By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The Gardendale Arts Council wants to take you back to a time before television, video games and the Internet.

The group’s fall dinner theater production, “Radio Razzle Dazzle,” is set in New York City on New Year’s Eve 1940 and centers around a cast of radio personalities who are set to perform the final episode of a drama series before the new year begins.

A press release from the arts council said the “audience will experience an on-air radio drama, but witness the emotion, confusion and anxiety of the crew as they perform live in the studio.”

The release also said that Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball would be a perfect fit for the script and cast.

Director Lisa Parker said she knew the first time she read the script that it would work well for a dinner theater production. She said the only trick would be casting the roles.

“I feel very fortunate to have such a great group for this production,” she said. “Everyone is very talented and has worked hard to make the show one of the best we’ve ever done.”

Starring in the production are Jessica Wolfe, Bo Couchman, Lee Emond, Karen Waters, Exie Williford and Greg Maxwell.

Arts council chairman said the goal of the dinner theater productions is to provide quality entertainment at an affordable price and provide actors a venue to perform their craft.

“Our dinner theaters are always a hit with the community,” he said. “This one may just be the best yet.”

The production will be staged Thursday and Friday in the Gardendale Civic Center’s Exhibition Hall. Dinner, catered by the Fish Market, will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m.

Advance tickets are available now at the civic center for $20.

“Every rehearsal has been non-stop laughter,” Parker said. “Everyone that sees the show will get their money’s worth of laughter, plus a great meal.”

For more information, contact the civic center at 631-5679.