The N3 Music and Theater group, made up of Norwood, Naturita and Nucla youth, under the umbrella of the Norwood Park and Recreation District, just completed a theater project, the first of its kind locally but hopefully not the last, if Brock Benson can help it.
Funded by the Lone Cone Legacy Trust and the Just For Kids Foundation, in partnership with the Naturita Community Library and its new Reading Minds Studio, the radio theater work is experimental. Benson, who organized the youth program, told the Forum he wanted to see how it would work, and he’s now hoping to do more.
Different from stage theater, the radio theater shows are pre-recorded to air for later dates. They’re also edited and produced with music and other effects. In this way, there’s less pressure for actors. Their voices are heard, but there is room for error, and when mistakes are made, actors can pause. Benson can edit the material.
For the recent radio theater production, kids in fifth grade through junior high came together to recreate a 1942 show that originally aired on a radio station in Oklahoma.
Starring West End students Audrey Martinez, Emma Sutherland, Kayla Spor, D O’Connell and also Benson, the show is called “Spawn of the Subhuman.” It’s a royalty-free piece to keep costs down. Anton Pierce had planned to participate, but he had other conflicts for the preparation and recording.
The show has elements of mystery and comedy, plus singing too. Benson hesitated to reveal too much of the script, because he didn’t want to spoil the plot.
Nucla and Paradox have been written in to localize the piece.
Benson said the group of girls did very well with the readings.
“What you hear in this production is extremely talented young voices,” Benson said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled or impressed and filled with pride.”
A listening party took place Jan. 23 at The Livery in Norwood. KOTO radio out of Telluride also featured a segment on their airwaves interviewing the cast. Next, Benson will host the radio theater production on WECast, the overarching podcast that contains the San Miguel Basin Forum audio editions.
Benson said he had two rules for the radio theater show: youth had to be able to read well and also have fun. He said the girls followed both rules very well. With just one week to rehearse, he said they all created a product they can be proud of.
In the future, Benson is hoping for more radio theater. In fact, he’d like to see the medium continue with adults participating. Furthermore, he’d like to see local writers create original work that could be read on the air for radio theater.
Benson said the shorter time commitment and low-pressure format could be appealing for some. He added the Reading Minds Studio at the library is a great space for artists to utitilize.
Overall, he said he can’t express how proud he is of the youth project.
“We’ve created something that is beautiful, and there is the potential to grow and benefit the West End and beyond,” Benson said.
