Auditions for ACT’s musical, The 1940’s Radio Hour, will be held on Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Giffey Hall. Callbacks, if needed, will be Thursday, August 28.
The story of 1940’s Radio Hour takes place in the rather seedy studio of radio station WOV in New York City. It is about an hour before a Monday night broadcast of a weekly variety show, “The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade.” The date is December 12, 1942, a little more than a year after Pearl Harbor.

The studio is the home of a group of working-class entertainers who hope to make the “big time” by being heard on this show, when in fact none of them have the talent to make it.

The 1940’s Radio Hour is a humorous look into the hazards and goof-ups during the days of live radio broadcasts. It is wall to wall music from World War II: “Gal in Kalamazoo,” “How About You,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “Blues in the Night,” “That Old Black Magic” and many others that will have your feet tapping.

The characters in the play are:
Pops Bailey: Stage doorman, over 60. Wizened, crotchety, miserable, crusty, foul-tempered. Makes book on company phone. Quits every night. Always loses at cards with Lou. No singing.
Lou Cohen: Stage manager, 40’s. Always trying to impress Ginger. Echoes everything Clifton says. No ambitions except to be stage manager, a job with plenty of authority and no responsibility. No singing.
Clifton A. Feddington: Announcer, general manager, head of everything at WOV, 50’s. Always has problems, always with Bromo. A real cheapskate. Has trouble hyping audience during ads. But that’s his charm. Solo: “Gal in Kalamazoo.”
Neal Tilden: Is the comic, 30 to 40. Drives a cab because he was cut out of will for being “a bum in show business.” Hoping for featured vocalist spot if Johnny Cantone ever leaves. Solos: “Blue Moon.” “Jingle Bells” plus group singing.
Ann Collier: Been at “Cavalcade” since it started, 30 to 40. Private secretary during the day, “dating” Johnny Cantone at the moment. Solos: “That Old Black Magic,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “I’ll Be Seeing You” plus group singing.
Geneva Lee Browne: High class singer from Kansas City, 30 to 40. Can sing with scat and sass or simple and bluesy. Solos: “Rose of the Rio Grande,” “I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good.”
Biff Baker: Started with Zoot, has been playing with Glenn Miller and at the “Cavalcade” every week off. Mid 20’s. In the service and training at Ft. Bragg, N.J. This is Biff’s last show as he goes overseas tomorrow. Solo: “Ain’t She Sweet” and “Jingle Bells.”
Connie Miller: Bobbysoxer from Ogden, Utah. Is 17 and very enthusiastic. Taps and jitterbugs. Always in love, swoons for Johnny Cantone. Sings like Marian Hutton. Solos: “How About You,” “Hey, Daddy (sings a verse in Pig Latin),” “The Five O’Clock Whistle,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” trio plus group singing.
Johnny Cantone: Featured vocalist. In 30’s. Frank Sinatra style singer. Always pinching and slapping Neal. Wears diamond ring on “pinkie.” Drinks during show. Dating Ann at the moment, but interested in Connie. Solos: “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” “I’ll Never Smile Again” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
Ginger Brooks: Bubble-headed waitress “discovered” by Lou. In her 30’s. Leads with lower lip like Betty Boop. Betty Grable look. Rehearses in slip. Chews gum but takes it out of mouth and holds it while performing. Gets away with murder. Makeup is always “thick and perfect.” Solos: “Blues in the Night,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” trio, group singings.
B.J. Gibson: Ivy League looking student at Yale, about 20. Dating Connie. Worships Cantone but keeps it a secret. Taps and jitterbugs. Squeaky-clean Dick Powell look. Solo: “You Go To My Head,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” trio plus group singing.
Wally Ferguson: Young hopeful from Altoona, PA who works for his uncle at the drugstore and hopes to get a break into show business. Late teens. These folks are biggest stars in the world, especially Cantone. Tries hard, but manages to screw everything up. Sings in group numbers.
Zoot Doubleman: The bandleader. About 50. At home with musicians.
Stanley: Technician about 20. Lugs cable, runs around a lot but lives in control booth.
Sound Man: Creates all the sounds required for the show.

The style of singing, hair style and clothes will be from the 1940’s. Anyone who accepts a role must be willing to style their hair from that period.

For auditions, each person needs to prepare a song of their choice, preferably from the 1940’s era. You will also be reading from the script with other people. If you’d like suggestions for music, or need more information, call Sam Macera at 419-878-6826.