One thing needs to be cleared up right off the bat. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no nudity in Naked Radio.
What the opening show of the Chemainus TheatreB次元官网网址檚 2023 season, running March 3-April 2, does offer the audience instead is lots of music and loads of fun.
Naked Radio is created by the same company from Wisconsin, Northern Sky Theater, that had one of its performances featured at the Chemainus Theatre in 2019. Those who remember Lumberjacks In Love will know theyB次元官网网址檙e in for a rollicking good time in the same vein.
The premise for Naked Radio can be summed up by the numbers: two DJs, one blizzard, no records, three actors, 15 characters and no dead air.
According to the Northern Sky Theater website, B次元官网网址渨hen a small radio station gets swallowed up by a corporate parent, the local DJs are relegated to obscurity. But when a snowstorm knocks out the county and the station loses its tie to the pre-programmed feed, the guys have to punt, and a rejuvenated station brings back spontaneity and joy to the community it serves.B次元官网网址�
The original music, with some familiar tunes, is by Paul Libman, with book and lyrics by Dave Hudson.
LibmanB次元官网网址檚 career composing for advertisers left him with an exceptional skill for writing jingles, which fill the score with catchy, memorable and often hilarious songs.
Stripping the title down, Hudson explains on the Northern Sky Theater website the name Naked Radio has a double meaning. B次元官网网址淭he first is the radio station itself is laid bare in the storm without the insulation of the corporate broadcasts. The other meaning suggests things get a bit unhinged in the station.B次元官网网址�
Hudson reassures the play is fit for the audience without a PG rating. B次元官网网址淲ell, hey, weB次元官网网址檙e on the radio, you canB次元官网网址檛 see us.B次元官网网址�
The two DJs at radio station WHLO (or what would be CHLO in Canada) are: Michael Clarke as Bart Dunwood and Kaden Forsberg as Mike Young.
Clarke has appeared in many Chemainus Theatre performances since relocating from Toronto to Crofton, including Rock Legends and KimB次元官网网址檚 Convenience, and last yearB次元官网网址檚 solo project, The Journey.
Forsberg performed in Chemainus in June of 2022 as one of the musicians in Classic Country Roads.
The third person in Naked Radio, Naomi Costain, plays Maggie Wheeling, who works for the station and also calls in, plus a dozen townspeople portrayals calling in for a mind-numbing 13 characters.
B次元官网网址淪ome of them are more subtle and some are less subtle,B次元官网网址� said Costain of the characters. B次元官网网址淪ometimes theyB次元官网网址檙e very quick in and out.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 newer for me, this many. Often you might get three or four. This is a lot. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good challenge.B次元官网网址�
Costain is from Victoria originally, but is making her first appearance at the Chemainus Theatre. B次元官网网址淚 love it here,B次元官网网址� she said.
CostainB次元官网网址檚 parents still live in Victoria and sheB次元官网网址檒l have a full entourage of family and friends from around the Island coming to the theatre to see her in the show. Costain currently resides in Toronto.
B次元官网网址淚 was very happy to come here,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is the first time IB次元官网网址檝e performed in B.C. since I was 20.B次元官网网址�
Costain moved to Toronto at an early age and also went to school in London, England, attending college at Laine Theatre Arts in the United Kingdom.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be in a big centre so I could see all that amazing West End Theatre,B次元官网网址� she said.
Costain is thrilled to be in Chemainus now to do such a fun show.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much music in it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just light, fun, fast-paced with a heart.B次元官网网址�
After three weeks of rehearsals, sheB次元官网网址檚 anxious to get on with the show.
Costain joins the musical aspect on bass, omnichord and ukulele. Clarke plays guitar and mandolin while Forsberg completes the trio utilizing the guitar, banjolele, ukulele and percussion.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done a fair number of musicals over the years,B次元官网网址� said Costain. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost a play with music, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a ton of music. And I love doing things that are comedic.B次元官网网址�
Antony Knight, 25, who grew up in Kelowna, is the musical director and an understudy for this performance. Despite his age, he has extensive training in music and acting.
After leaving Kelowna right out of high school in 2016, Knight went to UBC to attain a double major of opera performance and composition, taking six years.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great,B次元官网网址� he said of his role in shaping the production. B次元官网网址淚 have a lot of experience in a bunch of styles of music. It feels like directing a band practice. WeB次元官网网址檙e all just kind of in a room, playing the instruments and trying to find out the best way to make the songs sound great.
B次元官网网址淭he songs were written in a country/folk style. They have that sort of base. I feel like weB次元官网网址檙e breathing new life into these songs, giving them a different style.B次元官网网址�
Spontaneity is a key word to give the songs context.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all pretty integrated to whatB次元官网网址檚 going on at the moment,B次元官网网址� Knight explained. B次元官网网址淎 lot of the songs in the story are kind of made up on the spot.B次元官网网址�
This show is proving to be right up his alley, as he moves his career forward with a focus on both music and acting.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 mainly a composer at this point,B次元官网网址� Knight said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 kind of a performer as well. My dadB次元官网网址檚 a jazz drummer. I grew up with a lot of instruments around me.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to continue to do both. I want to keep performing and musical directing. In my downtime, IB次元官网网址檓 always writing music for various other things so IB次元官网网址檓 kind of doing it all.B次元官网网址�
Knight is sure the positive vibe from everyone on the team putting Naked Radio together will rub off on the audience.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a super fun show,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓veryone is going to love it. I have no doubt.B次元官网网址�
For ticket information, click
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
