(Shenandoah) — The Southwest Iowa Theatre Group’s latest production promises a “sentimental journey.”

World War II. America was at war on numerous fronts. Thousands of men and women torn from their families, sent to foreign countries to defend democracy, facing the greatest of dangers. In order to keep the troops’ spirit amidst the turmoil, the USO provided much-needed entertainment. The Southwest Iowa Theatre Group recaptures that era with its latest production, “G.I. Jukebox.” For the next two weekends, the Park Playhouse’s Stan Orton stage is transformed into a Hollywood canteen, featuring an all-star cast of veteran performers in a nostalgic musical revue. It’s the second time around for this production on the SWITG stage. Director Belinda DeBolt was among the performers in the first “G.I. Jukebox” in the winter of 2003. DeBolt tells KMA News now was the time to crank up the jukebox again.

“I just think it’s a good time to have this type of program,” said DeBolt. “Again, we were united against fascism and for democracy, so that was a really good time for us to get together. We did have some growing pains between the 1940s and now. But, I think that same idea of sticking together and working together is really important today.”

In fact, Belinda’s daughter Blair DeBolt appears in the new version as Dorothy Hayes. Blair says following in her mother’s footsteps is just one reason for doing the show.

“It’s so fun because it’s more historical than many of the things I’ve done,” said Blair. “This is one of the eras of history that I really studied in getting my master’s degree. So, going back in time and going to read all those older books. I’ve been doing a lot of studying and reading books about 1940s female spies. It’s interesting how many of those were in the USO, but also spies for the United States.”

Ciara Schierkolk, who portrays Susan Baker, says the music is a departure from today’s modern sound.

“It’s a lot of, like, big band music,” said Schierkolk. “Even though all of our accompaniment is with piano, there’s a lot of music you can really dance to. That’s a lot different from the music of today. A lot of it is computerized and digital music. I think it’s fun to go back to the simplicity of that era.”

“G.I. Jukebox” is an education for John Henderson, who appears as Frank Murphy.

“There’s a couple of songs where they talk about being out until 3 a.m.,” said Henderson. “I know that my parents told me that nothing good happens after midnight. I don’t know what these people in the ’40s were doing out at 3 a.m., but it must have been, or they wouldn’t do songs about it.”

Tommy Hanna plays George Sparks. Along with the history, Hanna hopes the music injects a spirit of patriotism in audience members.

“This is probably one of the biggest things of American culture that we have that we really don’t want to let go,” said Hanna. “My grandfather, he fought in World War II. In our country, we can do what we do today because of men like him.”

Other cast members include Misty Wissel as Ethel Burbank and Mike Kuderer as Spike Macallan. Also featured is Pam King as accompanist Bertha Belle. Performances of the Southwest Iowa Theatre Group’s production of “G.I. Jukebox” take place this Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 at the Park Playhouse in Shenandoah. Three more performances take place next Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon at the same times. For reservations, call the Park Playhouse box office at 712-246-1061 or email switg@switg.org.

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