FIRST PRODUCTION OF OUR THIRD SEASON

Last night (Oct. 25, 2008) Top of the Hill Players began its third season with "Spooky Radio Plays", an evening of suspenseful and scary classic radio shows/plays performed live onstage, as if the audience were in a studio in the 1940s or 1950s for a live broadcast. We chose our theme to help people get in the mood for Halloween. There was also some comedy to keep things from getting too heavy. Reaction from the audience was very positive.

We began the evening with "Sorry, Wrong Number", a very famous radio play that was first broadcast on the "Suspense" anthology series in 1943. It's the story of a woman whose life is in danger after accidentally overhearing a murder plot on the telephone. The program was so popular that it was repeated seven more times over the 20 year run of "Suspense", with Agnes Moorehead reprising the leading role each time.

We also presented "Don't Tell Me About Halloween" (which contains both suspense and comedy) from the radio series "Quiet, Please!" and "Operation Tomorrow" (about time travel) from "Mysterious Traveler".

The evening featured live and recorded music from the period, live sound effects and classic radio commercials (performed onstage).


CAST:

Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
Kathy Chase
David Creelman
Dennis Flaherty
Kathrine Flaherty
Lisa Fleming
Judy Herbert
John Seib

Director: David Creelman
Music: Kathy Chase
Live Sound Effects: Tom Nieman
Technical Director: Tom Nieman
Sound Technician: Don Renas


The "Campbell's Soup", "Longines Watch" and "Otis Elevator" commercials were adapted from print ads--which Judy Herbert found online--by Donald B. Campbell. Judy found the radio commercial for "Autolite" online.

OUR PAST PRODUCTIONS (before our newly-official name)

Season One:

1. Nov. 4, 2006 - an improv comedy evening (including special desserts)

- director: Donald B. Campbell

- our 2006 improv group:

Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
David Creelman
Robert Funk
Judy Herbert
Kim Miller
Alan Nieman
Elaine Nieman
Tom Nieman



2. Jan. 19, 2007 - "Radio Waves" - an evening of classic radio shows live onstage

- radio shows:

- "Archie Andrews", "Escape",
"Our Miss Brooks" (episode title: "Walter's Radio")

- director: David Creelman

- cast:

Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
David Creelman
Lisa Fleming
Judy Herbert
Martina Malloy
Alan Nieman
Tom Nieman
Debbie Turple
Len Turple



3. May 10-12, 2007 - "Rehearsal For Murder" (a full-length stage play by D.D. Brooke, adapted from the television play by Richard Levinson and William Link)

- director: David Creelman

- cast:

Cathy Anderson
Kim Anderson
Katie Baldry
Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
Dennis Flaherty
Kathrine Flaherty
Regan Flaherty
Judy Herbert
Tom Nieman
Lawrence Pinnell
John Seib

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Season Two:

1. Nov. 17, 2007 - an improv comedy evening (with special desserts)

- director: Donald B. Campbell

- 2007 improv group (aka "(The) Raging Bananas"):

Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
David Creelman
Robert Funk
Judy Herbert
Alan Nieman
Elaine Nieman
Tom Nieman



2. Feb. 2, 2008 - "Radio Waves" - an evening of classic radio shows live onstage

- radio shows:

- "Father Knows Best", "Dragnet",
"Our Miss Brooks" (episode title: "Board of Education Day")

- director: David Creelman

- cast:

Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
David Creelman
Christopher Dean
Lisa Fleming
Judy Herbert
Martina Malloy
Tom Nieman
Lawrence Pinnell
John Seib
Len Turple

- special guest: Stan Garchinski (from Saskatoon Motor Products, our show sponsor)

- musician: Kathy Chase

- live sound effects: Tom Nieman

- producer: Judy Herbert

- associate producer: Christopher Brown

- technical director: Tom Nieman

- sound technician: Alan Nieman



3. May 1-3, 2008 - "An Evening of Short Comedies"


- Three Short Plays by Donald B. Campbell:

- "Born to Shop", "The High Road" and "Perfect for Dancing"


- "The Actor's Nightmare" by Christopher Durang


- director: David Creelman

- cast:

Cathy Anderson
Christopher Brown
Donald B. Campbell
Kathrine Flaherty
Regan Flaherty
Judy Herbert
Tom Nieman

- producers: Judy Herbert, Tom Nieman, Christopher Brown

- technical director: Tom Nieman

- set design: John Seib

- sound: Don Renas

- lighting: Andrew Mareschal

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