THE DICKINSON COUNTY Community Theatre will present “A Radio Host and Vaudeville Ghosts” at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Braumart Theatre in Iron Mountain. Mark Miller and his wife, Jan, rehearse with other cast members via Zoom. This is the DCCT’s first live performance in more than a year. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Live theatre is coming back.

The Dickinson County Community Theatre will present “A Radio Host and Vaudeville Ghosts” on Saturday, March 28, starting at 7 p.m. at the Braumart Theatre in Iron Mountain.

This will be the first time local actors have taken the stage in more than a year due to the COVID-19 health safety restrictions. DCCT’s last production was in February 2020 with the festival one-act plays at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Norway.

The DCCT board of directors decided in January to move forward with a live production in the spring. However, they were dealing with a limited treasury after having to cancel last year’s events.

“The board decided on a radio show, which I wrote in 2013, so we didn’t have to worry about copyright fees or royalties,” said Mark Miller, director and board member.

When Miller adapted the play, he had to accommodate having the actors be 6 feet apart. That was just the first challenge in trying to do a live production during a pandemic.

Auditions in January were done both in-person at the Braumart and by Zoom for those who didn’t yet feel comfortable. Virtual practices began in early February.

“To do this type of production with your only weekly practice on Zoom is really challenging,” he said. “It’s not quite like being there.”

It goes against the grain of being performers to not being able to interact, Miller explained.

The cast will have their only in-person, full dress rehearsal the Friday night before the show.

Since this is a radio play, actors will be reading from their scripts, so they don’t have the burden of learning all the lines, he said.

“Usually when you are doing live performances you are practicing a couple nights a week together face-to-face,” he said.

Miller also rewrote the script to include “blocking” — meaning the actors will know every movement made on stage. “This also is not typical of scripts of live plays,” he added.

Another thing the audience has to keep in mind is with a production in live theater, cast members usually have a manual for guidance on each role. “You just throw that out the window with COVID,” he said with a laugh.

With only a minimal production crew, special effects, lighting and other technical support will be limited, but they are planning several visuals, including advertising posters.

“This has been a real challenge for live theatre,” Miller said.

The comedy will be done like radio talk shows and comedy stars of the 1930s.

“We are going to have some fun with this,” he said.

The “Radio Hosts and Vaudeville Ghosts” cast includes Rodney Kjell as radio host Raus Limberger; Anda Tavonatti as Limberger’s trusty aide; Owen Kjell as the faithful foley operator; Dr. Tony Grudnoski as the advertisement announcer; Marti Nord as Mae West; Michele Kellrooney as Mrs. Nesselrode; Jonathan Ringel as W.C. Fields; Stewart Boyles as Will Rogers; Jan Miller and Valerie Kjell as the Ladies of EATS, The Exclusive Arts and Theatrical Society; Abigail Kjell, technical support specialist; and pianist Brady Dill.

The show features many actual quotes from W.C. Fields, Mae West and Will Rogers.

“What is kind of amazing is the things that Will Rogers, who was a political commentator, said back then, much of the it still applies today,” Miller noted.

Another special feature will be the old-fashioned advertisements by Grudnoski, as done in the past on live radio shows.

“We are hoping we get a good crowd,” he said. “This also gives the community a chance for them to get out and enjoy themselves.”

The Braumart, 106 E. B St. in Iron Mountain, will be COVID-19 compliant, with attendance capped at 110.

“The theater has enough room to social distance and stay safe,” Miller said.

Tickets are $12 with a special family rate of $25 for parents and children under 12.

DCCT also plans to bring back one-act plays in May.