The 1940’s Radio Hour

the 1940’s Radio Hour

A different time is evoked in this marvelously theatrical show, a live broadcast of The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade from the Hotel Astor's Algonquin Room on December 21, 1942. The spirit of that bygone era when the world was at war and pop music meant "Strike Up the Band" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is accurately captured as the harassed producer copes with a drunk lead singer, the delivery boy who wants a chance in front of the mic, the second banana who dreams of singing a ballad, and the trumpet playing sound effects man who chooses a fighter plane over Glenn Miller.

Bassed on an idea by Walton Jones and Carol Lee as originally presented by the Ensemble Company and Yale Repertory Theatre and further developed by Arena Stage in Washington D. C. Broadway production by Jujamcyn Productions Joseph P. Harris, Ira Bernstein, and Roger Berlind.

crew

Director - Musetta Feldman
Music Director - Stephen Pearce
Production Coordinator - Susan Jacobs
Stage Manager - Carol Mankins
Assistant Stage Manager - Melanie Haveard
Choreographer - Joanna Robbins Hayes
Set Engineer - Christien Fontaine
Lighting Design - Choh Man Trng
Costume/Hair/ Makeup Design - Jillian Jensen Holt
Lightboard Operator - Choh Man Teng
Spotlight Operator - Manda Barnes
Properties - Carla Rhodes
Backstage Crew - Kelly Reed, James Jenkins
Set Construction and Painting - Barry Boyd, Bill Mankins, Carol Mankins, Jonathan Mankins, Cast and Crew
PLT Artistic Director - Kathy Holsworth
PLT Technical Director - Kayla Stephenson

Band

Ray Smith - Saxophone and Clarinet

Colin Slavin - Trumpet

Steve Maniscola - Drums

Craig Granat - Bass

Stephen Pearce - Piano

Cast

William Watkins as Pops Bailey

William is originally from St. Louis, MO. He is a 45 year member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. His community theatre performances include McLeevy in Joe Orton’s Loot, Juror #3 in 12 Angry Men, and Mr. Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank. His most recent roles include Gaston and the Doctor, in the Arrant Knavery productions of Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Macbeth. William also enjoyed playing the roles of Dr. Sweet in Bug and Judge Harper in Pensacola Little Theatre’s production of Miracle on 34th Street.

Bob Lamar as Clifton A. Fedington

Bob is pleased to be back on the Pensacola Little Theatre Mainstage. Since the 1990’s he has been seen in over 30 productions across the Pensacola area and was a Crystal award recipient for his performance as Alfie Dolittle in My Fair Lady in 1997. Bob was last seen as R.P. Murphy in Pensacola State College’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 2015.

Stephen Pearce as Zoot Doubleman

Having played his favorite role of Zoot Doubleman several times over the years, Stephen is excited to be back at it with this production. His first time ever on stage was as a Sweet Apple Kid in his school’s play, but Stephen mostly enjoys playing in the pit as a musician or serving as music director.

Zachary Reinhart as Wally Fergusson

This is Zachary’s second production at Pensacola Little Theatre. His most recent role was Officer Pudney in Rumors. Some of his favorite roles include George Bailey in Panhandle Community Theatre’s It’s A Wonderful Life. Zachary loves every part of theatre and has no plans of stopping.

Robbie Gonzalez as Lou Cohn

Robbie has been in 8 productions at Pensacola Little Theatre, but this will be his first holiday show. His most recent shows include, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Schoolhouse Rock LIVE!, and Mamma Mia!.

Keegan Flaugh as Johnny Cantone

Keegan is a Colorado native who has been performing in the Denver metro area for the past 15 years. Some of his favorite roles include Peron in Evita, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Nicky Armstein in Funny Girl, Carl Hanratty in Catch Me if You Can, and Billy Flynn in Chicago. Thank you so much for being here with us this holiday season and supporting live theatre. Now, “don’t wait up for me…”

Jillian Jensen Holt as Ginger Brooks

Jillian was born into The 1940’s Radio Hour - quite literally! Her dad was performing the role of Johnny Cantone and her mom (director Musetta Feldman) was choreographer. Between one performance and the next, Jillian was born with her dad still wearing Johnny Cantone’s white tuxedo jacket. She is proud to be playing the role of Ginger for the second time.

Kayla May as Connie Miller

Kayla holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from UWF. She has performed professionally along the Gulf Coast and in New England. Favorite credits include: On the Verge (Fanny), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Into the Woods (Witch), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania). For the past 6 years she has served as Camps Director for the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. Locally, she is the founder and director of Neighborhood Children’s Theatre.

Chris Heaney as Neal Tilden

Chris is thrilled to be involved with this cast. He follows a few “Covid Era” PLT roles, notably Aesop in Aesop’s Fables, and Ron/Ronald/Ronnie in Short Attention Span Theatre. This is his first role in a musical since 2019’s Mamma Mia! here at Pensacola Little Theatre. Chris is also privileged to be the 2021-22 secretary on the Pensacola Little Theatre Board of Trustees.

Trenten Kawas as B.J. Gibson

Trenten is excited for his second show at Pensacola Little Theatre. He was last seen as Tom in Schoolhouse Rock LIVE!.

Joanna Robbins Hayes as Ann Collier

Joanna is a long-time performer on the Pensacola Little Theatre stage and throughout venues in Northwest Florida. A few of her favorites roles include; the title role in Victor/Victoria, Anita in West Side Story, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Gabby/Bobbie in City of Angels. She sings regularly with local bands, Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters, Bangarang, and the Matt McCarty Jazz Quintet in San Destin. Joanna is reprising the role of Ann Collier which she first performed at the Jenny Wiley Theatre in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.

Pearl Ash as Geneva Lee Browne

Pearl is thrilled to be making her debut with Pensacola Little Theatre. Her recent credits include What the Heart Wants, Sacred Hart Web Series, and Murder Mystery Theatre: The MIA Bride, all with Elrico Tunstall’s Manager of the Year. She has appeared in NBC’s Bluff City Law, NatGeo’s Genius Aretha, and the Amazon Original movie Tomorrow War, just to name a few. You can see her enthusiastically singing and energetically moving with loveliness.

Eric Michael as Stanley

Eric is usually a member of the tech crew and used to being backstage, but he is excited to be in his first show!

Colin Slavin as Biff Baker

Colin is a local musician and music educator in the Pensacola area. He has performed in the pit orchestra on trumpet in multiple Pensacola State College and Pensacola Little Theatre musical productions over the past 10 years. This will be his first time not in the pit and on stage with a role in a theatre production.

from The Director

Throughout history human beings have turned to the theatre in times of turmoil. Whether it’s a stadium on a hillside in Greece, a thatched roof wooden structure in Bankside, England, a pagoda in China, a barn in Connecticut, or a traveling street cart filled with performers, we flock to the theatre for a chance to escape the worries of life and immerse ourselves in another world. Theatre is magical and restorative.

The 1940s Radio Hour, by Walton Jones, is a chance for us to gather together as a community and be transported to a kinder, simpler time. A time with its own jubilation and tragedy to be sure, but far removed from the pain, division, and isolation of the past two years.

Our cast, crew, and musicians present this charming show as our gift of love to you this holiday season. May you find peace, love, joy and healing which will remain with you throughout the year.

Musetta