ALTON – Geoff Calloway tapped into his love of radio as theater and his experience as a student disc jockey when he wrote Bankside Rep’s new Christmas play, “Silent Night, Holy Noely.” The theater company performs the play at Jacoby Arts Center the first two weekends in December, Thursday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m.

The play revolves around a Chicago radio station and the staff’s attempt to deal with last-minute disaster looming over their 1948 “Holiday Extravaganza” on Christmas Eve. A blizzard paralyzes the city of Chicago and almost destroys the programming plans for the special broadcast at WISH AM 1570. When none of the scheduled guests and acts appear at the radio station, the staff who were already in the building when the storm hits try valiantly to produce “holiday friendly” content all by themselves or face a “Silent Night” – five hours of dead air, along with irate sponsors – on Christmas Eve.

Calloway understands the fear of dead air on the radio. He recalls a night as a student disc jockey when he had to scramble for the mic because the music ended before he was ready.

“That was in the old days when you had to spin your own records and turn on and off the mic. It was horrendous at the time, but hilarious now,” he said.

This is Calloway’s second Christmas play he’s written for Jacoby; he’s written several others that were performed in Chicago. Calloway describes the play as a light Christmas comedy, somewhat farcical. Some personal observations about the holiday in Act 2 balance the wackiness in Act 1.

“Right now, I’m like every other artist, wishing I had just a couple more weeks,” said Calloway. The company was making final changes on a recent Friday afternoon, including cutting a few of the radio show’s ads.

“We thought they were hilarious but decided they might be too risqué, especially if we have kids in the audience,” he said.

Virginia O’Hanlon’s famous letter to the New York “Sun” editor asking if there really was a Santa will be read and Santa’s sleigh will be tracked during the radio show as it makes its way around the world delivering toys.

“We’re careful not to destroy the myth of Santa and these shouldn’t disavow Santa’s existence to young audience members,” said Calloway.  

The cast includes actors from St. Louis, regular company members and two local actors, whose characters “keep the radio show together when everyone else is falling apart,” says Calloway. Scott Brady plays the radio announcer and Sarah Goins plays the radio show’s producer.

Show dates are Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 8-11. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15, $10 on Thursdays and any night for students with a student ID.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or follow the link at http://www.jacobyartscenter.org/performing-arts. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open 30 minutes in advance. Cash bar is available.

About the Jacoby Arts Center

The mission of the Jacoby Arts Center is to nurture and promote the practice and appreciation of the arts through education, exhibits, cultural programs and community outreach initiatives. Jacoby Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Jacoby Arts Center is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002 / 618-462-5222 / jacobyartscenter@gmail.com