MACON, Ga. — Opening night at Theatre Macon this weekend promises a good time and a chance to hear your favorite holiday classics.
The 1940s Radio Hour is a musical about a radio station's holiday broadcast to soldiers overseas during World War 2. The show features characters from all walks of life coming together to make something special.
"It's really just about the community of these different people coming together to make something really special and I think even more so because of the date of the show and creating something, not just special, but meaningful as well," Artistic Director Richard Frazier said.
There's comedy, lots of heart and the sounds of your favorite holiday songs.
Much like the musical, the cast in this show are also coming into the production from different perspectives.
This show was one of the first musicals Frazier acted in when he was 14-years-old. Now, he does theatre full-time in the director's chair.
"I remember being on stage rehearsing that opening scene," he said.
Frazier is excited for people to hear the music of the show which is not only nostalgic for him and his memories as a young actor but for audiences who know and love Christmas music.
He says the things he loves about the holidays are similar to his love for theatre.
"When people come to watch a theatrical production, they're coming in with the intent that they're going to enjoy whatever is one stage, they are willing to put their differences aside with people they may or may not agree with and sit in a room and enjoy something really special," Frazier said.
He sees that same love and sense of unity during the holidays when people come together and take care of each other.
This production is founding artistic director Jim Crisp's third time participating in the show but now as an actor. He plays Pops Baily, a crabby older man who takes care of the radio station.
"The first time we did it was 30 years ago and I was 41 and I'm a little annoyed that I'm old enough to play Pops now," Crisp said.
He said when he first did the show he did it for theatre patrons who remembered World War II or had parents who remembered what the war was like. But now, he says he wants to remind people of how close everyone felt as a country and as human beings during those harrowing times in the 40s.
"I love being in this and taking this story of unity and purpose to our audiences and reminding them that we can all be together and put our arms around each other...and being a community with a single-minded purpose," Crisp said.
Melissa Rodriguez is a trained opera singer. The 1940s Radio Hour is her first performance with Theatre Macon. She plays Ginger Brooks, a waitress turned radio star who is a little ditsy but loves the attention she gets from being a part of the radio show.
She says while musical theatre and opera are technically different, they share the common feature of entertaining audiences far and wide.
"You should come, you should have fun. We are having a blast on stage and I think that translates really well and so I know that if you're in the audience you'll have fun too," she said.
No matter where in the world you're coming from, the message of The 1940s Radio Hour hopes to find a connection with its audience.
You can catch the opening night of the 1940s Radio Hour starting on Friday at Theatre Macon. You can get tickets at their box office or on their website.