Radio Drama Revival: Locals create eight-part radio series Bend In The River

Ken Szymanski, Jim Rybicki, and B.J. Hollars hauled a lectern out of the Volume One Gallery following a live performance of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds three days before Halloween in 2016. The turnout had been great; people filled the room and stood just outside the gallery door to listen to the actors, who wore authentic 1930s garb, bring the radio drama to life. Now the trio wondered: Could they write and produce a radio drama like this?

With the combined efforts of four writers – Szymanski, Rybicki, Hollars, and Charlotte Kupsh – 20 voice actors, Blugold Radio Station Manager Scott Morfit, and two UW-Eau Claire radio production students, that question will be answered in eight episodes of Bend in the River aired on Blugold Radio 99.9 Fridays at 7pm beginning March 23.

Hollars “aired” episode one for the first time March 11 for his two children. It was bathtime, right before bed.  He turned the lights off for effect, and the mysterious tale of David Sundby, a Wisconsinite who is transported to the summer of 1958 on his way to his grandfather’s funeral, unfolded through laptop speakers, in the eerie glow of the screen.  The kids listened even as the bathwater grew cold, begging for the next installment when the words stopped coming.  Hollars diverted the duo’s dismay at the suspenseful ending into a lesson on cliffhangers as a literary device.

Listeners will have the option of savoring the anticipation of more of Sundby’s story or postponing the experience to binge the series all at once.  The producers will make the episodes available on the Blugold Radio website following their on-air run. At 7pm on May 5, the series will conclude with a live dramatic performance of the final two episodes at The Metro, 201 E. Lake St. Ticket purchases will go toward paying the voice actors for their contribution to the project.

Content retrieved from: http://volumeone.org/articles/2018/03/20/22967_radio_drama_revival_locals_create_eight_part_radio.