 |
| Sarah Brisco, Thomas Niels Mangum, Peter J. Hill and Barbara McBain photo by Patty Torrilhon |
Music and Lyrics by Gus Schneider and Eddie Avril
The Big Radio Broadcast of 1941: A small, independent Midwest radio station is set to finally ‘go national’! Everything, including their financial future, depends entirely on going live with the national radio programming. A sudden freak snowstorm knocks out any chance of receiving the national feed. But, the four employees realizing that, while they can’t receive, they can still broadcast! Can just four dedicated employees recreate an entire evening’s national radio broadcast? Can they save the station? Can they do it without falling in love? Well, if not, it won’t be for lack of trying!
The Big Radio Broadcast of 1941 charmingly recreates the old radio programs with their comedy, news and intrigue segments, set to some of the most wonderful, original music of the period. The story of how this show came to be is nearly as touching and funny as the musical itself. While visiting his mother, author Peter J. Hill was surprised when she brought out a small box of sheet music composed by Hill’s grandfather. “Your Grandfather wrote all this music. The Andrew’s Sisters optioned some of these songs, but they never recorded them. Can you do anything with them?” Hill took the music, listened to what turned out to be absolutely delightful tunes, and created The Big Radio Broadcast of 1941 around these songs by composer Gus Schneider. Amazingly Peter Hill and Gus Schneider, his maternal Grandfather, never met. Gus died the year that Peter was born and now Peter finds a deep and meaningful connection to his past through Gus’s music.
Directed by Peter J. Hill
Peter J. Hill plays Gus, the station janitor
Barbara McBain plays Joan, the station secretary
Tom Niels Mangum plays Billy, the station coffee boy
Sarah Brisco plays Sarah, daughter of the station owner
June 29- July 29
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm
Fountain Hills Theater, Mainstage Too
11445 N Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ
Reservations: (480) 837-9661 x3 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover or visit www.fhtaz.org
Individual Adult Tickets $30.00.
$12.00 for children under 17 & college students with ID.
Veterans call Box Office for 2 for 1 discount.
No comments:
Post a Comment
In order to avoid spam, comments will be moderated. Anonymous comments no longer will be allowed. If your comment is from an actual person it will be approved and posted in a timely manner.