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Radio From Downtown—the Eastern Shore radio show that Jim Duffy profiled for us a few years ago— returns February 21, after an 18-month hiatus. RFD is always a lot of fun, and here's the skinny on the new show from RFD creator Van Williamson, a producer at NPR. (Williamson is pictured with NPR's Susan Stamberg during a previous taping of RFD.)
The dynamic, thought-provoking, hopefully entertaining and certainly long-running radio program, Radio from Downtown, will be returning to the historic Avalon Theater in Easton, MD, on Saturday, February 21, 2009, for the first time since the fall of 2007. This latest in a series of attempts to enter the world of big-time show business will be “performed,” if that is the right word, before a live audience and rebroadcast at a later date on WCEI (96.7 FM, Easton), WESM (91.3 FM, Princess Anne), and WRYR (97.5 FM, Churchton). The show will also be streamed live on the web at WRYR.ORG, and can be seen by viewers in Easton on Mid-Shore Community Television, channel 15.
The show will feature music by the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet; a Chesapeake Bay update (or whatever else he wants to talk about) by author Tom Horton; the Downtown Players (with NPR Special Correspondent Susan Stamberg) in an original radio play about the dire global financial situation and how it affects a small business on Maryland’s Eastern Shore; the nine-piece house jazz band, the No-No Nonette; some other stuff; and some “jokes.”
“We thought we had nothing left to say after 70 or so shows, but we were sadly mistaken,” commented producer and host Van Williamson from inside a giant duck suit at the Annapolis Mall, where he is employed part time as the Christmas Duck, handing out eggs and tiny down pillows to the area’s wee ones. “While it’s true there are only so many ways to skin a muskrat—and we believe we have exploited each one in ways both horrible and gratifying—we are nonetheless returning to the stage for another stab at fame and fortune beyond our wildest dreams. For all we know, this could go on and on, as it must seem to already to our many fans. Help us out and buy a sweatshirt, and we might think about stopping.”
The performance begins with music from the house band at 7:30, and the taping starts at 8:00. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased by mail from the Avalon Theater (40 East Dover Street, Easton, MD 21601), or through Ticketmaster. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information, call the theater at 410-822-7299.
