The 1940's Radio Hour
Stephen DeRosa, Director
Musical Director
Renée Guerrero
PERFORMANCE at DIXON PLACE
Monday, December 18th at 7:30pm
161A Chrystie St, NYC
MINI-PERFORMANCES
(Excerpts from the show with available cast members)
Dec., 13, 15 & 16
A Message from Stephen DeRosa
Audition Info, Important Dates & Fees
Auditions will be by video submission due by Oct. 29. Please submit something short and recent that is a good representative of your vocal ability and range. Can be a capella, a song from the 1940's or other song that best represents your voice.
Once we know who is definitely participating, Steve will assign/create roles and songs for you. If you have read the script and have designs on a certain song or role you can tell me but again I am changing a lot of the play so the roles will not be like they are in the script.
FIrst Rehearsal will be Monday, Nov. 13th, at 11am (please see below for the rehearsal outline).
Fees: $200 plus $75 contribution for NYC venue.
Ages: The minimum age to participate is 13. HOWEVER...
Renee and I are going to offer a Special Group Participation for kids ages 9-12.
Plot & Musical Numbers
Fabled WOV, a seedy little New York City radio station, takes to the air on December 21, 1942 (about a year into the U.S. involvement in World War II, this time to record a broadcast for the troops overseas.
Partial list of songs from show
Character Breakdown
- Clifton Feddington: The announcer and general manager (head of everything at WOV). He has ulcers from it all and is sometimes hysterical.
- Ann Collier The 'old standard' in the Radio show since its start in 1936. She is a secretary by day, and at looker by night who is dating Johnny.
- Johnny Cantone: Featured vocalist with the Cavalcade who is on Sinatra's bandwagon. He's an ex-boxer and a rough guy and has a voice like velvet.
- Ginger Brooks: A bubble-headed waitress-turned-singer. She has a pinup, Betty Grable look with lots of makeup and speaks with a Gracie Allen vacancy.
- Geneva Lee Browne: The southern Belle of WOV got her start in music at age 17 performing in local Swing ballrooms around the Atlanta area.
- Neal Tilden: Cab driver by day and singer, dancer, and choreographer at night. He is hopeful for the 'featured vocalist' slot.
- B.J. Gibson: The third of the Gibson brothers to work for the Cavalcade. He is squeaky-clean, good looking, and a preppy student at Yale.
- Connie Miller: A 17-year-old bobbysoxer from Ogden, Utah. She is perennially in love and runs an elevator by day.
- Pops Bailey: A crotchety, wizened stage doorkeeper who is a racing bookie on the company phone and reads hidden copies of Show Girl magazine.
- Lou Cohn: A big shot (at least in his own mind) who tries to impress the girls and is sometimes obnoxious. He runs the show and is the sound effects man.
- Wally Ferguson: Young hopeful from Altoona, Pennsylvania who came to NYC to work for his uncle at the drugstore to get his big show-biz break.
- Biff Baker: A young trumpet player with the Zoot Doubleman orchestra who will be leaving after the concert for Army duty.
- Stanley: Lugs cable and runs around a lot and otherwise lives in the control booth.
- Zoot Doubleman: WOV Orchestra Leader
TO AUDITION
- Name
- Age
- ALL contact info; phone numbers and email addresses (including parents)
- Let us know if you prefer singing or non-singing role.
- After careful review of the rehearsal schedule, your conflicts.
- If singing, a Youtube link (short song with or without accompaniment).
You must give a full commitment by October 30th to participate.
Payment for the project must be made in full by November 13th.
Rehearsal Schedule Beginning Monday, November 13th
There will be additional rehearsals for individuals and small groups throughout the four weeks but I will work based on your availability. If you have some conflicts on Mondays let me know though you MUST be available the entire day on December 4th, for the DRESS REHEARSAL on December 11th (entire day - times TBA); Tuesday, December 12th (5 - 9pm) and obviously be available for the 7:30pm performance the evening of December 18th. I realize everyone has many other commitments and school but your presence on those final rehearsal days is contingent to the success of the show for yourself and the other members participating and it is giving your parents "their money's worth". If you STILL have conflicts and still want to do it I can possibly work around you but your role will be limited given the other students who are making a full commitment.
Mondays beginning Nov. 13th
- 11am - 3pm
**Fridays beginning Nov. 17th (**Music rehearsals with Renee only and not everyone will be called every Friday. Specifics will be emailed with your conflicts considered ahead of time.)
- 11:30am - 2pm
***TECH WEEK***
FULL DRESS REHEARSAL
Monday, Dec. 11th, 11am - 3:30pm at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street in lower Manhattan
BRUSH-UP REHEARSAL
Monday, Dec. 11th, 5 - 9pm (rehearsal space TBA in Manhattan.)
BRUSH-UP REHEARSAL
Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 5 - 9pm (rehearsal space TBA in Manhattan.)
ADDITIONAL MINI PERFORMANCES (see below)
For cast members whose schedules permit.
CALL TIME FOR THE 7:30PM PERFORMANCE on Monday, Dec. 18th is 6PM
Email: findapianist@gmail.com
Location: 161A Chrystie St, New York, NY, United States
Phone: 917-312-5513
MINI-PERFORMANCES (Excerpts from the show with available cast members)
- Wednesday, December 13th at 8pm
- Friday, December 15th in evening
Location TBA
- Saturday, December 16th at 3pm
PERFORMANCE at Dixon Place
Monday, Dec 18, 2017, 07:30 PM
161A Chrystie St, New York, NY
About Stephen & Renée
Stephen DeRosa
Broadway: On the Town, Betrayal, The Nance, Hairspray, Henry IV, Into the Woods (The Baker-2002), Twentieth Century, The Man Who Came to Dinner (filmed live for PBS). Off Broadway: Irma La Douce, Wonderful Town, Do Re Mi, The It Girl, newyorkers, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Love's Fire (also at the RSC Barbican). Regional Theater (partial list): Yale Rep, Westport Country Playhouse, McCarter Theater, ACT, Berkshire Theater Festival, Williamstown Theater Festival and many others. TV/Film (selected): HBO's Boardwalk Empire (Eddie Cantor), HBO's Show Me a Hero, Ugly Betty, Rescue Me, Law and Order. MFA: Yale School of Drama.
In addition, Stephen has directed previous homeschool shows and classes including A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, scenes from Macbeth, scenes from Romeo & Juliet as well as Renée's History of Musical Theater Showcases at The Actors Temple & Shetler Studios. More info: www.stephenderosa.com
About me: Musical director for the homeschool productions Oliver!, Yeast Nation and Candide. My background is in Piano Pedagogy, Piano Performance, Music Education and Musical Theater. I have been teaching music classes and private lessons for over 25 years. I have a Master's Degree from Manhattan School of Music and am on the piano faculty at the Westchester Conservatory of Music in White Plains and former pre-college faculty at Manhattan School of Music. My performing career spans venues in the US and abroad and I am a 2014 recipient of a Steinway Educational Partnership.
More info: www.clavierdinaire.com
~Renée Guerrero