The 1940's Radio Hour
Performances: April 25, 26, 30 May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 1998
Roles Available: 9 men / 4 women
"Pops" Bailey - (non-singing) The stage doorman. Over 60. The traditionally wizened, crotchety, miserable, crusty, foul-tempered stage door keeper who makes book on the company phone and reads hidden copies of "Show Girl." Listens to the races and other shows on his radio during the broadcast.
Lou Cohn - (non-singing) The stage manager. About 40. Big shot. Keeps four or five conversations going at once; and all of them straight.
Clifton A. Feddington - (singing) The bandleader, announcer, general manager, head-of-everything at WOV. He's always in various states of hysteria; carrying contracts, letters, running his hands through his hair. Always has problems. Always with his Bromo.
Neal Tilden - (singing) The comic who drives a cab. Wants to do it all: sing, dance, comedy, act, lead the band, choreograph. Clifton won't even give him a ballad.
Ann Collier - (singing) The old standard in Clifton's Cavalcade; she's been there since it started in 1936. She works during the day for a large corporation - a private secretary for the boss. Must sound like the "big band vocalists" of the period: has a voice like Peggy Lee, Ginny Simms, Dinah Shore, Doris Day, Helen Forrest, all rolled into one.
Geneva Lee Browne - (singing) A beautiful, high-class, black singer from Kansas City. Sings one song like Ella Fitzgerald with lots of seat and sass, the other song is simple and bluesy. Sassy, brassy and loud like Pearl Bailey. (Note: This character may be cut.)
Biff Baker - (non-singing, but might play an instrument) Baby-faced and in his mid-twenties. This is Biff's last show. Tomorrow he goes overseas in a fighter squadron.
Connie Miller - (singing) A seventeen-year-old bobbysoxer from Odgen, Utah. Always in love. Enthusiastic. Taps and jitterbugs.
Johnny Cantone - (singing) Featured vocalist with the Cavalcade. From Brooklyn. Ex-welterweight boxer. Rough guy. Always pinching Neal's cheek and slapping him. Has a Frank Sinatra sound. Class. Wears a diamond pinky ring and drinks during the show.
Ginger Brooks - (singing) Bubble-headed waitress-turned-star. Leads with her lower lip like Betty Boop. Pinup, Betty Grable look. She rehearses in a slip. Chews gum but takes it out of her mouth and holds it when performing.
B.J. Gibson - (singing) The third of the Gibson brothers to work for Clifton. Tall, preppy, about twenty. Really aggressive about his career. Always wants to know how he did and elicits praise from people whose opinions he respects. Good-looking. Squeaky clean, Dick Powell look.
Wally Fergusson - (singing) A poodle-eyed young hopeful from Altoona, Pennsylvania who came to New York to work for his uncle at the drugstore and hopefully to get his big break into show business. Attends every rehearsal and performance when they'll let him. Always practicing everyone else's routines in case they ever need him.
Stanley (non-singing) Lugs cable and runs around a lot and otherwise lives in the control booth.
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