River City Radio Hour opens sixth season

The River City Radio Hour’s Friday, Sept. 21st performances will mark the beginning of the production’s sixth season.  Featured in the opening shows will be The Boogie Kings, violinist Carolyn Lam, comedian Marsha Howard, and The River City Players in a new serial by playwright Bob Crawford.  The performances at at 6:30 and 8 p.m. at WTA’s Gateway, 329 West Main in Downtown Waynesboro.

In the summer of 2006, the Waynesboro Cultural Commission decided to help revive  Waynesboro’s Third Fridays by offering musical performances as part of WDDI’s Third Friday events. Working with Richard Adams, Clair Myers, chair of the Cultural Commission and Executive Director of the Wayne Theatre Alliance, reworked the concept and produced the first River City Radio Hour in October, 2006. The combination of music, comedy and drama in the format of the old time radio variety shows of the 30s and 40s has made the performances a popular monthly attraction. The shows signature song “Shenandoah Moon” is now hummable tune for their audience.

The September Radio Hour audiences will welcome back The Boogie Kings featuring the multi-talented Richard Adams, the piano dynamo William Hayes, and percussion wizard J.T. Fauber.  The group has been the Radio Hour’s ‘studio band’ since the beginning.  Also returning is Waynesboro’s First Lady of Laughter, Marsha Howard.  Her jokes continue to be a highlight of the show.

Adding to the evening’s performances will be violinist Carolyn Lam.  Trained as a classical performer, she will share WTA’s Gateway stage with the Boogie Kings and bring a new dimension to September’s music. Also on tap is the first chapter of Bob Crawford’s new Radio Hour drama.  A. Love Diary will follow an aspiring music theatre actress from Lynchburg, Virginia, as she struggles to find fame and fortune in Washington, DC.  Appearing in the new drama will be Bob Lunger, Chrystal McKee Clair Myers, and Boomie Pedersen.

The merchants of the month are Dr. Rela and Phillip Wheeler of Bonsai Market and Bonsai Gardens of Virginia.

Advanced ticket for the reserved seating for the Radio Hour performance are $10 and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 540-943-9999.  Tickets are available on the night of the performances for $12.