WGTD Radio Theater to present ‘Rocky and Bullwinkle’

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:26 PM CST

KENOSHA — WGTD Radio Theater will open its fourth season with an original episode of the highly popular cartoon series, “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” 11:15 a.m. Saturday.

The production of “Moose and Squirrel Roam Kenosha: Or ... The New Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends” will be aired from Gateway Technical College’s Center for Bioscience & Information Technology, 3520 30th Ave.

The WGTD production will also get a boost from the originator of the cartoon. Original music and cartoon sound effects are all from Jay Ward’s audio vault from “Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.” Ward in 1959 first co-produced the “Rocky and Friends” show, which would generate 163 half-hour shows over its run.

Steven Brown and Michael Ullstrup, both of Salem, penned this original episode.

“Moose and Squirrel — rather, Rocky and Bullwinkle — have always been one of my favorite TV series of all time,” says Brown. “A number of years ago, I had a chance to chat, over a cup of coffee, with Mrs. Jay Ward about how her husband (Jay) got involved with Rocky. All I remember is that Mrs. Ward kept on talking about Frostbite Falls, Minn.

“In any case, we’ll feature most of the famous characters from this historically important television series, replete with Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.”

Terry Lawler, Kenosha, will play Boris Badenov and Victoria Paura-Ide, Somers, will play Natasha Fatale. The role of Bullwinkle J. Moose is played by Pleasant Prairie’s own Gary Stamm, while Victoria DuMez will rock the house in the role of Rocket J. Squirrel.

Also appearing in the radio cartoon production will be Mr. Peabody, played by Cameron Spencer of Kenosha and Sherman, played by young Tyler Farrell of Bristol. This cartoon series was about a time-traveling dog and his pet boy, Sherman. Using Peabody’s “Wayback Machine,” the pair will take a trip back into time to hear the real story about how young George Washington learned how to love apple pies and not cherry trees.

The third feature during this 45-minute live radio cartoon program is “Dudley Do-Right,” played by Gary Stamm, with help from Nell, played by Susanne Wilczek of Brighton. Dudley Do-Right wouldn’t be complete without that horrible “Snidely Whiplash,” played by Mark Frazer of Somers.

Lawler is the senior director for this program, and DuMez makes her 91.1 Players directorial debut as she will direct one of the three segments.

The radio theater will be performed in Room 120 of the Bioscience Center, and not in the atrium of the same building, where it used to be held. The public is invited to become part of the studio audience. Admission is free and no tickets or reservations are needed.

Food and beverages will be available at Café 91.1, a full-service coffeehouse located in the atrium of the Center for Bioscience & Information Technology. WGTD, based out of Gateway Technical College, can be heard in Kenosha/Racine at 91.1, in Elkhorn at 101.7 and in Lake Geneva at 103.3.

For more information, contact David Cole at (262) 564-3030 or Steve Brown at (262) 564-3862.

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