'The Last Broadcast of Bailey & Long' Plays the Overtime Theater, 7/23-8/14

Opening July 23 at the Overtime Theater, The Last Broadcast of Bailey & Long is the world premiere of a new "radio play." The live production is a new look back at the broadcasting world of post-WWII America, as well as a personal valentine to women working in that era.

It's 1947 and America's most popular syndicated radio show is ending. One of its stars, Jack Long, is moving on, about to get his own show on the New Medium of television. The cast and crew of the show, including his trailblazing partner, writer/performer Carole Bailey, must make decisions about the future while trying to produce the best last broadcast ever aired.

Written by Christie Beckham and directed by Chris Champlin, The Last Broadcast of Bailey & Long is a play that evokes the music and radio personalities of the era. Besides the storylines of the main characters, the play is packed with advertising jingles for imaginary products as well as old products (actual commercials) that do not exist anymore.

Christie Beckham explains the artistic and personal reasons that led her to write this lively exploration of women working during that era:
"I decided to write a radio play because I've always loved the genre and I started listening to a lot of old broadcasts of Burns and Allen a couple of years ago. I love using organic, live sound onstage and the concept of using live Foley art onstage intrigued me.

"I was also inspired to write a show for my grandmother, Gene Damico, who passed away in January. The characters Nell, Faye and Jean in the show are written for my grandmother and her two best friends. The show is dedicated to them. They all worked together in a grenade factory during World War II and remained friends until she passed away. ‘I'll Be Seeing You' is a song in the show. It also happened to be my grandparents' wedding song. He (my grandfather) had to go back to the war the week after they were married."

The cast of The Last Broadcast of Bailey & Long includes:
Jack Long - Paul Thorn Bacon
Carole Bailey - Christie Beckham
Dick Murphy - Dave Stone-Robb
Tom - Rob Barron
Pete - Matthew Arch
Maggie - Camie Gillespie
Faye - Morgan Scharff
Nell - Heather Manly
Jean - Sara Metting

Location: The Overtime Theater, in the Blue Star Complex, 1414 S. Alamo, #103, San Antonio, TX 78210.

Show Dates and Times: July 23 - August 14, 2010. 8 pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. One 3 pm matinee on Sunday, August 8. No show on Friday, August 6.

Ticket Prices: $12 general admission, and $9 for teachers, students, seniors 65+, active military, and SATCO members. Thursdays are "Cheap Date Night," when the ticket price is "pay what you can."

Information & Reservations: www.theovertimetheater.net, info@theovertimetheater.net, and (210) 557-7562.

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