The all-new “Summer Fun Special” is written and directed by Strand House Manager Liz McLeod, with music by Strand Education Coordinator Brittany Parker and the Blake Rosso Band, announcer David Troup, and the Strand Family Players.
“Our first broadcast back in December drew a capacity crowd at the theater,” says McLeod, who spent fifteen years in broadcasting before coming to the Strand, “and we got feedback from listeners who tuned in over the WRFR stream from as far away as England. So it was a foregone conclusion we’d do another show, and what better theme for the evening than all the fun of a Midcoast summer night! A big live audience is an important part of any radio variety show, and admission is free!”
The ninety-minute variety show will feature a full roster of guests. “We try to offer something for everyone on these shows,” McLeod notes, “and this time our musical guests cover quite a bit of ground. Coming to us all the way from Waldo County we’ve got old-time harmonies with the guitar-uke-vocals team of Patty Jackson and Rusty Blake, and for those who want to really shake off the dust and move, we’ve got Rockland-based alternative rock up-and-comers Drive By Todd. Galadira Scattaloni, who was a big hit on our first show, will return with another incredible vocal solo. And we’ll also introduce you to some interesting people you’ll enjoy knowing – longtime Strand volunteer Susan McGovern will have a few things to say – and sing -- and we’ll also have an enlightening visit from WRFR station manager Jo Lindsay, who’ll give us an inside look at what the station’s all about and how you can be a part of it. There might even be some laughs mixed in with those interviews – you never know what might happen in live radio. And of course, Brittany Parker and the Blake Rosso Band are back as our house musicians for the occasion with plenty of toe-tapping summertime tunes.“There’s also lots of comedy on the bill. “We introduced a couple of features on our first broadcast that people seemed to enjoy,” says McLeod, “so we’ll have new installments of both on our upcoming show. Our newsreel segment, “All Things Rescinded,” will take a close-up look at a couple of the most notable problems we face around town during the summer. Newscasters Karl Stuffel and Camomile Bourgeois will speak with a downtown worker who must resort to desperate measures to find a place to park – and also with the World’s Champion Jaywalker, who will be in town taking advantage of the local traffic to train for Olympic competition. And in our big feature sketch, we’ll visit again with our friends from that forgotten little town we call Abysmal Point, who are looking to make a few dollars with a sharp new idea for a Summer Festival.”
The Strand Family Players – Lili Bonarrigo, Scout Bookham, Billie Lawson, Kelsea Wotton, and William Zall -- will act out the comedy skits using techniques dating back to the Golden Days of Radio, gathering at center stage around an original 1940s microphone, to the accompaniment of appropriate sound effects – some reproduced from the same original 78rpm records used at the networks during the radio era, and others created by live sound technicians while you watch. “If you saw and enjoyed our last broadcast, you’ll get an even bigger kick out of this one,” promises McLeod. “And if you’ve never seen a radio show before, this is your chance to be a part of a live audience that’s as much a participant in the program as the people up on the stage.”
Doors open at 4:15pm, and the audience warm-up begins at 4:45pm. The show goes live on the air at 5pm. Running time: 90 minutes. Free Admission. For more information, visit www.rocklandstrand.com. Tel: (207) 594-0070 EX 3 Email: info@rocklandstrand.com
Photo 1: Brittany Parker and Liz McLeod go through the script
Photo 2: Sound effects rehearsal. L-R: William Zall, Scout Bookham, Liz McLeod
Photos 3 & 4: The Blake Rosso Band
Photo 5: Drive By Todd
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