The Minnewaska Showstoppers are pleased to present “RADIO GALS” as the 2009 Summer Production. “Radio Gals” is a musical by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick, set in the late 1920’s, and concerning an enterprising woman, Hazel Hunt(played by Luann Johnsrud), of Cedar Ridge, Arkansas who, upon her retirement as the town music teacher, receives a Western Electric 500 watt radio transmitter and begins broadcasting as radio station “WGAL.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILUB6oW51kY
What comes out over the local airwaves is a small town diary, calendar, and stream of consciousness -- sort of a Molly Bloom crossed with the Farmers’ Almanac -- with generous doses of singing and playing by Hazel’s “all-girl” singers, the Hazelnuts, that “lovesick flapper” Gladys Fritts (Anna Jessup) and the orchestra. The Hazelnuts are America (Monica Heller), Rennabelle (Mindi Jorgenson), and the “Swindle Sisters” Miss Azilee (Scott Banta) and Miss Mabel (Mark Halvorson). However, due to Hazel’s habit of “channel wandering,” her broadcasts are not always so local. And listeners as far away as Montreal and Manhattan can testify to that end.
Enter O. B. Abbott (Curt Bredeson), Federal Radio Inspector, intent on rescuing the airwaves from gypsies like Hazel Hunt. However, Mr. Abbott soon falls prey to the blandishments of the Hazelnuts, and the Shangri-La that is Cedar Ridge. Inspector Abbott, it turns out, also has a fine tenor voice and plays a mean accordion and trumpet.
The show features great music, lively dialog and a few surprises! The Artistic Director is Tim Lang, and Shari Opdahl is the Music Director.
Does radio station “WGAL” get shut down? Does Abbott fall for Gladys? To find the answers to these questions and more, you’ll have to attend the show!
Performance dates and times are Wednesday – Friday, July 22nd – 24th at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, July 25th at 5:30 PM. All performances are in the Minnewaska Area High School Auditorium.
Tickets (all reserved seating) may be purchased at the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce, First National Bank of Starbuck, or by calling (320) 634-3636.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (60 and over) and $7 for students (18 and under). “Radio Gals” book, music and lyrics are by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick, and “Radio Gals” is produced through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.