Production Tips for
Dead Men Don't Do Radio Plays
by Allison Williams
Steve Powell is radio star Frank Grayson, Private Eye. But in real life he's not as suave, doesn’t have a way with the ladies and has a habit of narrating his life. But that doesn't stop crimes from falling into his life. Can little Stevie Palowski step into a PI's shoes and get the dame?
Dead men may not do radio plays, but you definitely should introduce this genre to your students. Put together a SFX crew and bring the radio sounds to life. All the effects are itemized, including suggestions.
The two plays in this collection can be performed separately or can be combined to make a full evening of theatre.
Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools
Tips from the Author
Using a lighting change when we are in the radio show-within-a-show will help the audience experience the two shows as two different mental places.
Treat the SFX people as if they are actors, rather than technicians. Their work demands a creative ear and reactions in the moment - make sure they feel like they are part of the cast.
