The Sterling Community Theatre Troupe is hitting the road in 2017. The Sterling theater group will present the musical “Radio Gals” at the Sublette High School auditorium on Saturday, February 4. At 6:00 p.m. the Satanta Area Arts Council and the Sublette Chamber of Commerce will open the doors, providing all ticket holders a cheesecake-themed dessert bar in advance of the 7:00 p.m. show.

“Radio Gals,” is a musical comedy, with emphasis on comedy, and has been called “a rollicking riff on small-town Americana and the innocent fun of old-time music.” The book, music and lyrics for the show were written by Mike Carver and Mark Hardwick. The year is 1927, and in the Cedar Ridge, Arkansas, parlor of retired music teacher Hazel Hunt there is a nonstop radio broadcast and musical celebration in progress.

The show explains that when she retired as the town’s music teacher, Hazel’s grateful students presented her with a brand new radio transmitter. Following the fashion of the “Mom and Pop” radio stations of the day, Hazel set up her own station, WGAL, to broadcast to the folks of Cedar Ridge and anybody else who cared to listen. Hutchinson resident Terri Torres will play the role of Hazel.

Hazel’s regular ensemble of local ladies, dubbed “The Hazelnuts,” performing on the air include Rennabelle, played by Sterling resident Piper Harding, America played by rural Fairfield resident Chelsey Jueneman, Sterling regular Amy Brownlee will play Gladys Frits. The Swindle sisters, Azilee and Mabel will be played by Sterling resident Larry Brownlee and Hutchinson resident Glen Grunwald. Sterling resident Seth Svaty will play O. B. Abbott, a federal agent sent to investigate the radio station. Over half of the seven-member cast for “Radio Gals,” including director/cast member Piper Harding are regulars in the Sterling Community Theatre Troupe but also often appear at the Flag Theater of Hutchinson. 

Tickets for the show are on sale now at Satanta’s Dudley Township Library and Sublette’s Haskell Township Library as well as both Haskell County locations of Centera Bank. Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $10 for students in grades K-12. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the evening of the performance.