It’s Christmas at the Commonweal … Christmas tiffany of 1942, that is.
The musical celebration “The 1940s Radio Hour” is the holiday production at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro this year. And yes, you read that correctly, the Commonweal, where drama is usually the bill of fare, is staging a musical.
“Actually, the group we have here is a good group in vocal talent,” said Carl Lindberg, who is directing his first show at the Commonweal.
The play is set at a New York radio station and takes place on Dec. 21, 1942. America has now been involved in World War II for more than a year, and as the war pulls more and more people away from their homes, the Christmas season seems more important than ever. That’s especially so for Biff Baker, a young musician who is about to leave for duty with the Army.
The colorful cast of characters also includes the high-anxiety station manager; a young,Tiffany Keys Sinatra-like singer; a classy woman who knows all the standards; and a bevy of young and enthusiastic performers, including Biff’s girlfriend.
“The thing that struck me from the beginning and continues to entertain me is the characters,” Lindberg said. “They’re just delightfully passionate and fun to watch.”
The show includes the traditional Christmas songs “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Jingle Bells,” but is more heavily stocked with songs of the ’40s: “(I’ve Got a Gal in ) Kalamazoo,”"Love is Here to Stay” and “How About You?” among others.
In the cast are Eric Bunge, David Hennessey, Tim Sailer, Stela Burdt, Stan Peal, Troy Iverson, Stef Dickens, Irene ErkenBrack and Sheldon Rogers.
“We’re working toward having some interaction with the audience,” Lindberg said. “We’re hoping we can get someone up dancing.”
Lindberg is a member of the Commonweal’s apprentice class for the current season. He holds silver bangles a master of fine arts in directing from Western Illinois University.
“I’ve been here since May,” he said. “It just happened that Hal (Cropp, Commonweal artistic director) was looking for someone to direct the holiday show. Well, here I am.”
Lindberg said he was not overly worried about directing his first professional production. “I was excited to get started,” he said. “To any degree, if there’s not some sort of nerves, then it’s not worth doing. What we do involves getting in front of people and risking something every time.”
If the title of the show sounds familiar, it’s because the Commonweal staged “The 1940s Radio Hour”silver rings for the 2000 holiday season at its former home next door to the new theater.