The final production of International City Theatre's third season at the Center Theatre, The 1940's Radio Hour will "go on the air" for four weeks, Nov. 5-Dec. 59. Written by Walton Jones and directed by Lewis Wilkenfield, the play conjures up a Dec. 1942 radio broadcast "live from the Algonquin Room of the beautiful Hotel Astor in New York City." Highlighting the show is a string of classic swing tunes, such as "Tuxedo Junction," "All the Things You Are," "Blues in the Night" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

The cast of 13 includes Shea Alexander, Michael Betts, Robert Brandzel, Glen David Calloway, Jonathan Fahn, Joe Leslie Hamilton, Jennifer Hopson, Skye McKenzie, Mindi Metzger, Dink O'Neal, Lou Saliba, Ken Shepski and Nancy Sinclair. Brendzel is the music director, Roger Castellano the choreographer.

The 1940's Radio Hour began as a one-man radio drama presented by Jones in Tampa, Florida. After songs and the characters in the radio studio were added, it was produced by the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven and Boston. The play broke all box office records when it opened in its present form at Washington's Arena Theatre and a special version of the show was presented at a White House Christmas Party. In 1979, it opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre.

The Center Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. For tickets and information call (562) 938-4128.

- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent