The Baker University Theater Department is starting out the spring semester with a musical, taking attendees back to the 1940s during the beginning of World War II.
The musical is called “1940s Radio Hour,” when radio station WOV broadcasts for the troops overseas. Each character brings a certain dynamic to the stage and helps to encompass what a live radio show was like.
1940s Radio Hour Cast
Clifton Feddington – Jesse Miller
Ann Collier – Taylor Winkler
Johnny Cantone – Patrick King
Ginger Brooks – Jillian Miller
Geneva Lee Browne – Morgan Giudicessi
Wally Ferguson – Bill Wicks
B.J. Gibson – Brandon Haefke
Connie Miller – Adriane Dick
Lou Cohn – Ryan Bearrick
Pops Bailey – Doug Cheek
Biff Baker – Will Schowalter
Rosie – Anna Hobbs
Zoot Doubleman – Ray James
Mama – Nanette Kraus
“The audience will be surprised with how each character adds in to make the performance seem like an actual live radio show,” Director Tom Heiman said. “They will have scripts in their hands, reading from them and trying to not show any unforeseen circumstance like you would if you were live on the radio.”
Heiman said there will be a jazz band ensemble featured in the show, which will make for some “truly spectacular performances.”
“We have some of the best singers on campus performing a whole song with a jazz band behind them,” Heiman said. “You won’t get that anywhere else. It will be great, great fun.”
Sophomore Jillian Miller plays the character Ginger, a waitress turned singer who is full of energy.
“My favorite scene I perform is called ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ because it is fast pace and incorporates a dance,” Miller said. “At one point, a guy has to fill in for a girl and it is purely entertaining to watch that.”
Senior Will Schowalter is the character of Biff Baker. His role is to act as a trumpet player who is going off to war the following day. Schowalter has had a lot of fun being in the production and leaves every rehearsal with one song or another stuck in his head.
“All of the scenes are really great and the singing is just amazing,” Schowalter said. “There is this song, ‘Ain’t She Sweet,’ that I can always guarantee will be stuck in my head after a rehearsal.”
With practices canceled due to snow and some members of the cast being sick, the premiere of the musical was delayed. The musical will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in Rice Auditorium.
“The students have put forth a lot of dedication to this show and you will see it through their performances,” Heiman said. “From hilarious commercials to little tidbits here and there, the show will have lots of fun with it.”
