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LEWISTOWN -- One thing becomes clear almost immediately at KUKU Radio: if something can go wrong, it probably already has.
The station's broadcast tower won’t stay standing. The electric company is threatening to shut off the power. The owner wants to sell the station. Actors keep disappearing at the worst possible moments. And somehow the staff still has to pull off one final evening of live broadcasting.
That’s the delightfully chaotic setup behind Stone Arch Players’ upcoming production of “The Last Radio Show,” Todd Wallinger’s comedy that takes audiences behind the microphone and into the controlled mayhem of a struggling 1948 radio station.
Directed by Phyllis Johnson and Erin Ross, the production offers something a little different from a traditional stage comedy. While the story itself is packed with laughs, much of the entertainment comes from watching audiences see exactly how old-time radio shows were created before television dominated American living rooms.
“It’s really unlike anything we’ve done before,” Johnson said.
Set during radio’s golden age, “The Last Radio Show” places audiences inside station KUKU as employees desperately try to keep the station on the air despite a seemingly endless string of disasters. What starts as a difficult day quickly becomes a comedy of escalating problems as actors get sick, plans unravel and station personnel scramble to fill the gaps.
“It’s set in a radio station in 1948, and everything that can go wrong pretty much does,” Johnson added.
The result is a show-within-a-show. At center stage, performers gather around microphones to present radio dramas and commercials for their listening audience. Simultaneously, another story unfolds behind the scenes as station employees race to keep the production moving forward despite mounting complications.
Adding to the fun are the fictional programs airing during the broadcast.
Among them are the absurdly titled “The Thing With Two Spleens” and “Tex King, The Humming Cowboy,” radio dramas that celebrate the creativity and occasional silliness that helped make radio such a beloved form of entertainment.
But perhaps the most fascinating part of the production is watching the sound effects come to life.
Long before digital audio and computers handled every effect, radio performers relied on ingenuity and everyday objects to create entire worlds through sound. In “The Last Radio Show,” audiences get a front-row seat to that process.
“There are all these sound effects being done live,” Johnson said. “People walking, doors opening, bubbling test tubes. The audience gets to see how all of that is created.”
Need footsteps crossing a room? Someone has to make them.
Need a dramatic door opening? Someone is standing by for that, too. Need the bubbling sounds of a strange science experiment? That’s covered as well.
The constant juggling of dialogue, props, microphones and sound effects has made the production one of the more technically demanding shows Stone Arch Players has mounted in recent years.
“"We found it's a lot more technical than when we started,” Johnson said. “I’m really proud of the cast.”
Leading the cast is Zach Yost as Jimmy, a young office worker with dreams of becoming a radio performer. Emilee Flynn portrays Maggie, while Tony Poorman plays Wilson DeWitt, the station manager trying to keep KUKU Radio from completely falling apart.
Katye Long appears as Mrs. Watt-Ryler, Tiff Rice portrays Nigel and Will Weaver makes his Stone Arch Players debut as Danny. The cast also includes Megan Aumiller as Gloria, Abby Fleming as Roxie, Chris Woods as Rita and Jared Kehler as Knuckles.
Working behind the scenes are stage manager Brandon Smith and technical director Emile Boulanger.
Johnson said one of the most rewarding aspects of the production has been watching performers embrace a style of theater that differs significantly from a traditional play. Throughout the show, actors must balance character work, script reading and technical responsibilities while maintaining the fast pace that drives the comedy.
For audiences, that creates an experience that is equal parts theater performance and backstage tour. Viewers not only get to enjoy the radio programs themselves, but also witness the frantic effort required to keep them running. As personnel shortages, technical troubles and unexpected mishaps continue to pile up, characters are forced to adapt on the fly, often with hilarious results.
At its heart, the show serves as both a comedy and a tribute to a bygone era of entertainment. Before streaming services, smartphones and television, families gathered around radios and relied on voices, music and sound effects to fuel their imaginations.
“The Last Radio Show” celebrates that creativity while giving modern audiences a chance to peek behind the curtain.
“Don’t miss this opportunity to go behind the scenes of ‘The Last Radio Show’ on station KUKU to witness the crazy antics of these crazy characters,” Johnson said.
Whether it’s a collapsing tower, a missing actor or a perfectly timed sound effect created from an ordinary household object, one thing is certain when the “On Air” light comes on at KUKU Radio: keeping the show running may be impossible, but watching the attempt is a whole lot of fun.
Performances will be held at the Theatre-in-the-Park, Kish Park, Lewistown on Fridays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20, and Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14 and 21. Sunday matinees are scheduled for Nov. 15 and 22. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows start at 2 p.m.
General admission is $15. Tickets are available online at stonearchplayers.csstix.com.