I'm Greg Taylor, and welcome to the Dakota Ring Theater Summer Showcase, a summer anthology program featuring works from different writers in different styles, and featuring members of the Dakota Ring Ensemble,

whom you've come to know so well. Tonight, our showcase brings us The Magic of the Movies

by Tim Pressel, a script inspired by the classic anthology programs of Radio's Golden Age.

Have you ever watched an old movie and thought about how many of the actors are dead now?

But they seem so engaging, so alive.

This play explores how that can be.

Decoder Ring Theater now presents The Magic of the Movies,

starring M. John Kennedy as Stuart Carey.

The year is 1940, and the place is The Confidant,

a discreet cocktail lounge where Hollywood executives and celebrities come to one wine.

Oh, hello, Stu. Good to see you again.

How are you, Wendell? Give me my usual as soon as you're done, huh?

Sure thing. Hey, I heard you on the radio last night. Quite a performance. Ah, thanks. That's kind to you.

Here you go, ma'am. Thank you. Pardon me, but aren't you Stuart Carey, the movie actor?

Well, I suppose I am. I used to be in pictures.

Yeah, I remember seeing you in a...

You were in... Oh, you know.

Yeah, sure, I was in that one.

And the other one, too.

Now, what was the name of that third one?

You cut it out.

Remember, I got here first.

...