Fall Radio Plays Audition!!

The WLHS Theatre department will present two radio plays this fall:

Sorry, Wrong Number – original radio broadcast, May 25, 1943

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry,_Wrong_Number#Radio_play

The Hitchhiker – original radio broadcast, November 17, 1941

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitch-Hiker_(radio_play)

Both plays by Lucille Fletcher

Both plays will be rehearsed from October 5 – October 22 (days and times TBD). On Friday October 23, a Zoom recording of both plays will take place. Please note that the final edit of the radio plays will premiere on the “Paws for Thought Podcast” around Halloween. There will be no Zoom video presentation of the plays.  

These radio dramas are in the style of the classic film noir and melodrama. Sorry, Wrong Number was originally a play, then adapted into a film, then into a radio play. It is a crime thriller. The Hitchhiker is more of a ghost story. Performances should be a balance between very dramatic (as in, over-done), and believable….so as to pull the listener in.

Here is the list of characters:

Sorry, Wrong Number

MRS. STEVENSON

1ST OPERATOR

1ST MAN/WESTERN UNION

2ND MAN (“George”)

CHIEF OPERATOR

2ND OPERATOR/4TH OPERATOR

3RD OPERATOR/5TH OPERATOR

INFORMATION/YOUNG OFFICER

HOSPITAL RECEPTIONIST (“Woman”)

SERGEANT DUFFY

The Hitchhiker

RONALD ADAMS

MRS. ADAMS/ THE STOREKEEPER’S MOTHER

THE HITCH-HIKER/NEW YORK OPERATOR/ALBERQUERQUE OPERATOR

A GAS STATION ATTENDANT

THE STOREKEEPER

A WOMAN

A TELEPHONE OPERATOR/A LONG DISTANCE OPERATOR

MRS. WHITNEY

For the audition, you can either choose one of the leading role sides, or a supporting role side. I am keeping the sides limited for initial auditions so as to just hear how you tackle the style. I would suggest you watch some clips for a reference:

This clip is a Twilight Zone version of The Hitchhiker. We will still have the lead character male identifying.

INTIAL ZOOM AUDITION – Thursday October 1, 3.15pm-5.30pm

*PLEASE EMAIL MR. B FOR ZOOM INFORMATION – beckings@wlwv.k12.or.us

Please fill out the audition form prior to auditioning: https://forms.gle/4bVowat1uvr3XJ3Y8

Please choose ONE side from below to read during your Zoom audition. You do not have to be memorized, but please be familiar with the text, so you are free to take risks and make choices! Keep in mind that you may be considered for a role different to that of the one you read for. Once you join the Zoom meeting, you will remain in the waiting room until let in. People will audition one at a time on October 1.

If you are unable to make the Oct 1 Zoom audition, you may upload a video audition. There is a section on the Google Audition Form for this. Please only do this if you definitely cannot attend the Zoom audition session.  

Callbacks are on Friday October 2, 3.30-5, and by invitation only. You will likely read with others during callbacks. Sides for callbacks will be posted the evening of October 1.

INTERESTED IN A TECH POSITION? Please email Mr. B with any questions. Break a Leg!!  

Paws Pod Episode #1!!

Hey Hey….Happy Friday!

Episode #1, Futures Past, of the Paws for Thought Podcast is now available. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen here:

https://www.pawsforthoughtpodcast.com

We have a great chat with former co-presidents Ella Johansen, Grant Halverson, and Angela Tinio.

Episode #2 will be an interview with my dear friend, Jon Jordan, an Emmy winning Wig Designer/Hair Stylist. He lives in NYC and is currently navigating his way through COVID and its effect on the arts industry. Some of Jon’s credits include:

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Broadway Tour)
The Lion King (Broadway)
End of the Rainbow (Broadway)
On the Twentieth Century (Broadway)
The Trial of the Chicago Seven (Film)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV, Emmy Winner)
Fosse/Verdon (TV)
Annie (Film)
Men in Black 3 (Film)

Tune in!!

First Virtual Thespian Meeting of 2020/21!!

Hallo Hallo….

I hope classes are going well and people are healthy.

TOMORROW 9/17 from 12.05-12.20 we will have our first Virtual Thespian Meeting. It will be a brief one just to say hi and check in. Brigitte and Miranda will share some updates on what the heck the theatre department will look like, and what we might be doing!

Please email Steve at beckings@wlwv.k12.or.us for the Zoom info.

Introducing The PAWS POD!

As our live audience theatre experiences have been temporarily halted, I thought it might be nice to “keep the ball in the air” with a WLHS Theatre Podcast. Our 2020/21 Thespian Troupe 1915 co-presidents, Miranda Wiler and Brigitte Chenevert, along with myself, will host episodes containing a variety of content: interviews with theatre practitioners and other Oregon theatre students , improv, radio plays, and general philosophy and hilarity.

Podcast Art by WLHS alum, Kirsten Driggers (2017)

You can listen to episodes via the website: https://www.pawsforthoughtpodcast.com/

…or subscribe through Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/paws-for-thought-podcast or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/329ZMItelvqmngQyDQ8SYA

(Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts will be available soon!)

Thanks for listening and spread the word. Wishing everyone a happy virtual/hybrid learning experience….until we meet (in person) again!