The full cast of the Flattering Word. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

The flattering word ; the one compliment that has never failed. Tell any man, woman or child that he should be on the stage, — and you’ll find him quite as susceptible as a cat is to catnip.

-George Kelly, 1915

Sitka Community Theater brought new life to a nearly 100-year-old play in their spring performance (Friday, 3-27-15 to Sunday, 3-29-15).

Zack Desmond played Eugene Tesh, a charming actor who tries to convince his former beau and her strict husband to see his theater performance. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

Destony Rosas’s character, Mrs. Zooker, is much older in the original play, but this production made her a younger woman. Sally Helm and Zack Desmond listen to Mrs. Zooker’s lamentations about never making it in theater. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

The Flattering Word is a one-act satire about the persuasive call of the theater to even the most resistant of men. Zack Desmond played Eugene Tesh, a traveling actor and former beau of Doris Degmar (Sally Helm), who is now married to Reverend Loring Rigley (Emeterio Hernandez). Reverend Rigley opposes the theater on religious grounds, but through the winsome words of Tesh and his own church worker, Mrs. Zooker (Destony Rosas) and her son (Luciano Cannizzaro), has a change of heart.

The talented five-member cast was directed by Taylor Ciambra. Produced by Shannon Haugland with technical direction from Monica Ague.

Downloadable audio.

Downloadable audio.

The radio theater show featured a 1950s Western, a Sherlock Holmes holiday mystery, and four original plays by John Longenbaugh. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

On Saturday, December 6th, 2014, a 24-member cast and 9-member crew staged an evening of live radio drama at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.

Directors Suzan Brawnlyn and Megan Pasternak chose a variety of plays, including a classic Western, a Sherlock Holmes mystery set during the holidays, and four original works by Seattle-based playwright John Longenbaugh. Gather round, close your eyes and listen closely…

A recording of this performance will air on Christmas Day – December 25th, 2014 – at 8PM on KCAW Sitka. Tune 104.7 FM or 90.1 FM, or stream live here. 

THE FULL SHOW:

Downloadable audio.

EACH OF THE SIX PLAYS:

Wild Jack Rhett, from the series “Escape,” aired Dec. 17, 1950

The cast of Wild Jack Rhett, a 1950 Western about a sheriff who shakes up the town of Red Mesa. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

Downloadable audio.

Starring Emeterio Hernandez, Adam Litten, Seaton Bryan, Erin Fulton, Emily Kwong, John Stein, Ira Snelling, Angelo Cannizzaro, and Mary Barrett. Music by Celia Lubin. Directed by Megan Pasternak.

In the Trees, by John Longenbaugh

“In the Trees” is the tale of three sloths, hanging on a limb, until one begins to lose his grip. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

We’re high in the tree canopy of the South American rain forest, upwards of 60 feet above the forest floor.

Part 1: It’s a lovely late afternoon. Hanging on one long tree limb are three large sloths: Oliver, Cynthia and Albert. Oliver is hanging between Albert and Cynthia. He has just woken up with a start.

Downloadable audio.

Part 2: Same setting as before, but eight years later. Oliver fell out of the tree. Two of the sloths, Albert and Cynthia, are hanging from the same limb.

Downloadable audio.

Starring Phil Horton, Tracy Turner, and Jay Sweeney. Directed by Suzan Brawnlyn. 

Facecookie, by John Longenbaugh

In this original play by John Longenbaugh, Facebook is no laughing matter. And neither are cookies. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

Two men, two women, all at their computers. It’s Sunday afternoon on Facebook.

Downloadable audio.

Starring Luciano Cannizzaro, Rachel Waldholz, Addie Fowler, and Phil Horton. Directed by Megan Pasternak. 

New World Under, by John Longenbaugh

“New World Under” is fresh take on the myth of Persephone, the man who wooed her to the underworld, and her overprotective mother. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

A retelling of the Persephone myth which explains the changing of the seasons, from spring to fall and winter.

Downloadable audio.

Starring Jessica Menary, Zack Desmond, and Stefanie Ask. Directed by Suzan Brawnlyn.

Sherlock Holmes: The Night Before Christmas, from the Sherlock Holmes series on the Mutual Broadcasting Company. Aired Dec. 24, 1945.

The full cast of Sherlock Holms: The Night Before Christmas. Several actors took on multiple characters, from children to cab drivers to criminals. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

Downloadable audio.

Starring Emeterio Hernandez,  Calvin Drake, Janet Drake, Luciano Cannizzaro, Athena Hughes, Bethany Boyer-Rechlin, Jack Petersen, Zeke Blackwell, and Seaton Bryan. Music by Celia Lubin. Directed by Suzan Brawnlyn. 

This performance was organized by Sikta Community Theater, with sponsorship from the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Alaskan Dream Cruises, and the Greater Sitka Arts Council. 

Directed by Suzan Brawnlyn and Megan Pasternak

Produced by Shannon Haugland

Technical Direction by J Bradley and Monica Ague

Sound Effects by Jeanne Stolberg, Mary Beth Palof, and Karen Upcraft

Sound by John Herchenrider

Lights by Moncia Ague

Visual Effects by Phil Horton and J Bradley

Stage Managment by Tom Hesse

KCAW Radio Production by Emily Kwong 

The 24-member cast extends a thank you to lighting and sound crew as they take their bows. (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)