H-Y-S-A Radio Broadcasting Network “Bringing You the World
Today, The 1940 Way" - an interdisciplinary experience incorporating theatre, language arts, history, technology, and engineering.
The Background
By 1940, radio had become a part of every American home. It was a nightly tradition to gather as a family around "the wireless" and enjoy "theatre of the mind." At a time when the world was on the brink of World War II, radio was how people received the news. The contemporary live podcast echoes the Golden Age of Radio's intimate and immediate mass communication style and thus is a wonderful bridge from the past to the present.
The Original Pr
oduction
oduction
Secondary theatre students performed an original "show within a show". Audiences got a glimpse at a small 1940 radio station as it broadcasted its evening line-up -- complete with vintage Foley-style sound effects and commercial breaks.
Providing the backbone of the original script were student written commercials. The commercials were created in the style of Golden Age spots and advertised products specific to the era.
Iconic radio genres were also parodied with original shows
such as the soap opera, “Misery Can’t Wait" and the detective series, “The
Adventures of Johnny Martin, Private Eye”. While the play had a strong touch of
parody to it, it was crucial the performances were played with a serious intent
to capture its full humor. Students learned that effective parody imitates the
genre perfectly to achieve the most successful results.
Favorite Moments
"I liked all of the sound effects in the play." - Kunal
"My favorite moment was "The only toupee that actually screws right onto your skull. Kind of like the lid... to a... a mayonnaise jar." - Sean
"My favorite sound effect was the fan and the
cardboard. I think this was because it was a very smart idea and I think this
is something a real radio show would do. My favorite piece of business was the
homemade door." - Molly
"One of my favorite parts of the play was Patty Joan Teller's
soap opera. It was hilarious, and was also a comedic cover for the deeper
meaning it shared with Emily's monologue later in the play." - Drew
"I think my favorite line was the line “I heard Timmy was being recast” It was funny, but felt unintended." - Sophia
"My favorite line was when Molly was Beatrice and John put his hand in front of her as she said "I saw the red light of his train" and she pulled his hand down." - Emily
"Kunal doing the soap opera bit, because it is very funny." - Joshua
"I enjoyed all of it." - John
Student Reflections
"It shows how much sexism there was in this time. For example my line: "You know you want a cup so make your wife warm one up." Also, Isabel (Andrea)'s lines with Mr. Martin. She seems so helpless and like she is just a woman who can't do anything for herself." - Riley
"I loved the fact that she (Drew) actually started crying. It was very solemn and really made you feel sad. It was very true for some people."- Emily
"The play shows that the American public was somewhat
upbeat, but on the verge of change." - Andrew
"In the 1940s people had a big moment of realization, and it all hit them so quickly so they were shocked and scared." - Anthony
"The American public was very innocent to the fact that
they were sort of naïve. They didn't seem to know much about the war. They were
also very specific about gender roles. It seemed like girls and boys had
specific jobs." - Molly
"Emily's monologue served our play in that it
brought the audience back to the sincerity of the time, the 1940s. The 1940s
were a time of people on edge, people enduring heartbreak, people enduring
death. Emily's monologue talks about how no-one truly appreciates life, which
mirrors the horrors committed by many of the countries of the time. These
countries valued power, not human life, not art. Edward R. Murrow's monologue
speaks to how "this war has not yet produced a poem, or a really popular
song." What Murrow's monologue is saying is that perhaps no one is really
in control, that no-one can fix what has been done wrong. Altogether, Emily
and Edward R. Murrow's monologues bring a deeper feeling to the play, one
brimming with mirrored concepts and beautiful realizations." - Drew
Upcoming Theatrical Events
Friday, December 1st - Outreach Event at Title One School
Friday, December 8th - Annual School-Wide Poetry Out Loud Competition
Thursday, December 14th - The IGCSE Level "Page to Stage" Evening Performance
Friday, December 15th - The IGCSE Level "Page to Stage" AM Performance
Wednesday, December 20th - HYSA Thespian Society Annual Service Project, The Winter "Wrap" Party
