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Last minute shopping, scurrying, bustling and baking: The holidays hinge on procrastination.

"I started writing a little bit later this year," said Way Off Broadway managing director Justin Kiska of the theater's annual Christmas offering. "It was the week after the Fourth of July."

To be fair, these were characters that Kiska knew well and the setting was familiar. Radio station WWOB first aired its hilarious holiday program five years ago at the theater and 2009 proved the perfect time for a seasonal sequel.

"‘An Old Fashioned (Radio) Christmas' always held a special place in my heart," said Kiska of his first foray into Christmas pageantry. "I always knew I wanted to go back to it. Of course, it's five years later. There's a new owner at the radio station and new faces."

The concept, said Kiska, was loosely based on an old TV show called "Remember WENN."

"It was a cute show and a lot of fun. I always remembered it," he said. "A lot of people don't know that back in the day there were live studio audiences in radio. So that's what we're doing – our audience at Way Off Broadway becomes the studio. So during commercials, they get to see what really happens behind the scenes."

Par for the course, the tinsel-trimmed theatricality is populated with trademark moments and a cast of zany characters.

"Act One takes place during the station's Christmas Eve broadcast. There's this character, Sheridan Sandy — who's this great orator and radio personality — that comes in to read the nativity story. A lot of people actually thought he was a real person. He's completely fictitious, but I had people come up to me during the original show and say ‘Oh, yeah. I remember him from when I was a kid.' And I was like, ‘I'm just that good.'"

Actor Joe Magluilo portrays the esteemed announcer, having originated the role five years ago.

"I love continuity," said Kiska, "so I was thrilled to get him back."

Ironically, actor Jonny Kigin has appeared in every Way Off Broadway holiday production to date but "An Old Fashioned (Radio) Christmas."

"That was the Christmas show I missed," Kigin said. "I've been in all of them since."

The franchise newbie shows up in the sequel as disc jockey Jonny Fontaine.

"I think what Justin did, is that he took my character from ‘Grease,' which I did with the company two or three years ago — and I think he did this with everyone's character, actually — and kind of morphed it into the holiday show," Kigin said.

"My character's name in ‘Grease' was Vince Fontaine. He was this guy at the high school who sang for the prom or whatever, I don't really remember – but he was this bigwig rock star," he continued. "Here, I'm Jonny Fontaine. He's one of five DJs who come together for this radio show. There's not a whole lot of character development beyond that. I'm basically doing my usual routine – the goofy guy who's kind of a little bit stuck on himself."

Kiska confesses to having a bit of fun with names and nods to previous Way Off Broadway works.

"People are going to see a lot of jokes from other shows," Kiska said. "Jonny Fontaine is obviously Vince Fontaine. There's Sarah St. James, which was actually a character I created for a murder mystery, but was never used. It's Christmas, so we try to keep it fun and light."

It's that jovial element that keeps audiences returning in droves every year, and makes tickets yet another hot commodity during the holiday season.

"It has all of the elements of a typical — typical may not be the right word — of a successful holiday show," said Kigin. "They always have those little twists and turns. But there's always a lot of laughing and a good message about the reason for the season. So, while we have our softer moments about what Christmas really means, there's also the hilarity. And there's something brand new this year that hopefully the audiences will embrace."

For Kigin, finding his voice for caroling come late September has become second nature by now.

"The first few holiday shows I did with Way Off Broadway – when we would begin in late September or early October, it was a bit of a challenge. This is maybe my fifth, so I'm used to it now," he said. "Besides, my wife is one of those early Christmas shoppers. She's already finished. She starts thinking of Christmas way before I even start thinking about these shows, so it's not too difficult to get into it."

It's also a whole lot of fun, he adds.

"One of the things about the Christmas show is that the format works. It's one of the more fun shows to do for that reason. It's a bit looser than maybe shows that we would have to buy the rights to, and where you have to follow all of the rules. Way Off Broadway owns their Christmas shows. So we can add bits right up until opening night and beyond. It's constantly progressing. That's what makes it easy to sing Christmas songs two and a half months ahead of time. It never gets old."

And according to Kiska, despite that hangup of pre-production beginning in mid-July, "Another Radio Christmas" is actually ahead of schedule.

"We got to a point that we were so far ahead that I was able to go out with friends both Friday and Saturday night," he said.

Probably should get a jump on writing next year's script.

‘Another Radio Christmas'

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. first, third and fifth Sundays through Jan. 9 (Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays) Special select Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday shows available: Call for times

Where: Way Off Broadway, 5 Willowdale Drive, Willowtree Plaza, Frederick

Tickets: $41-$45

For information: 301-662-6600

www.wayoffbroadway.com