Suspense, comedy, mystery, the macabre - these are genres that lay the foundation of some of the greatest stories ever written.
During the early to mid-20th century, iconic actors such as Vincent Price, Harold Huber, Eva Arden and Agnes Moorehead gave their voices to bring these tales to life on the main source of a family's evening entertainment - the radio.
For the last nine years, the casts of the Missouri River Regional Library Foundation's annual Readers Theatre have paid homage to those historic stories, reviving four classic radio episodes to audiences at a place where a person's imagination runs wild in the written word.
"It is fun to recreate anything that is from the past, reprising things that happened back then and producing a very formidable form of entertainment. We want to educate someone about history, and these shows are history," said Mark Wegman, director of the Readers Theatre, which is celebrating its 10th year at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. "Being able to bring them to life through the Readers Theatre is amazing, and what better place than to do that at the (Missouri River Regional) library. Actors are reading, and the library is where it all begins."
Audiences will enjoy four live performances that will take them back to that golden era of radio in the 1930s-50s.
One of the most famous episodes of the hit radio program "Escape," "Three Skeleton Key," will give audiences a reflection of Halloween with its creepy plot, while suspense will come into play with "Sorry, Wrong Number." Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot will solve "The Case of the Careless Victim" and Wegman will direct an episode of the comedic radio program "Our Miss Brooks," "Spring Cleaning (aka as the Jiffy Vacuum Sales Epidemic)."
"(Spring Cleaning and the Hercule Poirot episode) will be in Act I. Both have humor, with Agatha Christie's Poirot show being a lighter mystery," Wegman said. "Act II is more thriller mode. It is a fun evening filled with laughs and thrills."
Well-versed actors from Jefferson City's active theatrical scene such as Wegman, his wife, Tracy, Karen Kramer, Alan Bailey, Megan Sappington and Mary Jo LaCorte will return to Readers Theatre to voice these interesting characters that make up these radio shows. However, many newcomers will also share in this unique experience, including Barry and Carol Beach, Nathan and Melissa Ortega, Shellie Howser, Erin Matteson, Rich Burdge, William Runyon Jr., Dan Alexander, Dave Bond and Karin Schatte, who will serve as the announcer of the programs, incorporate advertisements and much more.
"Mayor Carrie Tergin will help us start off the evening, which is a new addition this year," Wegman said.
Like many of these original radio program episodes incorporated, Readers Theatre actors and supporting staff will create sound effects such as the scurrying and squeaking of rats, tapping on a glass window, slamming a door, music enhancement and more.
"The live sound effects have been a big hit," Wegman said. "They all play it up and put on a good show in front of the audience. We have always received very positive feedback."
The support has resulted in about $9,700 raised from ticket proceeds for the Missouri River Regional Library Foundation, board President Kathleen Woodruff said. The foundation's mission is to raise and maintain funds to enhance the programs, services and capital projects of the Missouri River Regional Library in Cole and Osage counties.
"We have a dedicated group of people that help raise the money to ensure the library's financial stability," Woodruff said, noting they are open to all kinds of ways people may want to help the library such as providing gifts or charitable trusts. "Each year, the community comes out to support us at our main fundraisers - our Mini Golf in the Library, mailing campaign in the winter and Readers Theatre every fall. Every year we raise more and more money."
Missouri River Regional Library Director Claudia Cook said the foundation has helped with many other annual special events and programs, including the Storytelling Festival, Cultural Concerts, Capital READ and children's author partnership programs with Jefferson City Public Schools.
"In 2017, the foundation funded the Teen Zone remodel by giving us $3,500 along with $5,600 for new seating in both Cole and Osage counties. Equipment items funded in recent years by the foundation include mobile wireless hotspots, a documentation center (faxes, copies, scans), new picture book bins (located in the main library's children's department), Google Chromebooks (ready for internal library checkout this month) and wireless printing," Cook said.
She added they are trying to launch two new literacy programs: Babies Need Words and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Both programs place a new book in a child's hands while one of the programs also involves providing a book bag.
Woodruff added they also would like much of their money raised through this year and into 2019 to go toward a new bookmobile and furnishing and equipping the Missouri River Regional Library branch in Linn.
The library staff and foundation is not only excited to raise money to support their needs, but also to host and present a program that entertains and preserves history.
"It is so nostalgic. Everything today is so electronic and technical. With Readers Theatre, it is an up close look with a front row view of the Golden Days where families gathered around the radio; that was their evening entertainment," Woodruff said. "You have comedy, suspense and drama all wrapped up on one. It appeals to everyone. The more mature individuals remember these shows from their childhood. For our younger generation, it is something they will never experience unless they come to Readers Theatre."
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m. each night at the Missouri River Regional Library's art gallery. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door for both shows. Tickets can be purchased at mrrl.org or at the library. For more information, call 573-634-6064 or visit mrrl.org.