Saturday, August 19, 2023, 1:00 to 2:30 pm EST / Online / $15 CAD In support of MAD-Con Toronto 2024 Up your audio fiction writing game! Using fun improv games (don’t worry, no improv experience is required) we’ll show you how to: • Give your characters character • Make your dialogue sing by ditching obvious exposition and focusing on emotion • Find out “What’s next?” in your story • Generate ideas fast • Challenge your Inner Critic and have fun writing Limited to 15 participants to ensure everyone gets time to participate. Fees from this workshop go directly towards funding MAD-Con Toronto 2024, a modern audio drama conference with performances, workshops, and meet-ups, bringing together audio fiction creators, writers, producers, performers, and audiences. Register here: https://improvyourwriting.com/upcoming
As Jack J. Ward basks in one of his finest moments- that being in the very chair that Robert E. Howard wrote not only Conan- The Barbarian, but all his great works… He was asked recently to provide a list of all the scripts he has written for all his various incarnations and basic times. As we’re coming close to the 20th anniversary of The Sonic Society (Put it on your calendar folks- it’s September 1st, 2024, Jack has provided the list so far with some tantalizing suggestions of what you can expect now that he’s completed his masters’ degree:
The Sonic Society Collection:
The Sonic Society-The World’s Largest and Longest-Running showcase of modern audio drama
Pre-Mutual Audio Network Feed (The Radio Memories Network 2005-2019): https://sonic.libsyn.com/sonicsociety/2008/06
The Mutual Audio Network Feeds (2019 and Onwards): The Broadcast Feed (on Sundays and Mondays) https://feeds.megaphone.fm/mani Monday Matinee weekly (2015 onwards replays) https://feeds.megaphone.fm/MUTUAL5370851038 Sunday Showcase weekly (Current releases from 2019 onwards) https://feeds.megaphone.fm/MUTUAL9188504915
Sonic Echo– Conversations with Lothar Tuppan and Jeffrey Billard – The Amigos! with guests looking at the very best of old time radio.
Sonic Speaks– Jack interviews the makers and shapers of the audio drama world
Sonic Summerstock Playhouse– The summer season of the Sonic Society where producers from the modern audio drama community recreate old time radio scripts for fun with their contemporary acting troops!
Sonic Retrospectives– Our tribute summer series for those who have left the modern audio drama community too soon (SADLY ONGOING) Bill Hollweg Mark Bruzee
The Sonic Cinema Production Classic Series: 2003-2005 The Shadowlands– Shadowlands Theatre was the premiere original anthology series from Jack J. Ward. Combining Suspense and Dark Fantasy, this exciting series became the basis for the Deadly Sins Series and other compelling tales of mystery, and horror.
The Seven Deadly Sins- A seven-part series of original tales from dark comedy to darker horror, plays of the past to terror of the future exploring the turning parts of the soul. Six parts completed: (Pride: And Low, Thou I Walk, Envy: Completion, Greed: Ghosts of the Present, Gluttony: Soul Survivor (Ogile Award Honorable Mention), Lust: Spin, Spin, Spin, Wrath: The Hitchhiker)
Graves’ Shift Starring Phillipa Graves– “Open for Business” The pilot first audio drama script written by Jack Ward from his time in university exploring the noir tales of his female detective
Biff Straker and the Spaceways(Old World)– The one-shot pilot episode of Jack’s parody of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon with his own pulp hero, Biff!
Remotely Possible– A single Shadowlands episode exploring remote viewing and the depths of fear
Hill Manors- “More Action than a Burma Railroad” A live tribute to the great “Fawlty Towers” series by John Cleese & Connie Booth
Firefly- Old Wounds– The Internet’s first fan fiction of the science-fiction classic “Firefly”.
The Dead Line Anthology- Tales of crime drama inspired by Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Initial run included: Goth Girl, Jeremiah Crandal- Funeral Detective, Messages, Right Number Wrong Party, The Replacement Show, Rule of Three)
The Dead Line Shorts Anthology- less than a half hour presentations of this series (Initial run included: Anniversary, Choice, Deathbed Confessions, Duel, Fiend to the Old, John, Lighter, Night Driving and Sherry)
Electric Vicuna Productions: 2006-2021
Firefly- Old Wounds “Wedding Day” – The much demanded follow up to the Internet’s first fan fiction of the science-fiction classic “Firefly”.
The Wave Front Anthology- a science fiction collection that explores futuristic societies, distopic nightmares, technological travesties and bleak tomorrows. (Initial run includes: Borrowed Time, Black Knight, Alone in the Night (Mark Time Silver award winner), Voting is Anonymous
The Wave Front Shorts Anthology- less than a half hour presentation of this series (Initial run includes: Acquisitions, Alien Invasion Cancelled, Distant Voice, Galaxy Master versus the Varn, Name Please, Nanites, Pets, Reservations, Spring, Trans-Humanity, Voices)
The Dead Line Anthology- (Continued run includes: “Faith” also as the final Deadly Sins Script for “Sloth”, Daybreak, Coach #6, Clay Pigeon Shooting)
The Dead Line Shorts Anthology- (Continued run includes: I’m Home)
Darker Musings Anthology Series- an anthology series of fantastical mystery and terror. Inspired by Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, Darker Musings always includes an air of another world that may be an alternate universe, or a terrifying nightmare, one in which the characters can not wake up.(Initial run includes: Breathing Space (one-man show), Muse of Madness, One by One, and Phil Morris~ Celestial Lawyer
The Darker Musings Shorts Anthology- less than a half hour presentation of this series (Initial run includes original and original adaptations of: Barney, Bravery. Plague Studies, The Chaser, The Monkey’s Paw, and Tulpa)
Gate, a coming of age fantasy series in 10 parts; Gate McNeil, a young girl, discovers she is the one person in the world who can challenge the darkness and demons threatening to take over the world
The Jack and Shannon Show- in an homage to great sit-coms of old, two hosts of the Sonic Society fictionalize their life and friends (3 Seasons)
Spaceways Starring Biff Straker (New World)– imaginary pulp hero Stephen “Biff” Straker takes part in a secret experiment to prove Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relative Time. The experiment goes wrong and Straker is thrown from the 1990s into the 31st Century! – STILL IN PRODUCTION The reboot fun action series, no longer a straight parody. (Initial 5 episode run: Year Zero: The Future is Now, The Haunted World, The Fallen Angel, The Pool of Death, The Man Called Methuselah – STILL IN PRODUCTION
Consortium Comics Anthology- is a collective series of superhero shorts by Jack J. Ward (Initial run includes: Blue Defender, Any Man) – STILL IN PRODUCTION
Action Adventure Audio Theatre, pulp-pounding adventures inspired by the OldTime Radio series Escape (Initial episode: The Most Dangerous Game) – STILL IN PRODUCTION
The Sonic Cinema Production Returns Series: 2022-
Retro Rockets Anthology- From the far-flung silver age of science fiction, comes a new anthology. (Initial episode: Spirit Drive) – STILL IN PRODUCTION
The Wave Front Anthology- (Series continues with: Market Crash) – STILL IN PRODUCTION
The Christmas Wreath- Seasonal stories to touch the heart and delight the ear (Initial release: The Gift of the Magi) – STILL IN PRODUCTION
Jack Ward adaptation Scripts Produced for Colonial Radio Theatre:
Dead Ahead– On a restless ocean, a group of weary survivors contemplate their grim fortune: What had started out as a fun little fishing trip soon turns into a nightmare of damnation, trapped on a floating prison.
Vincent Price Presents Volume 3– “The Best in the Universe” Dramatized by Jack J. Ward, from a story by Paul J. Salamoff. Assignments on frontier planets always irritate intergalactic mob hitman Randall Stiles and his partner Jake Mackey, and this mission would soon prove why.
New Series Currently in Production (Unreleased):
Prairie Fire- an audio drama Weird Western 10 part series
Flight of the Airmen- At the turn of the 20th century who are the protectors of the skies for this strange modern age? Canada’s The Airmen!
Wingman– Ripped from the archives of the fictional radio theatre of the 1930’s. Wingman and Fly Boy save the world from Nazis infiltrators and evil criminals in America!
Adventures by North!- In the early 20’s in Canada, a group of adventurers found their way exploring every mystery this vast country concealed!
The Fates of Mace Windu- By mass request this audio Star Wars fan fiction six-part series explores what happened to Mace Windu at the end of George Lucas’ prequel
John Carter- A Princess of Mars- The original Science Romance of the first of the pulp space heroes is explored through the first full-audio drama adaptation of the best-selling novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs!
Proximity– A Third Age (First Person) account of humanity’s attempt to reach the Proxima star system.
Other things to look for. Script collection books on many of these series, and upcoming work through The Mutual Audio Network.
Special Thanks to Lothar Tuppan (The Ninth Tower Productions) and Jeffrey Billard (Audio Groove Cats Productions)- THE AMIGOS!, David Ault co-host and the “Kevin Bacon” of 6-Degrees of separation in Audio Drama (David Ault Actor, Narrator, and Science Communicator), and the rest of the United Artists of Audio from Mutual- Pete Lutz (Narada Radio Company), John Bell (Bell’s in the Batfry), JV Torres (The Rise of King Asilas), Scott Mosher (CNY Table Reads). Joshua Price and the Queen of Audio Drama herself Tanja Milojevic (LightningBolt Theater of the Mind), Richard Frohlich (Texas Radio Theatre), Richard Summers (aka Captain Radio!) and Austin Beach (Broken Bard Studios) who constantly and eternally inspire, collaborate, and support his work!
Dr. Mark Dreisonstok is back reviewing Sonic Society’s Christmas submissions with Sonic Cinema’s adaptation of “Gift of the Magi” and Markiewitz Audioworks production of “Three Christmas Trees”!
“Post Christmas” is how the Mutual Audio Network describes its January offering of a dramatized version of O. Henry’s classic Christmas tale, “The Gift of the Magi.” This story is a very familiar staple of American literature. A young couple of very modest means in circa 1905 New York City, Della and James Dillingham Young, aspire to give significant Christmas presents to each other. What sacrifices are they willing to make to accomplish this?
…the warmth of Christmas festivities and traditions which the two productions evoke lovingly and convincingly.
This familiar tale is dramatized for audio with aplomb, with Jeffrey Billard and Tanja Milojevic who are very good in their roles as the financially-strapped but loving couple. Producer Jack Ward, founder of the Mutual Audio Network and of a series of Christmas tales called “Christmas Wreath Anthology,” desired to adapt this O. Henry story—filled with description in its original literary form—to work well as an audio drama. To do so, Mr. Ward has expanded the role of one character in the story, Madam Lucyna Sofronie, now owner of a wig shop, and added one character, Mr. Kent Wilkins, who repairs clocks. These two interesting individuals, presumably in middle age, are performed adroitly by David Ault and Erika Sanderson as they help us reflect on the nature of young love, family relationships, and, of course, how the young couple’s gift exchange might play out at Christmastime. O. Henry was a master of the surprise ending, and this version has the famous short story author’s dénouement. While this portion of the ending is retained from O. Henry, the audio drama concludes not with the master storyteller’s ruminations about the meaning of gifts and the original Magi from the nativity narrative in Scripture, but rather on the budding romance between Madam Safronie and Mr. Wilkens, a bold but interesting change of focus.
O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” is an extremely well-known Christmas tale—there is even a Disney cartoon adaptation, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse standing in as the young couple. The same level of fame cannot be claimed for “Three Christmas Trees“ by Juliana Horatia Ewing, another tale newly premiering on the Mutual Audio Network. This one is produced and directed by Jason Markiewitz who decided on a very different approach than the Jack Ward “Magi.” Instead of adding scenes and characters to make this a radio-style audio drama, he embraces the narrative of the original 1800s English short story, using voice actors mainly to highlight key portions of the story. The performance combines elements of both audio book and audio drama, perhaps slightly favoring the former.
The story follows the perspective of a person reaching the end of his earthly life, reflecting on how three Christmas trees have shaped his experience of Christmas, both as a child and as an adult. This is an interesting and unusual production of a Christmas-tide story which, in the opinion of this reviewer, should be better known. Mr. Markiewitz, who also serves as the congenial narrator, uses sound choices—especially some magnificent Christmas carolers (Sharon Grunwald, Lessa Nosko, and Kyle Wright) to help render this story from the past more accessible to audiences of today. Such is the case with his choice of a Christmas carol which is sung in two of the three vignettes, “While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night”—a hymn which is used in the production movingly to bind the Christmas of the protagonist’s youth to the Christmas of his old age.
Both “The Gift of the Magi” and “Three Christmas Trees” are well worth a listen, even in this “post-Christmas” season. They are reminders that we might return to the holiday spirit and once again bask in the warmth of Christmas festivities and traditions which the two productions evoke lovingly and convincingly.
Running time: Each production runs 30 minutes.
The Jack Ward “Christmas Wreath Anthology” series installment “The Gift of the Magi” can be found here. The Markiewitz Audioworks production of “Three Christmas Trees” may be heard here.
A Sound Effect Blog has a very interesting post on how to create horror sound effects.
It’s a detailed discussion from sound designer/re-recording mixer Joe Dzuban who has worked with some great horror masters of film today like James Wan and Guillermo del Toro.
While I bristle at the word “foley”- a term that’s used for movies and not really applicable for the sound effects we develop in audio drama, its great to have access to it. After all, foley is created to provide sound to coincide with footage shot with film. Audio Drama SFX are used live, as well as in post-production but created not to represent the sounds in visuals but rather to build story from the acting and the script. I’m known for not “crossing the streams” of my artistic endeavors even though I appreciate each and every form. But, if our medium matters, it’s important to give Audio Drama it’s due. You wouldn’t call the pages of your best-selling novel, “slides”, so why “foley” instead of “SFX”?
It is true that many people come to Audio Drama being visual consumers of story first, and that explains why so many think of foley as being the first term that comes to mind, but what’s more important is that we can find some crossover with the mediums, just like we do with live stage plays, comics, or audiobooks. Audio Drama is the most flexible of artistic mediums as it can wander across all others (except perhaps Miming!).
The key element is that generated sound in audio drama requires the listener to understand what the producers and writers are marking as important. While film can contrast foley against images to provide discordant tones and even moods, Audio Drama requires accuracy so that a fluency of sound creates a congruent understanding of the full setting and meaning of the story.
So, check out what tricks and tips in the above article might work well in an audio drama sound effect library, and bring your thoughts into the comments.
We already identified The Three Ages of Modern Audio Drama and now it would be best to identify a fourth. The third age roughly started in 2012 and can be definitively seen as ending in 2019. In 2020, as COVID-19 reintroduced the world to the term- pandemic, a number of professional actors, writers, and producers found themselves with a lot of time on their hands and a lot of creative thoughts bulging in their brains.
The Faustian Nonsense Network soon found creative outlets in A Midsummer’s Quarantine and producer, writer, and actor extraordinaire, Tom Konkle from Mindstream Players found new life in reworking Old Time Radio scripts and new originals on YouTube. And they are not alone, many groups around the world unable to launch stage productions have worked together to create online audio drama shows. Quarantine Radio Theater out of St. Louis even considered that a part of their name. Here in Halifax, Keith Morrison from Lion’s Den Theatre has also reworked popular theatre productions into online audio theatre equivalents.
With an influx of so many professionals from both Little Theatre and Hollywood engaging in the world of audio drama. How will this change the landscape of stories that are produced? Will we see more classics launched? Or will there be a number of new original plays taking flight on RSS feeds and video channels near you?
Dr. Mark Dreisonstok posted another stunning review in MD Theatre Guide focusing again on Rachel Pulliam’s significant works in this year’s Sonic Summerstock Playhouse!
Many of us travel to vacation destinations during the summer months. Audio plays are a wonderful way to pass the time, and two excellent, full-cast audio dramas from Sole Twin Audios fit the bill. “Short Order” is an exciting drama, somewhat in the style of film noir, and “2462” is a dystopian view of the world’s future. Both are recreations of classic radio plays from the long-running classic series, “Suspense.”
”Short Order” includes brilliant re-creations of the sounds of a fast food, casual restaurant in the 1940s, complete with bells which ring when customers enter, small paper ketchup containers on the tables, and a talkative short order cook. A customer with a severely disfigured face (expertly portrayed by Robin Robbins, who even imbues lines like “lots of ketchup” with menace) suddenly becomes a regular. The man exudes such a malevolent presence that business at the restaurant drops off considerably. Meanwhile, bad luck intrudes more and more in the home life of the restaurant’s owner, Mr. Bailey (convincingly acted by Joe Stofko). Is the worrisome customer somehow connected with Mr. Bailey’s troubles at home? If so, how?
Mark Bruzee left us May 20, 2022 with his husband by his side. I can barely comprehend the loss to the Audio Drama Community. Mark was a stalwart, tireless, creative dynamo. He would have laughed if I called him spritely, but looking back that’s the energy he had. We would text back and forth through social media sharing ideas, conspiring for new projects, and delving into each other’s shows as often as we could.
Among the many shows, he did for me included his voice as the narrator for “The Spaceways Starring Biff Straker”. and my adaptation of my first one-man stage play “Breathing Space”. I returned the favour by acting as his narrator “Rupert” for his anthology series for Mark’s passion project- L.E.A.P. Audio. I still remember when Mark asked me my feelings about starting a pro-LGBTQ+ audio drama group. It was still early days in the modern audio drama movement and the thought of being something groundbreaking for that community was compelling to both of us. I think my enthusiasm for the idea was nearly as large as Mark’s. He did that. He cranked up everyone’s enthusiasm for whatever new creative project he was involved in and this extended beyond Audio Drama as Mark was a member of Auburn Players and Harlequin Productions. He was tirelessly supportive, even when he had health issues, Mark would make time to talk to anyone who needed an ear.
As I enter the age of “leavings” I am still unable to listen to audio drama without hearing his velvet voice in The Byron’s Chronicles or on any Darker Projects episodes. You can still hear his voice as one of the promos for our Mutual Audio Network, “This is the Mutual Audio Network. Welcome home…” Mark improved. He made it so. It may be the time of life when we leave friends for a time. I look forward to seeing Mark again beyond the veil… where we can get more excited about more new art we can create together. Rest in peace, my brother. You leave behind a greater legacy than you could know in the people who you touched.
Mark is survived by his husband David Roche. Mark and David shared a life together for 42 years. Their best moment was being married at the New York State Fair. Mark is also survived by his brothers Timothy (Teri) and Neil Bruzee of Seneca Falls, NY; and a large extended family.
Re-imagined Radio proudly presents an incredible new release of Archibald MacLeish’s “The Fall of the City” originally released from The Columbia Workshop, one of radio’s most inventive series during its Golden Age! This modern retake melds the classic tale with the original script from Jack J. Ward, “Great Day for a War”. Listen now on the website, or join us on the Sonic Society’s release of the show on May 22nd!
CAST
The Fall of the City featured members of The Willamette Radio Workshop Sam A. Mowry Chris Porter Linda Goertz Holly Spencer Tim McKinney Ricardo Delgado Mark Homayoun Adam S. Moore Alticus Mowry
Sound Design and engineering by Marc Rose Recording by Robert Kowal and Michael Gandsey Foley conductor Martin Gallagher Produced by Sam A. Mowry, Robert Kowal, and Marc Rose Co-Producer Cynthia McGean Directed by Sam A. Mowry Recorded at PCC Sylvania in Portland, OR Produced by special arrangement with Mr. Richard B. McAdoo
Great Day for a War featured The Voices Sam A. Mowry as Daniel Stone Mago Weston as Anna-Marie Hammond Sam Gregory as GlobalWeb Announcer Eric Newsome as GlobalWeb News Service Announcer Eric Newsome as President Stephanie Crowley as Sheila MacDonald Produced by special arrangement with Jack J. Ward
CREDITS
The Fall of the City written by Archibald MacLeish Great Day for a War written by Jack J. Ward Sound Design, Music, and Engineering by Marc Rose of Fuse Social Media by Regina Carol Social Media Management Promotional Graphics by Holly Slocum Design Curated and Hosted by John Barber
RESPONSES
Just so tickled pink to hitch my star with “The Fall of the City” in this amalgam. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity! — Jack J. Ward, author of “Great Day for a War”
We’re thrilled and excited to hear this amazing fusion of the classic, “The Fall of the City” with an unproduced Jack J. Ward script “Great Day for a War”! — Sonic Society
From the Half Moon Bay Review: As a writing professor at Stanford University in 1995, Richard Holeton wrote a 500-word short story about Theodore Streleski, the Stanford graduate student who bludgeoned his faculty advisor to death with a hammer in the 1970s. He developed the story into a hypertext novel, “Figurski at Findhorn on Acid,” which for the last 12 years has been unavailable to the public due to outdated software — until now.…
Holeton also embarked on the unprecedented project of adapting the hypertext novel into a radio play. In collaboration with Emmy award-winning sound artist Marc Rose and John Barber, who wrote the screenplay adaptation, the play will debut on Re-Imagined Radio. For more information about listening, visit the main webpage for the Re-Imagined Radio website, and check the How To Listen section.
Read the full article for more and congratulations to the amazing Marc Rose and John Barber, from Re-Imagined Radio. The radio play is in good hands!
