The Storybook Playtime Show

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE, featuring footage from the original college production.

In the flickering lights of WART-TV 3’s Studio B, Lester Applebottom is fighting for a second act. Once a theater actor whose career ended in purple-and-gold tights and a five-year sentence, Lester has traded his orange jumpsuit for a bowling shirt and a "wack-a-doo" persona to host "The Storybook Playtime Show." When Zeke, the station's disgruntled one-man graphics department storms the set with a firearm, Lester must find a way to talk Zeke off the ledge before the 'Glen of Happiness' turns into a crime scene. Beaver bears the brunt of Zeke's "Video Toaster" frustrations, forcing Lester to improvise a rescue mission to save the kids and the broadcast.

Stick around for the aftershow as creator Bill Meeks reunites with his high school homeroom buddy and longtime collaborator, Justin McConnaughy (the man behind the mustache of Lester Applebottom). They'll reveal how they turned a college TV production final Bill created twenty years ago into a key piece of Everly Heights lore. They also reflect on their shared history in the local theater scene growing up, from performing as Dr. Gibbs and George in Our Town to the real-life mishaps at Brooke Hills Playhouse and Towngate Theatre. Hear the true stories of obscene backstage notebooks and the shared nostalgia for the regional kids' shows that inspired the Glen of Happiness like Wallace and Ladmo and the legendary Bozo the Clown.

NEXT TIME: How will Ricky deal with tragedy? A Very Special puppet show!

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CAST LIST

Justin McConnaughy - Lester Applebottom
Bill Meeks - Mr. Matheson, aka "Beaver"
Samuel Lewis - Nicky / Chris Lee
Sean Weiland - Zeke Thorne

Additional voices provided by my TV production class at West Liberty State College.

LINKS

Everly Heights
Original broadcast of The Storybook Playtime Show (2004, Digital Download)
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Everly Heights Tales Merch
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