ON THE AIR — Pete Fernbaugh (back), Cloak and Dagger On the Air executive producer, creates a sound-effects backdrop for performers Dave Zanieski, front left, and community guest star, Weirton Mayor Harold Miller, as they perform in a December radio-era Christmas drama “The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas.” - Contributed

WEIRTON — The Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Co., in partnership with Weirton’s Striplight Theatre, will hold the fifth installment of its radio-era drama series, “Cloak & Dagger On the Air,” Jan. 27.

Since September, “Cloak & Dagger On the Air” has presented monthly recreations of classic scripts from the Golden Age of Radio, complete with live sound effects, music and original commercial skits written by Pete Fernbaugh, executive producer and artistic director.

January’s production, “Ladies’ Night,” set for 7 p.m. Jan. 27, at the Ashley Marie, 3383 Main St., will feature two suspense-filled stories with strong female characters in the lead roles. Local business owner Diane Magnone of Corporate Cleaning Group will be the community guest star.

“In the four months we’ve been performing these dramas, our audiences have been incredibly responsive. I think ‘Cloak & Dagger On the Air’ has become one of those open Ohio Valley secrets, ready for everyone to discover for themselves,” Fernbaugh said. “We’ve had folks who have never been to a theatrical production before attend these shows and become completely immersed in the stories, the sound effects, the actors and the live music.”

The evening’s first drama will feature Karissa Martin, who was recently nominated by the BroadwayWorld West Virginia Regional Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the Capitol Theatre production of “Ticket to Nashville.” Martin will lead the cast in “St. James Infirmary Blues,” a tale spun off the classic jazz number and set in the Roaring ’20s, when bootlegging was a surefire avenue to intrigue and murder.

Veteran Ohio Valley actor Nancy Longo, a member of Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger since its founding more than a decade ago, will return this month for a tour-de-force performance in a drama titled “The Sisters,” about twin siblings who are locked in a tug of war between sanity and a premonition that one of them is about to die.

“I have been doing theater all over the Ohio Valley and beyond for more than 30 years,” Longo said. “This includes theater for all audiences, totally scripted and completely improvisational. But doing the ‘Cloak & Dagger On the Air’ radio dramas affords me as an actor the opportunity to rise above and meet a challenge. We perform with scripts, but make no mistake, we are acting. Ask anyone who has seen our radio dramas. We must be familiar with our characters and perform them to the best of our ability, the same as we would with any other play.”

For Longo, participating in “Cloak & Dagger On the Air” brings back fond memories of her youth.

“My grandfather had an old radio in his home that at one time everyone sat around in the evenings to listen to the news and entertainment,” she said. “I can remember him telling me as a child stories of the old-time radio shows and how he loved them. He actually heard Orson Welles’ ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast. I like to close my eyes for a moment and think I have an idea of what that was like. I also like to think granddad would be listening to me performing in ‘On the Air’ and be smiling with pride.”

In addition to Martin and Longo, January’s production will feature Chris Carter, Gretchen Carter, Rob DeSantis, Bethany Fernbaugh and Dave Zanieski, with Shane Merideth managing sound and Lakin Weaver providing an original musical score.

Fernbaugh also writes original commercial copy for businesses who advertise for the events — and his ads have been extremely popular with the audiences.

The Weirton Christian Center will have an ad this month, which was donated by the Magnone for West Virginia campaign.

Cost for the event is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Tickets will be available at the door, but reservations can be made by calling (724) 255-5911 or (412) 417-5101.

A portion of the proceeds from each Cloak and Dagger On the Air production go to support Striplight Theatre and its upcoming season of shows.