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Long-Awaited Flagpole Radio Café Returned, With Guest Tom Leopold

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After a two-year hiatus, the Flagpole Radio Café was back in full swing with a special performance featuring Tom Leopold at the Edmond Town Hall on the evening of February 9.

A line of eager attendees filled the lobby awaiting their tickets and then filed into the theater, where nearly every single seat was taken by showtime.

Flagpole Radio Café host Martin Blanco started off the night asking the crowd, “Has anything happened since we last met?”

He updated the audience on the recent hilarity he has faced in the last few years working in a school where students lack enthusiasm to oblige the uniform dress code.

Mr Blanco then welcomed Flagpole Radio Player David Wheeler to kick off the first act of the night with an impression of current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

During the event, Mr Blanco and Mr Wheeler were joined onstage by fellow Flagpole Radio Players, Barbara Gaines and Kate Katcher to perform a variety of additional skits, including a Game of Thrones parody that referenced topics of building a wall, fake news, and climate change; a book club cover up for a Nutrisystem group; the push-and-pull of two friends arranging a “fake affair”; and a Valentine’s Day date filled with less-than appetizing restaurant cuisine.

The Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra took turns between Flagpole Radio Players’ acts to fill the room with soul-warming melodies that had the crowd cheering.

The orchestra consisted of local artists Jim Allyn, Rick Brodsky, Dan Tressler, Cadence Carroll, Richard Neil, and Francine Wheeler, who played “Long Time Gone,” “Beautiful Love,” “Don’t Let me Down,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Give Me Love (Peace on Earth).”

The Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra even joined Mr Leopold for his song “She,” while he played guitar.

A comedian, writer, and musician, Mr Leopold performed a number of original tongue-in-cheek tunes as well as some heartfelt harmonies, like “Halloween 1958,” thrown in the mix.

With Mr Blanco on stage, the two conversed about Mr Leopold’s nearly 40-year career writing for hit shows like Seinfeld and Cheers and working with famous celebrities like Chevy Chase and Larry David.

Between songs, he bantered with the crowd, saying, “I hope you are enjoying this as much as I should!”

As much as he teased the audience, pretending to even misread the name of the Edmond Town Hall at one point, he thanked everyone graciously at the end of his set, to which many stood and applauded.

Pictured from left is Dan Tressler, Richard Neal, Jim Allyn, Francine Wheeler, Cadence Carroll, and Rick Brodsky of the Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra at the Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, February 9. —Bee Photos, Silber
The Flagpole Radio Players — from left, Martin Blanco, Barbara Gaines, David Wheeler, and Kate Katcher — perform to a packed audience at the Edmond Town Hall at the most recent Flagpole Radio Café.
Comedian, writer, and musician Tom Leopold played a variety of original songs while headlining Flagpole Radio Café on February 9.
Tom Leopold, second from right, was joined on stage at the Edmond Town Hall by members of the Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra. From left is Rick Brodsky, Francine Wheeler, Cadence Carroll, Mr Leopold, and Dan Tressler.
Members of the Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra — from left, Dan Tressler, Richard Neal, Jim Allyn, Francine Wheeler, Cadence Carroll, and Rick Brodsky — were all smiles performing at the Flagpole Radio Café on February 9.
David Wheeler, of the Flagpole Radio Players, performs during the Flagpole Radio Café on February 9.
Francine Wheeler and Jim Allyn of the Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra sing together.
Flagpole Radio Café headliner Tom Leopold, left, is joined on stage by Dan Tressler, who performed with the Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra.
Flagpole Radio Café Player and host Martin Blanco, right, listens as headliner Tom Leopold tells a tale from his past jobs as a writer and comedian.
Tom Leopold performs at the Flagpole Radio Café, on stage at the Edmond Town Hall, on February 9.
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