If you watched it recently, you will recall the scene in “A Christmas Story” (1983) where Ralphie and Randy Parker run to their 1940 Westinghouse radio console in time for the Little Orphan Annie show. The two children listen with rapt attention to the program as we wax nostalgic for “simpler times” (even if we never experienced them in the first place).
As it turns out, those simpler times have not gone away: radio theater still has a large fan base thanks, in part, to fan sites, takeoffs like the podcast Welcome to Nightvale, and Internet shows rebroadcasting classics like The Shadow, Lone Ranger and Amos ‘n’ Andy.
Flagstaff arts non-profits Theatrikos Theatre Company and Radio Sunnyside have volunteers with a deep appreciation for radio theater. Radio Sunnyside station manager Mac England has worked for decades with radio stations that produced skits, detective shows, Shakespeare’s works and Fireside Theatre-type programs. Theatrikos has produced vintage radio dramas on stage both in Flagstaff and Sedona, but executive director Drew Purcell has been looking to partner with a local radio station for some time.
“Years ago, I approached a few local radio stations about broadcasting our radio theatre shows over the airwaves, but that wouldn’t make sense for a for-profit radio station because their programming is based on ad sales.”
But once Radio Sunnyside started, Purcell sensed that a collaboration with the community radio station could work.
“I’ve been impressed with the work that Radio Sunnyside has been doing for our community and I think they are natural partners for Theatrikos.”
A few months ago, England met with Purcell as well as Becky Daggett and Linda Sutera – both veteran actors and directors – to discuss the possibilities and challenges of producing regular radio dramas.
Sutera, who has done live radio theatre for both Arizona TheatreWorks and Theatrikos, believes “this will be a great community project, bringing a lot of people together. I hope that it gives actors, singers and musicians another venue for performance.”
Already, people have expressed a strong interest in this venture.
“We have six people signed up to be directors and we’ve reached out to actors and people with sound effects [knowledge],” explained England, who hopes to get this new program launched in January or February with either one-hour or half-hour programs semi-regularly.
Eager to get a jumpstart on this idea, a few directors have already begun searching for works either in the public domain or by local writers who will lend their works free of charge.
Local filmmaker Chris Gunn, who is already working with local talent, aims to direct a show produced, performed, and written by Flagstaff talent.
“I believe local radio needs to be about local writers and local performers.”
Actor Judy O’Dea, star of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, is also eager to direct a show within the next month. She’s currently revising Wade Bradford’s 12 Angry Pigs, a spoof on Reginald Rose’s 12 Angry Men.
“It’s clever,” said O’Dea of the script. “It’s fun on one hand and serious on the other.”
O’Dea has loved radio programs since she was a child.
“There is nothing quite like radio drama,” explained O’Dea. “It frees one’s mind to picture what’s going on.”
Although O’Dea and Gunn have unique directorial visions, they share a common challenge: finding a producer.
“Everything is in place from the director down,” said Gunn of his show. “I’m in search of a producer, but I’ll likely end up producing this one show for myself.”
Like Gunn, O’Dea appreciates the challenges of assembling a group of volunteers, each with different skills and interests.
“It’s all volunteer. I know how difficult it is to get a group of people to work on it. If I can get someone willing to help me on the production end, [that’d be] great.”
Purcell echoes these sentiments.
“We have a slot lined up in early January and volunteers are working hard on putting the show together. Right now, we are really looking to bring in one or more producers to tie everything together.”
Whether producers, actors or directors, both organizations are hoping to attract more volunteers who specifically appreciate the intersection of theater and radio, whatever their level of experience. FBN
By Adrienne Bischoff
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