’40s Radio Hour’ raises Carnegie Hall trip funds

Radio Hour Cast

The Austin Community College Choir is heading to Carnegie Hall, but its first stop will be here in Austin for benefit performances of “The 1940’s Radio Hour” to raise funds for the trip.

The choir will perform ’40s tunes during three evenings of musical theater November 17-19 at the One World Theatre. Proceeds will defray expenses for a trip in April to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. See related story

“It’s a very exciting time for our choir program,” says Dr. Jim Shepherd, associate professor of music and ACC choir director. “Students will have the experiences of performing in a beloved musical and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall.”

“The 1940’s Radio Hour” is a nostalgic play with 20 musical numbers, dancing, old-time sound effects, and commercials for new products like Eskimo Pies, Chiquita Banana, and Nash automobiles. It’s seen through the eyes of the audience in the Algonquin Room of the Astor Hotel on Times Square in December 1942, where a special Christmas show is being recorded for the United States’ overseas troops.

“It’s a cool play with really good music and dancing,” says Raven Wilkins, a vocal performance major who sings “Old Black Magic” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” during the show. “It’s a play within a play, with the audience watching us as actors getting ready for the show and then as we leave.”

The radio show cast includes a producer on the verge of tearing his hair out, a drunken crooner, a torch singer, starlets hoping for their big break, and a cantankerous old stage doorkeeper.

“It’s really a lively, lighthearted show, not serious or overdramatic,” says Ben Grafton, a music major who plays Johnny Cantor, a Sinatra-like crooner. “There is a lot of really fun music, big band, horns, drums, piano, kind of jazzy.”

Many of the songs you’ll hear never really went away: “Blue Moon,” “Old Black Magic,” “I’ll be Seeing You,” “Strike Up the Band,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” and “Jingle Bells.”

“It’s going to be a great show,” Ben says. “I would encourage anyone to come. We’re doing our best to make it a great show.”

“The 1940’s Radio Hour” performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, November 17-19, at One World Theatre, 7701 Bee Cave Road. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. You can purchase advance tickets online or buy them at the door.

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