, WAKY FM personnel must pick what they think was the greatest radio hit song out of 50 years of music between the ’40s and ’80s. The incentive to win the contest is just what WAKY FM needs – brand new equipment for the radio station.
“The Radio Show,” written and directed by Deb Hardy and produced by Deb Mitchell, will serenade showgoers through memorable hit songs from five decades of radio broadcasting.
Starting with a “Moonlight Serenade,” the Honky Tonk cast members will take people on a “Sentimental Journey” through the jazzy, swinging, crooning songs of the ’40s. Then they will rock through the ’50s era with jukebox favorites such as “At the Hop” the unforgettable “In the Still of the Night” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” There might even be an appearance by “The King,” Elvis himself in living color.
Attendees will hear hit songs from the ’60s and ’70s such as “Dream,” “You Were Always on my Mind” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
People can get ready to boogie and “Shake Your Groove Thing” on “The Way to San Jose, especially if there’s a “Bad Moon Rising.”
Showgoers can attend “The Radio Show” with their selection in mind for the “Top Hit” of the ’40s to the ’80s musical era.
“Will your choice match the selection made by WAKY RADIO FM players? Will WAKY FM win the radio contest? Will DJ Doug get to retire?,” Community Playhouse members asked.
“Whatever the outcomes, Honky Tonk 2018 audiences are guaranteed to be winners of a very entertaining evening as they swing, croon, rock, hop, be-bop, groove, rumble, waltz and serenade their way through a musical ‘Medley of Fifty Years of Fantastic Fond and Formidable Favorites,'” they said.
Rounding out the cast are Mary Jane Bussard, Jeannine Guth, Deb Hardy, Gracee Hess, Trina Hess, Dave Heath, Mary Beth Hutchinson, Kathy Kahle, Dan Kaylor, Deb Letke, Aime Mason, Jessica McFadden, Kathleen Megnin Millay, Deb Mitchell, Scotty Rock, Tammy Schwab, Keith Siverling, Jeff Smith and Tim Wren. Musicians include guitarist Jim Ahrens and pianist Mary Beth Hutchinson.
