Anyone who listened to pop music in the 1970s will find that the latest Ilwaco musical show has considerable familiarity.

That’s because “Disaster!” contains about 36 hits from the era. The musical comedy by Peninsula Players doesn’t highlight them all in full — some are just verses or lines.

If You Go

If You Go

“Disaster!”

A jukebox musical by Peninsula Players

River City Playhouse, 127 Lake St., Ilwaco.

7 p.m. April 4-5, 11-12; 2 p.m. April 6 and 13.

Tickets $25, from Okie’s Thriftway in Ocean Park, Bold Gallery in Long Beach, and Ilwaco Cider Co. or at the door.

Pieces like “Knock on Wood,” made popular by Eddie Floyd and Amii Stewart, and “I Will Survive,” the Gloria Gaynor hit, form the soundtrack to the show.

The plot features a floating casino in New York Harbor that is hit by an earthquake. It is a spoof of the disaster movies released in the 1970s.

Rita Smith, the director, cannot stop her toes from tapping.

“I love the songs, and know 99% of them — and the audience will, too,” she said. “They are probably going to be humming right along with the songs.”

The play opened for its first weekend March 28 and continues with evening shows for two more weekends. There are matinees April 6 and 13.

Favorites

Some songs may be more familiar than the people who originated them. They include “Still the One,” made popular by a band called Orleans, “Hooked on a Feeling,” by Blue Swede, and “Sky High” by Jigsaw.

Other artists might be better known, like Helen Reddy, who popularized “I Am Woman” and Tony Orlando with “Knock Three Times.”

Smith has her favorites. Cast members Bob Goldberg, Karen Curtis and Ken Tobias, perform “Feelings,” a song made popular by Andy Williams and Shirley Bassey, and there is a version of “Three Times a Lady,” a hit for Lionel Richie and the Commodores.

“The words are different, of course,” said Smith. “These are two of my favorite scenes.”

‘Tough’

Pamela Klifar is the musical director. She performs keyboards with Paul Brady.

“I graduated from high school in 1973 and this was all music that I was dancing to when I got a little older,” said Klifar.

She especially enjoys “I Am Woman,” Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Torn Between Two Lovers,” and the Michael Jackson piece “Ben.”

She added that they tested using recorded music, but found it too difficult with less experienced singers; many in the cast are new to the stage. “The 1970s’ rock and roll rhythms are in our heads — but to sing them is a challenge. It’s really difficult for people to get the hang of it.”

Kevin Perry, who appears as a faded singing star, sings disco hits “Knock on Wood” and “Come To Me.”

“The songs are tough for me,” he laughed. “I didn’t listen to these songs of the ’70s! I was listening to the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and Jefferson Airplane.”

Team

Like all community theater productions, the staging is a team effort, with many actors doing double duty on and off the stage.

Smith has worked with Denise Cox on props and with Annika Kay on choreography. Kay’s character performs a tap dance routine to “Fifth of Beethoven,” created by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band.

Bette Lu Krause, who sings with Smith in the Oyster Crackers, is the producer, and both worked with Rose Power on publicity. Laurie Carter handled tickets.

Amber Brown has been handling stage managing duties. Deborah Perry, another actor, has handled makeup. Costumes were created by Suzanne Knutzen, Linda Brown and Nancy McAllister, who appears as a rich gambler in a plush fur coat.

The colorful set was built by another team: Smith, Cox, Krause, Tobias, Knutzen, Ed Ahlers and Mary Ann Emerson, who plays a bouncer.

Lights are by Philip Leonard and sound by Tobias, who acts and designed the poster and program. “He just steps up for me,” said Smith, praising his graphics skills. “He can put together things so much faster than I can.” He built an aquarium for the show. “He just rolls with it!”

Other backstage helpers include Emerson, Daniel Bradley, Kurt Owens and Robert Scherrer, who all have onstage roles, and Emily Darr, whose son, Tucker, portrays twins.

Backstage singers will be Krause, Al Price, Donna Price and Ken Emo. “They are all good singers and will give so much support to those on stage,” said Smith.