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Radio Play Assignment
The format of a radio play was developed in the 1930s in the days before
television. Nights spent next to the radio listening to dramas and tales of
adventure were as common then as nights in front of the television are today.
The format of a radio play clearly conveys an understanding of how the author
intends on the use of sound and music.
Characteristics of a Radio Play:
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Dialogue is the most important aspect of radio dramatics. It describes
everything the audience cannot see. Since the audience sees nothing, the
dialogue describes everything. It describes characters by their own speech
and actions and by other characters' descriptions of them. Voice
characterization is the unique sound of the character's voice. An old man
sounds like an old man. A child's voice is higher pitched, immature.
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When writing a radio play NO NARRATOR IS USED. The work of a
narrator is handled in the dialogue of the characters in the play.
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For example, in the sample scene from The Three Bears, characters spend a
lot of time talking about the things they're doing at the moment. "Where's
the little woman?" "There she is." "Here I am, Papa, and here's your
breakfast." "Let me at it!" "I'm burned! I'm burned!" "I'll get my hat.
There. How do I look?" "Just lovely, Pet. After you." Events are described
by the characters in an indirect way. This is the hardest part of a radio
play. Because the audience can not see you, your script must describe to
them everything that they can not see. Instead of having a narrator use
lines like “Here is your porridge,” or “There is my hat.”
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You should also use characters names often during the dialogue. By
referring to characters by their proper names you will help to keep them
straight in the heads of your audience.
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When using sound effects make sure that you explain what they are. If your
audience hears a series of “thuds” it may not be evident what they are
unless one of the characters says “I hear footsteps.”
Sample
Radio Play:
(MUSIC UP AND UNDER)
(BIRD NOISES)
(SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON STAIR)
PAPA BEAR: Boy, am I hungry! Hungry as a bear. Where's the little woman?
Where's my breakfast? Aw, there she is!
MOMMA BEAR: Here I am, Papa, and here's your breakfast.
PAPA BEAR: Oh, boy! Let me at it! (SOUND OF SLURPING ... SPITTING)
Owweee! I'm burned! I'm burned!
MOMMA BEAR: Oh is it too hot, Dear?
PAPA BEAR: (BARELY UNDER CONTROL) Too hot ... yes, Dear. Maybe we should go
out for a little walk while it cools down.
MOMMA BEAR: Finally, we're getting out of the house. I'll get my hat. There.
How do I look?
PAPA BEAR: Just lovely, Pet. After you. Come along, Junior.
(SOUND OF DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING, FOOTSTEPS)
(MUSIC UP AND OUT)
In the format I've chosen, character names are capitalized, dialogue follows the
usual mix of capitals and lower case letters. Sound effects, music cues and
descriptions of action are in parenthesis. I underline the SOUND effects cues to
make them easier to spot.
Assignment:
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In your groups you will write a 4 minute radio play. You can
choose any subject you want as long as it is appropriate for class. Two
suggestions would be to 1) adapt a well known fairy tale into a radio play
and 2) create a fictional super hero of your own like Super Kyle or Terrific
Tara and send her/him on an adventure. Include a cast of characters in your
script.
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You must type a written script to submit to the teacher. Your good copy of
the script should be typed and double spaced using a 12 point font. If you
are wondering about length, 1 sheet of standard 8˝ x 11" paper will amount
to about 45 seconds.
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You will perform your play in front of the class and you must have props and
dialogue ready for the day assigned.
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