LANESBORO, Minn. — The Commonweal Theatre Company will offer a musical celebration of the holidays centered around a New York radio show broadcast during the Christmas season of 1942.

First produced by Commonweal in 2002, “The 1940’s Radio Hour” takes theatergoers inside the New York studio of station WOV run by Clifton Feddington, played by Commonweal resident artist David Hennessey .

Cliff has the unenviable duty of getting his show on the air, on time, while keeping his three stars happy — Johnny “The Tone” Cantone (Eric Bunge), Ann Collier (Stela Burdt) and Neal Tilden (Sheldon Rogers).

Managing the real-life madness of directing this show is Carl Lindberg, a member of the Commonweal apprentice class who earned his master’s of fine arts degree in directing at Western Illinois University.

“In this show, we get an idea of the importance of radio at the time,” Lindberg said. “It was a major form of entertainment for most families. We get a nice sense of the Christmas and holiday spirit, it’s funny and fun, and most importantly, it is patriotic.”

“The 1940’s Radio Hour” continues in previews today and Friday afternoon, with the opening Friday night and a run through Dec. 20.

It’s somewhat unusual for Commonweal to stage a play with a lot of music, but Lindberg said the theater company has some talented and trained singers.

“And then there are all those great songs, those classics of that era,” he said.

The songs include “Blue Moon,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “That Old Black Magic,” Strike Up the Band, “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” “Love Is Here to Stay” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The show also has radio commercials from the era and sound effects used in radio shows.

Commonweal won’t have a backup band, only a record player.

The play focuses on Biff Baker, played by Tim Sailer, who is about to be shipped off to fight the war overseas.

“We’re left with the image of Biff leaving to go off to war and wondering if he’ll come back,” Lindberg said.

“The 1940’s Radio Hour” also features a trio similar to the Andrew sisters and a Sinatra-like crooner.

“I love the characters in this show,” Lindberg said. “They’re all working real hard to do what they love, and they’re all charming in their own way.”

The characters move in and out of the audience, and even the stage manager gets involved in the show, he said.

“Two things jump out when the audience sees this show — they will laugh and enjoy themselves, and they will feel a sense of pride for their community and country,” Lindberg said.