Kids’ TV hosts say the darndest
things… and 1960s’ TV icon Sonny Fox will offer up plenty of wit and nostalgia
when he brings his Wonderama revival to Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts
on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m., 360 Hamilton St., Rahway.
An Afternoon with Sonny Fox
features the popular kids’-show television host signing copies of his new
memoir, “But You Made the Front Page: War, Wonderama and a Whole Bunch of
Life,” as well as recreating many magic moments from the show.
From 1959-1967, the hottest
ticket in New York was not to a Broadway show or a Yankee or Giant game. It was
to get your kid on Sonny Fox's Wonderama show broadcast live on Channel 5.
Demand for tickets was so high and the wait so long, expectant mothers were
known to put in ticket requests in hopes they could secure a seat for their
unborn child.
As comedian Whoopi Goldberg
recalled, “On Sunday, I had to do two things: go to church and watch Sonny
Fox.” American Theater Group, a New Jersey drama company in residence at
Hamilton Stage, is organizing the event. Tickets are $40 and available online
at hucpac.org, by calling 732-499-8226, or visiting the Union County Performing
Arts Center box office, 1601 Irving St., Rahway.
“For kids of my generation,
watching Sonny Fox was a fundamental part of growing up,” said Jim Vagias,
American Theater Group’s co-producing artistic director. “We are thrilled he is
visiting Rahway to allow us ‘Baby Boomers’ to experience this wonderful part of
our childhood again." Fox’s unrivaled stature among the young New York
metro audience enabled him to attract special guests from all walks of life,
including Senator Robert Kennedy, the young cast of “The Sound of Music” film,
and the designer of James Bond’s Aston Martin from the then newly released film
Goldfinger.
In addition, the show regularly
featured art lessons, magic performances by The Amazing Randi, riddles, Mad
Libs and the favorite, Simon Sez. On Dec. 1 at Hamilton Stage, Fox will
reminisce about the early days of live television and share choice Wonderama
film highlights.
Audience members will get a
chance to recreate some of the program’s favorite segments including stumping
Sonny with riddles, playing Mad Libs and competing in Simon Sez.
“Hamilton Stage was created to
showcase a wide range of eclectic entertainment appealing to a broad cross
section of the community,” said Union County Performing Arts Center Executive
Director L.E. McCullough. “An Afternoon with Sonny Fox is yet another exciting
program devised by American Theater Group.”
For more information about
American Theater Group, visit americantheatergroup.com.
For more information about the
2013-14 performance season at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage, visit
hamiltonstagenj.com.