Radio Static2

Another thoroughly silly radio drama with no intellectual value whatsoever (but fun to do).
All of the sound effects are called for and described, and “evil lurks in the hearts of men”!
Your group will get a great charge out of performing this fun thing.

CAST: ACTORS 1,2,5,(GIRLS)–3,4,(BOYS)6,(BOY OR GIRL)
ANNOUNCER (Adult)
WALLA-Audience, prompted by signs

SOUND: Hammer, saw, footsteps, horse (coconut shells) door knocking, all done by hand live.

MUSIC: KEYBOARD

**NOTES
I prefaced this production with a 15 minute or so brief history on Radio Drama. Many of those present were older folks who remembered old time radio, so it added a lot. I talked about some basics and some specific shows, and just some general info. I had downloaded some clips and was able to play a few for something special. I also had some fun with some Q&A about the names of shows, sidekicks, etc.
This utilizes cheap and basic sound effects, and is supposed to be done that way. We ended up having the children stomp their feet for the footsteps, because they liked doing it.
The locations mentioned in the sign-on all just reflect locals about three to five miles away, and just that alone got laughs.
Make some signs for the Walla Walla and have a run through with the audience. They seemed to like being drawn into being a part of the show and are usually great.
The announcer is written as a man, but could be female. Just go through the script and change the gender references, like, “Hey Mister…”
Karl Wagner

Sample of script:

1. ANNOUNCER: (SINISTER) Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of…

2. ACTOR 1: (INTERRUPTING ANNOUNCER, KNOCKING ON HIM LIKE KNOCKING ON A DOOR)

3. SOUND: SFX-DOOR KNOCKING

4. ACTOR 1: What are you doing?

5. ANNOUNCER: The Shadow.

6. ACTOR 2: That’s a scary show! This is the family hour.

7. ANNOUNCER: You mean like, children and stuff?

8. ALL CAST: (GIVE A SERIES OF LOOKS) (ADLIBS) What do you think we are? (Etc.)

9. ANNOUNCER: Really short actors?

10. ALL CAST: (GIVE A SERIES OF LOOKS)

11. ACTOR 6: We’re gonna be watchin’ you, mister.

12. ANNOUNCER: Sorry, my bad. I’ll be good, I promise.

13. ACTOR 3: (HANDING ANNOUNCER A SCRIPT) Here, mister! Do you need help reading it?

14. ANNOUNCER: Thanks,…uh, I think I can read. (TAKES SCRIPT, READS A SECOND)

15. SOUND: PAPERS RUSTLING

16. ACTOR 3: So does my baby brother. (PAUSE) But he really can’t…

17. ANNOUNCER: I’ll be okay…

18. ACTOR 3: …he just licks the pages and then tries to eat ‘em…

19. ANNOUNCER: Uh, ..can we get on with the show?

20. ALL CAST: (TOGETHER) We’re waiting on you to start!

21. MUSIC: THEME (ESTABLISH, BUILD TO BED) RISING TO A SUSTAINED PITCH, AND HOLD TO “signing on”

22. ANNOUNCER: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! WDOG, Toccoa, GA is signing on! And a very special welcome to Eastanolle! Yes, you heard right. Eastanolle. Now thanks to our new upgrade to 20 watts of power we can be heard from Toccoa Falls to Eastanolle, and from Currahee Mt. to the South Carolina border!

23. WALLA: CHEERING, WHISTLES

24. ACTOR 1: And, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, fear not! It has been studied and proven, radio signals will not scare your horses, and will not lessen milk production from Bessie the cow.

25. ACTOR 2: Truth be told, Bessie may well produce milk like never before… and you know what more milk means…

26. ACTOR 3: It means more milk for your breakfast!

27. ACTOR 4: And breakfast means our sponsor!

28. MUSIC: CHARGE

29. ACTOR 5: Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs!!

30. ACTOR 6: I’ll get the bowls and spoons!

31. WALLA: CHEERING

32. ANNOUNCER: That’s right. Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. The breakfast cereal sensation that is sweeping the nation. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, do you long for lengthy levity as you listen to larks lurking on your lawn, not likely to leave?

33. ACTOR 1: What did you say?

34. ACTOR 3: He said, “To listen to your lawn leaves.”

35. ACTOR 6: Mister, have you ever done this before?

36. ANNOUNCER: (TO ACTOR 1) Quiet, kid, I’m working here… (TO THE AUDIENCE) If you give your children new Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, I personally guarantee you, it will increase your children’s energy. (AN ASIDE) And probably make you crazy… And, now ladies and gentlemen, WDOG proudly presents our riveting radio drama…

37. MUSIC: (BED)–ESTABLISH AND UNDER–A LIGHT BUILDING INTRO

38. ANNOUNCER: …“Build a Better Bridge and the Boys Will Be Back”.

39. MUSIC: (BRIDGE) LIVELY, BUILDING, FADES DURING WALLA

40. WALLA: APPLAUSE

41. ANNOUNCER: As our story opens, two of the local townspeople are approaching the burned out bridge.

42. MUSIC: (STING) SUSTAINED NOTE FOR 2 SECONDS AT “burned out bridge”

43. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL ROAD

44. ACTOR 2: (IN SHOCK) The bridge! The bridge is burned out!

45. ACTOR 1: Oh, who could have done such a thing!

46. MUSIC: (STING) A LOW RANGE NOTE AT “thing”

47. ACTOR 1: With the bridge burned out, how will the boys get back!

48. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL ROAD, APPROACHING

49. ACTOR 2: (DISTRAUGHT) I don’t know! (PAUSE) Someone’s coming…

50. ACTOR 3: (APPROACHING) There’s only one person who could have done something so terrible.

51. ACTOR 1&2: (TOGETHER) Who?

52. ACTOR 3: …Clyde…

53. MUSIC: (STING) SINISTER-SUSTAINED- THEN FADE OUT

54. ACTOR 1&2: (TOGETHER) The rattlesnake dentist!

55. ACTOR 4: That’s right! Me, Clyde…

The complete script, plus all 2,000 other DramaShare scripts, are available at no charge to DramaShare members, non-members may purchase the individual script.

Another thoroughly silly radio drama with no intellectual value whatsoever (but fun to do).
All of the sound effects are called for and described, and "evil lurks in the hearts of men"!
Your group will get a great charge out of performing this fun thing.
Written by Karl Wagner and John Alexander

Cast: 7 m or f

• ACTORS 1,2,5,(GIRLS)
• ACTORS 3,4,(BOYS)
• ACTOR6 (BOY OR GIRL)
• ANNOUNCER (Adult)
• WALLA Audience, prompted by signs

Bible Reference: Ecclesiastes 3:4

Set: standard

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX:

• Hammer, saw, footsteps, horse (coconut shells) door knocking, all done by hand live.
• MUSIC: KEYBOARD

Props: none

Costumes: standard

Special Instructions:

• I prefaced this production with a 15 minute or so brief history on Radio Drama. Many of those present were older folks who remembered old time radio, so it added a lot. I talked about some basics and some specific shows, and just some general info. I had downloaded some clips and was able to play a few for something special. I also had some fun with some Q&A about the names of shows, sidekicks, etc.
  This utilizes cheap and basic sound effects, and is supposed to be done that way. We ended up having the children stomp their feet for the footsteps, because they liked doing it.
  The locations mentioned in the sign-on all just reflect locals about three to five miles away, and just that alone got laughs.
  Make some signs for the Walla Walla and have a run through with the audience. They seemed to like being drawn into being a part of the show and are usually great.
  The announcer is written as a man, but could be female. Just go through the script and change the gender references, like, “Hey Mister…”
  Karl Wagner

Time: 25

Sample of script:

1. ANNOUNCER: (SINISTER) Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of…

2. ACTOR 1: (INTERRUPTING ANNOUNCER, KNOCKING ON HIM LIKE KNOCKING ON A DOOR)

3. SOUND: SFX-DOOR KNOCKING

4. ACTOR 1: What are you doing?

5. ANNOUNCER: The Shadow.

6. ACTOR 2: That’s a scary show! This is the family hour.

7. ANNOUNCER: You mean like, children and stuff?

8. ALL CAST: (GIVE A SERIES OF LOOKS) (ADLIBS) What do you think we are? (Etc.)

9. ANNOUNCER: Really short actors?

10. ALL CAST: (GIVE A SERIES OF LOOKS)

11. ACTOR 6: We’re gonna be watchin’ you, mister.

12. ANNOUNCER: Sorry, my bad. I’ll be good, I promise.

13. ACTOR 3: (HANDING ANNOUNCER A SCRIPT) Here, mister! Do you need help reading it?

14. ANNOUNCER: Thanks,…uh, I think I can read. (TAKES SCRIPT, READS A SECOND)

15. SOUND: PAPERS RUSTLING

16. ACTOR 3: So does my baby brother. (PAUSE) But he really can’t…

17. ANNOUNCER: I’ll be okay…

18. ACTOR 3: …he just licks the pages and then tries to eat ‘em…

19. ANNOUNCER: Uh, ..can we get on with the show?

20. ALL CAST: (TOGETHER) We’re waiting on you to start!

21. MUSIC: THEME (ESTABLISH, BUILD TO BED) RISING TO A SUSTAINED PITCH, AND HOLD TO “signing on”

22. ANNOUNCER: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! WDOG, Toccoa, GA is signing on! And a very special welcome to Eastanolle! Yes, you heard right. Eastanolle. Now thanks to our new upgrade to 20 watts of power we can be heard from Toccoa Falls to Eastanolle, and from Currahee Mt. to the South Carolina border!

23. WALLA: CHEERING, WHISTLES

24. ACTOR 1: And, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, fear not! It has been studied and proven, radio signals will not scare your horses, and will not lessen milk production from Bessie the cow.

25. ACTOR 2: Truth be told, Bessie may well produce milk like never before… and you know what more milk means…

26. ACTOR 3: It means more milk for your breakfast!

27. ACTOR 4: And breakfast means our sponsor!

28. MUSIC: CHARGE

29. ACTOR 5: Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs!!

30. ACTOR 6: I’ll get the bowls and spoons!

31. WALLA: CHEERING

32. ANNOUNCER: That’s right. Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. The breakfast cereal sensation that is sweeping the nation. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, do you long for lengthy levity as you listen to larks lurking on your lawn, not likely to leave?

33. ACTOR 1: What did you say?

34. ACTOR 3: He said, “To listen to your lawn leaves.”

35. ACTOR 6: Mister, have you ever done this before?

36. ANNOUNCER: (TO ACTOR 1) Quiet, kid, I’m working here… (TO THE AUDIENCE) If you give your children new Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, I personally guarantee you, it will increase your children’s energy. (AN ASIDE) And probably make you crazy… And, now ladies and gentlemen, WDOG proudly presents our riveting radio drama…

37. MUSIC: (BED)--ESTABLISH AND UNDER--A LIGHT BUILDING INTRO

38. ANNOUNCER: …“Build a Better Bridge and the Boys Will Be Back”.

39. MUSIC: (BRIDGE) LIVELY, BUILDING, FADES DURING WALLA

40. WALLA: APPLAUSE

41. ANNOUNCER: As our story opens, two of the local townspeople are approaching the burned out bridge.

42. MUSIC: (STING) SUSTAINED NOTE FOR 2 SECONDS AT “burned out bridge”

43. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL ROAD

44. ACTOR 2: (IN SHOCK) The bridge! The bridge is burned out!

45. ACTOR 1: Oh, who could have done such a thing!

46. MUSIC: (STING) A LOW RANGE NOTE AT “thing”

47. ACTOR 1: With the bridge burned out, how will the boys get back!

48. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL ROAD, APPROACHING

49. ACTOR 2: (DISTRAUGHT) I don’t know! (PAUSE) Someone’s coming…

50. ACTOR 3: (APPROACHING) There’s only one person who could have done something so terrible.

51. ACTOR 1&2: (TOGETHER) Who?

52. ACTOR 3: …Clyde…

53. MUSIC: (STING) SINISTER-SUSTAINED- THEN FADE OUT

54. ACTOR 1&2: (TOGETHER) The rattlesnake dentist!

55. ACTOR 4: That’s right! Me, Clyde…