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WEIRTON -- On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Co., in partnership with the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, will open its fifth season of Cloak & Dagger On the Air with two original radio plays set in the Tri-State Area and Ohio Valley.
"Cloak & Dagger On the Air: Caught at the Crossroads" is themed to coincide with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit "Crossroads" now on display at the museum.
"We are really excited that Cloak & Dagger will open its fifth season here at the museum," commented WAMCC Executive Savannah Schroll Guz. "And we are grateful that we have the opportunity to showcase the tremendous talent native to the Ohio Valley, namely through the work of Pete Fernbaugh and his amazing and dedicated acting troupe," she said. "Our creative community is most definitely one of our greatest strengths."
The first play of the evening, "The Kennywood Kaper," is a lighthearted spy farce set at Kennywood on the park's opening day. Queen Helga von Carleton of the island nation Aerok uses her celebrity visit to the park as cover for acquiring the blueprints to the Damnation Doohickey, a nuclear device whose owner will possess the ability to bring nations to their knees.
Naturally, a menagerie of ne'er-do-wells and mercenaries follow in her chaotic wake, along with the disgraced Inspector Le Stump'd, who's hoping to intercept the blueprints.
The second play, "The Last Song of the Gypsies," is historical fiction with a paranormal twist set in Weirton. Avery Sims, host of the late-night talk show "Midnight Paradox," finds his broadcast interrupted by a visiting spirit who inhabits the body of Dakota Bemis, medium-at-large. Identifying herself as Lavinia, Queen of the Gypsies, the spirit has returned to the place of her murder, Hollidays Cove in 1905, to fulfill her lifelong desire and bring rest to her wandering soul.
The play will explore the offensiveness of the term "gypsy," as well as the racism and brutal hostility that has been waged against the Romani people.
"Cloak & Dagger On the Air strives to tell a variety of stories, some heavier and others lighter, but whether we're revisiting radio dramas from the past or creating our own, our goal is to provide escapist entertainment that engages the imaginations of our audience," noted Fernbaugh, executive producer and author of both plays.
"Employing the format of live radio drama allows us to take our audiences on the wildest and most suspenseful journeys, knowing that the theater of their minds will provide the sets, the costuming and the lighting. If you've never attended one of our shows or if you've been meaning to, please consider joining us this month. It's two of the most unique hours of entertainment you could find in our area," Fernbaugh said.
Starring Chris Carter, Bethany Fernbaugh,David Gaudio, Noah Hilton, Emily Hores, Karissa Martin, Ralph Parissi, Terri Perry, Maura Danielle Reiff and the sound patterns of the Holy Foley Molies, Cloak & Dagger On the Air: Caught at the Crossroads will be available to the public in two ways.
First, it will be broadcast free of charge through the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center's Facebook page. Viewers will have an opportunity throughout the show to donate to the museum through PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/weirtonareamuseum). All proceeds from the livestream will go to benefit WAMCC.
Second, "Cloak & Dagger On the Air: Caught at the Crossroads" will be open to an in-person audience. Admission is free, although those attending in person are asked to consider a donation to WAMCC to help the museum and Cloak & Dagger cover the costs of the production. No reservations are needed. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the show will begin promptly at 7 p.m.
An all-volunteer organization, the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center is dedicated to preserving Weirton's history and culture for future generations. It is located at 3149 Main St., Weirton .To learn about upcoming exhibitions and events, follow WAMCC on Facebook at "Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center" or visit us at www.weirtonareamuseum.com.