Home November River City Radio Hour premieres Tales from Rose Hall
Local

November River City Radio Hour premieres Tales from Rose Hall

Contributors

river-city-radio-hourWhat: River City Radio Hour
When: Friday, November 21, 2014 at 7:30pm
Where: Main Street United Methodist Church, 601 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA
Tickets: Pay What You Will

The November River City Radio Hour will premiere a new serial Tales from Rose Hall.  The four-part serial traces the role a celebrated home played in Waynesboro’s participation in the Civil War.

Also performing at the November Radio Hour will be members of the Waynesboro Players production of Sander’s Family Christmas.  Joining them will be the Radio Hour’s studio band, The Boogie Kings, and Waynesboro’s First Lady of Comedy, Marsha Howard.  The 7:30pm performance on Friday, November 21, is in the Radio Hour’s new home, the Fellowship Hall at Main Street United Methodist Church in downtown Waynesboro.  The performance is pay-what-you-will and open to all.

Tales from Rose Hall focuses on the large imposing brick home built by Hugh Gallaher in 1847 that stood on the land now occupied by the Willow Oak Shopping Center.  It served as the center of the social life in Waynesboro and hosted many dignitaries over the years.  On the eve of the Battle of Waynesboro, Confederate General Jubal Early had breakfast at Rose Hall before taking up his position on the Pine Street Hill.  That evening the Union General Sheridan had dinner at the home.

“It has been an interesting research project to learn about the Battle of Waynesboro and Rose Hall.” says Clair Myers, producer of the River City Radio Hour.  “I did not realize the significance of the Gallaher’s and their home in the life of Waynesboro and the Civil War.  Finding a way to dramatize a small part of that has been a pleasure.”

Performing in Tales from Rose Hall are Dr. Jane Hearne, Bill Martin, and Mark Henderson.  Playing themselves will be Mac Jones’ grandson Jackson and Alex Evanow.  It is through their conversations with their grandfather, PopPop, that we learn about Rose Hall and its history and the Battle of Waynesboro.

Also sharing the Fellowship Hall stage will be cast members of the Waynesboro Players’ production of the Sander’s Family Christmas.  The musical is a sequel to the popular Smoke on the Mountain.  The setting is 1941 and the family has gathered together for a Christmas sing at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before one of its members is shipped off to the Pacific in World War II.  The players production is scheduled for Dec 4-7 at Waynesboro’s First Presbyterian Church.

Rounding out the evening’s entertainment will be The Boogie Kings and Marsha Howard.  Led by Richard Adams with William Hayes on keyboard and J. T. Fauber on percussion, the boogie kings will engage the Radio Hour in musical magic including at least one sing-a-long.

Marsha Howard, Waynesboro’s First Lady of Comedy will be back after a hiatus of two months with a collection of stories and jokes that she swears will among her best yet.”I have been waiting and waiting to tell them,” Marsha said.  “Being shut out by rain and cold last month has made me more determined than ever to get them told.”

Admission to the November 21st River City Radio Hour is Pay-What-You-Will at the door with open seating.  There are no advanced reservations.

For more information call the WTA office at 540-943-9999 or visit the Wayne Theatre website, www.waynetheatre.org.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.