Felty Selected as Palmdale Playhouse Guest Director

PALMDALE – The Palmdale Playhouse has selected M. Steven Felty as its guest director for “The 1940s Radio Hour,” scheduled to take the stage Dec. 13 through the 15 at the Playhouse.

Felty, a former Palmdale Playhouse employee, was instrumental in the development of the guest director program before retiring in the fall of 2012.  His theatrical work spans decades and has covered nearly every facet of the business— director, set designer, sound designer, stage manager, set painter, technical director, teacher of stagecraft and actor. Felty also has credits in film and television which include features, series, and commercials.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to produce a quality show to present to the public this holiday season, and we could not have been happier to select Steve as the first guest director for this program,” said Palmdale Recreation Supervisor Annie M. Pagliaro. “This unique partnership between the City provides aspiring or experienced directors a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent while producing a City production in a community theatre environment.”

In the past, Felty has directed many stage productions at the Palmdale Playhouse and other venues as well.  “I always enjoy working with community actors at all skill levels,” he said. “I want to help the actor create the greatest performance they will ever have and give them a well-grounded learning experience as well.”

The idea to create a “guest director” program came before Felty’s retirement when he and Theatre Operations Technician Linda Willis began to brainstorm about the concept.

“The guest director program is a great start towards building outstanding and sustainable programming at the Playhouse,” said Willis.  “Steve Felty is a pleasure to work with and I am thrilled to bring our team back together to launch this new program, and hopefully inspire others to apply for this program in the future.”

Felty will direct the December production of “The 1940’s Radio Hour,” book by Walton Jones, music by various composers, and presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Casting for The 1940’s Radio Hour

Auditions for The 1940’s Radio Hour will be held at the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. East, on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 pm and Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 am.

“It’s a production that takes the audience back to the thrilling days of yesteryear when live music performed over the radio was America’s number one form of entertainment,” said Pagliaro. “The play presents one night in the lives of a dedicated group of working class artists who made the radio station their home of imagination and harmony.”

Thirteen cast members are needed including:

• Four females in singing roles, ages 20-45;
• One female African-American role, age 20-45;
• One female any ethnicity role, age 20-25;
• Two females any ethnicity, ages 25-45;
• Four males in singing roles, ages 20 to 60;
• Two male roles that require limited singing, ages 20 to 60+; and
• Three male non singing roles, ages 20 to 60 +.

“Since I didn’t have an opportunity to work with Steve on a production before he retired last fall, this is really a special project to me,” said Pagliaro, who began overseeing the Palmdale Playhouse in spring 2012.

For information, call the Playhouse at 661-267-5684.

(Information via press release from the City of Palmdale.)

–