Naugatuck Patch Mayor Appears on Old Time Radio Program

Pictured above: Nancy Sasso Janis recording at the WAPJ studios All photos by J. Timothy Quirk

Torrington, CT - Nancy Sasso Janis’ first experience with the radio station WAPJ Torrington 89.9 and 105.1 FM in Torrington was a thirty minute interview by J. Timothy Quirk for his radio program NUTMEG CHATTER. The interview was the first one to air in January of 2018.

J. Timothy Quirk is a writer, cartoonist and broadcaster. His radio program and written articles are found on www.nutmegchatter.com Mr. Quirk is also a cartoonist who creates a daily comic strip called The Crayon Diary for newspapers in the United States.

As luck would have it, or serendipitously perhaps, Ms. Janis arrived early at the station on the day of her interview and she caught the tail end of a discussion by Conrad Sienkiewicz, Robert C. Fullerton and Mr. Quirk. The Patch.com Mayor and theatre reviewer sat at the table as the three men discussed ideas for a new old time radio show and so actually got to witness the birth of the Nutmeg Junction radio show when it happened.

Mr. Quirk remembered from that interview that Ms. Janis had done some acting, as well as the fact that she spends most of her free time reviewing productions, leaving little time to commit to a lengthy rehearsal scheduled required for most productions. NUTMEG JUNCTION is different, requiring only one rehearsal and a single recording time usually during convenient “off” time, thereby allowing actors to be part of other local productions at the same time. “So I asked if she was interested in participating and she was and I had the perfect role for her: Harriet Beecher Stowe!” wrote Mr. Quirk in the show notes posted on his website.

In this fun episode, Mr. Quirk has NUTMEG JUNCTION return to the idea of serendipitous moments in history that he dubs “Serendip-History”. Ms. Janis would lend her voice as the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in one segment and then be interviewed as herself by cast member Jandi Hanna in a final segment set in the the cafe of the junction.

Mr. Quirk continues: “In addition, I had the idea of a public relations person trying to sell Louisa May Alcott on a sequel to Little Women. I reached out to my friend, comedienne KJ Johansen who was my co-host on a prior radio program to see if she was interested in being the PR person and she was.”

Olivia Wadsworth and Jandi Hanna were slated to be part of the show as Ava and Evelyn and the show’s writer knew that the voice of Ms. Wadsworth would be perfect for Louisa May Alcott. Ms. Hanna’s character in Serendip-History is the narrator. “This left only Samuel Clemens. Fortunately we have a Southern gentleman of distinction in our cast, [singer] Robert C. Fullerton!” writes Mr. Quirk. The NUTMEG JUNCTION theme song was written and performed by Mr. Fullerton.

Conrad Sienkiewicz directed the episode and he also provided some narration at the beginning and end of the half hour that held the story together.

As a result of the fierce storms that ripped through the state on May 15, this episode was rehearsed and recorded on the same day at the WAPJ studios in Torrington. The scheduled Tuesday rehearsal was cancelled due to the weather, so the cast rehearsed and recorded the episode on the following Sunday afternoon. Mr. Quirk reports that when there is only one episode to record, this works out fairly well.

Mr. Quirk gives some insight into how he came up with the two historical mashups. “The story of Louisa May Alcott and Virginia Wyles worked as I already had the punchline in my head before I wrote it. The Harriet Beecher Stowe and Samuel Clemens story was based on a recollection of a tour I had either at the Twain Center or at the Stowe center. I couldn’t find any reference to it online, but I recall hearing of a time Clemens met Stowe on the grounds and discussed something and then later sent up his suit. It’s a particularly peculiar idea that I do not know if it’s true or if my memory is flawed but I thought it was a story worth fictionalizing. The dialogue however are often quotes attributed to both authors at different times and contexts.”

The podcast of the Episode 12: Serendip-History Part Two was posted on Thursday.

THE AUDIO TO THE SHOW
http://nutmegjunction.buzzsprout.com/168185/731835-episode-12-serendip-history-part-two

Credits

Written and created and produced by J. Timothy Quirk (c) 2018
Directed by Conrad Sienkiewicz

Starring
Olivia Wadsworth as Ava/Louisa May Alcott
Jandi Hanna as Evelyn/Alice Dare Crook
KJ Johansen as Virginia Wyles/Waitstaff
Nancy Sasso Janis as Harriet Beecher Stowe and herself
Robert C. Fullerton as Samuel Clemens
Conrad Sienkiewicz as Announcer
Nutmeg Junction Theme written and performed by Robert C. Fullerton and used with permission.