The staged radio show has become a popular theatrical event in recent years, especially during the holiday season. Last December, Boots on the Ground Theater, which was founded by Bonnie Grice in 2016, dipped its toe in the genre for the first time with “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.”
Ms. Grice, a longtime radio host and D.J. now with Sag Harbor’s WLNG, also did a radio play of “A Christmas Carol” for WPPB in 2011 and directed a radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead several years ago.
This year’s production, “World War II Radio Christmas Play,” while set on Christmas Eve in 1944, is also a nod toward another holiday, Veterans Day. It will open Friday evening at 7 at the Southampton Cultural Center.
Written by Pat Kruis Tellinghusen in 2013, the play was based on the experience of people who lived through the Second World War, and was chosen by Ms. Grice to honor the 80th anniversary of the end of that conflict. “When I wrote ‘World War II Christmas,’ I pledged to rouse memories that had slumbered for decades, and to prompt conversations between generations,” said the playwright.
Set in a radio station in 1944, it includes working microphones, posters from the period, old-fashioned radio sponsors, a Christmas tree, American flags, old jingles, sound effects, and Christmas carols, all designed “to keep the spirits up on the home front,” said James Pritchard, the production’s director.
Ms. Grice said this play has never before been produced on the East End. “I have a lot of websites I go to, to search for scripts,” she said. “In this case it was a matter of Googling World War II shows, and this one popped up. I ordered the script and read it and thought it was perfect, and I gave it to James and he felt the same way.”
“I think it really is a play that on the surface seems sort of simple, but it’s got some very touching and meaningful scenes in it,” said Mr. Pritchard. “There’s comedy and, of course, great Christmas songs. I think it’s a terrific snapshot of the home front during World War II.”
“We just thought this was such a beautiful way to honor veterans,” said Ms. Grice. For that reason, admission will be free to all veterans and their families, and she has been contacting V.F.W. and American Legion posts in the area to make sure word gets around.
In addition, in the cultural center’s gallery there will be more than 50 large panels featuring the biographies and photographs of men and women from the East End who served. The display is sponsored by the Southampton History Museum and was researched by Steve Gould, the museum’s curator and Ms. Grice’s husband.
The cast members are Kristin Dougherty, Paul DeMasi, Ms. Grice, Evelyn Lubrano, Geoffrey Milton, Robert Nelson, Thomas Rosante, Sandra K, and Gerri Wilson.
Performances will take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3, through Dec. 14. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held tomorrow at 5 p.m.
General admission is $25, free for veterans, their families, and children under 12. Ms. Grice said veterans can call ahead of time to reserve a seat, but can also just show up.
