The last half-century of Bradford’s and the nation’s history, as well as popular music that entertained people through the decades, will be performed during this fall’s “Good Old Days” musical to benefit and honor Bradford Landmark Society’s 50th anniversary.
Auditions for the show, co-written and co-directed by John and Heather Kearns of Bradford, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Emanuel Lutheran Church at 152 Seaward Ave. Approximately 15 people are needed for the show and auditions are open to people from ages 8 and up. Rehearsals will be held at Emanuel Lutheran.
The 75-minute show is scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 in the social hall of First Presbyterian Church on East Corydon Street in Bradford. The admission fee, which will benefit Landmark, will be announced at a later date.
“This covers the last 50 years and will have both Bradford history and national history and a lot of Broadway songs to cover the last 50 years,” Heather Kearns said in explaining the show. “The premise is that there are some grandparents and they get a visit from their grandchildren, and they teach them the history. They have a big scrapbook they’ll be flipping through.”
Harrijane Hannon Moore, a board member for Landmark, said a few months ago she approached the Kearns couple, who co-wrote last year’s Kiwanis Kapers show, to see if they would volunteer their time to write and direct a show for the organization.
“We thought we should tie in music because I love music and I think most everybody does,” Moore said. “They put a lot of thought into this, it’s going to be fun.”
Judy Yorks, another Landmark board member, added, “We thought it would be neat to do a musical based on the 50 years we’ve been in existence.”
Heather Kearns said the show comprises a wide variety of music and doesn’t center on any particular style.
“It’s kind of all over the board, as far as music goes,” she explained. “There’s a little bit of rap with ‘Hamilton’ (current Broadway hit musical) to much more classical pieces.”
John Kearns said those who try out should bring music they want to sing for the audition.
“We will have music available from the show, however, I’d like to hear what they can do, not specifically what we’re going to ask them to do. I want to see flexibility,” he commented, noting people don’t have to perform a full piece, can sing a capella or sing with music recorded on a phone or device. People are needed for speaking and singing parts, non-speaking vocal leads and ensembles. The cast will be accompanied by four to five musicians who are volunteering their time for the production. In addition, costumes will be borrowed from Kiwanis Kapers.
The set, which is simple, will use borrowed furniture.
Kearns said information for the local timeline of the show was gathered by Sally Costik, curator for Landmark, who used old archival material found in historic Bradford Era files.
“We have to sit down and finish the last song yet,” he concluded. “That’s going to be almost ripped from those newsmaker years (found in the Era) to be able to get 50 years of history in a seven-minute song.”
