Evening celebrates golden age of radio and local performers

On Dec. 1, members of the Victoria Arriero Thomas (VATS) studio transported audiences back in time for an authentic 1940s style radio show. The evening celebrated both the golden age of radio and the talents of local performers of all ages. 

 The evening started with the VATS variety show with songs presented by students of VATS, “Put on a Happy Face” performed by the Highlights (Annalisa Aburto, Annie Blanchard, Anya Boles, Adri Folke, Lena Guesten Heller, Claire Walker, Warren Walker, and Blakely Yraguen) opened the evening. 

 Then the Andrew sisters look-a-likes (Rebecca Lattin, Kami Terry, Lara Tolman, and Narie Young) sang “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Emma Tolman sang a beautiful rendition of “Secret Love” followed by The Spotlight Kids (Genesis Aburto, Reif Blanchard, Joshua Cathey, Shayd Crossley, Alyvia Goff, Max Lattin, Talee Mink, Jessie Nauman, Justin Ragan, Madison Ragan, and Ellia Rasmussen) and then The Five Dons (Hans Boettcher, Alex Lattin, Ammon Nordgren, Jase Roberts and Delton Walker) sang “Let me Call you Sweetheart.” 

 Following the variety show, The Duck Soup Brigade presented the Mystery Hour Radio Show and the story of “The Ghostly Groom,” which tells the story of a very distraught Mrs. Sue Ellen Draper (Andrea Montoya) who is looking for the body of her recently deceased husband, Eddy Draper (Jase Roberts). 

 From grave robbers to spirits themselves, there seems to be no explanation for her husband’s disappearance. Mrs. Draper employs the skills of Inspector Rizzo (Eli To’omalati) to solve the mystery. 

 Through questioning the mortician, Mr. Mortimer (Joshua Olive) and his rough-housing sons Mort and Morti Mortimer (Nate Lattin and Layton Tolman), Dr. Knox (Daniel Rodriguez) his lovely wife Mrs. Knox (Indy May), and even an old flame of Sue Ellen, Jack (Branson Ward), clues are uncovered along the way, but no one seems to know why or how the body of Eddy Draper could go missing. 

 Along the way, a cast of characters guide the audience through the mystery from the narrator (Brooke Anderson), the master of ceremonies (Rachele Story), to the very talented and very animated sound master (Anthony Shaber). 

 With authentic and comical commercial breaks presented by Armando Montoya, Emily Ambramson, Danielle Hoopes, Elizabeth Walker and Emma Tolman the show was a great hit. 

 The show was produced by Narie Young, who came up with the idea of using a radio show for a VATS fundraiser earlier this fall. 

 Thomas immediately loved the idea, but as they started to move forward, it became clear that finding a show that had the right content for their family audience and the right number of parts for the youth who had signed up to participate proved to be an impossible task. Thomas instead took on the task of writing the show herself. 

 Thomas wrote the parts for each actor based on the abilities she knew they had. Through working with the students and through seeing some of them perform in Weiser High School musicals, she knew they could create a great show.

 “I gave them the script, and they ran with it. They really deserve the credit for making it great,” Thomas said of her talented cast. 

 Thomas also said that the evening would have not been possible without the production work by Young, many volunteers, and a long list of sponsors.