The “Movies in the Park” series from Portland Parks & Recreation continues, offering this weekend the ambitious presentation of the silent classic The Lost World, featuring an original score performed by Filmusik Chamber Orchestra, joined by Willamette Radio Workshop, (Mark Homayoun, Sara Rae, Tim Riley and Sam A. Mowry) plus live Foley sound effects by David Ian and Dino de AElfweald. This masterwork from 1925, a simpler time when claymation monsters ruled the earth and hunted unwitting saps in bowler hats, offers a new challenge to the Filmusik/WRW collaboration. Our group of musicians and actors recreate this classic in the open air under the mega-screen for this one-time-only performance.
Co-sponsored by the Richmond Neighborhood Association, the screening happens at Sewallcrest Park, Southeast 31st Avenue and Market Street. Pre-movie entertainment (Music by Megafauna and a Live Radio Drama intro to the movie) starts 6 p.m.-ish, and movies begin at dark. Admission to Movies in the Park events is free.
The collaboration between WRW and Filmusik continues in July with the presentation of the 1939 Fleischer brothers animated feature “Gulliver’s Travels.” WRW Director Sam A. Mowry will direct the voice acting cast to provide the voices of adventurer Gulliver and the hundreds of tiny citizens of the fairy-tale land of Lilliput.
David Ian will lead a team of foley artists to create live sound effects, while Marc Rose is sound designer. Filmusik founder Galen Huckins has composed an entirely new score for the film, which will also be performed live. There will even be opportunities for the audience to be a part of the show — follow the bouncing ball and sing along!
The show promises that you’ll never look at cartoons the same way again!
Filmusik: Gulliver’s Travels plays at the Hollywood Theatre July 16th, 21st and 23rd at 7:00pm, with a 2:00pm matinee show on July 18th. Tickets are $12, $10 for students and seniors, and are available at the Filmusik website or at the door (though be cautioned — past Filmusik shows have sold out!)
WRW celebrates the 11th annual McMenamins UFO Festival with the classic sci-fi adventure serial, “The Amazing Interplanetary adventures of Flash Gordon.” A special compilation of the first four episodes of the 1935 weekly serial, which we are calling “Marooned on Planet Mongo!” will be presented at 2pm Saturday, May 15 in Mattie’s Room at McMenamins Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. The show is free.
The cast includes Scott Jamieson, Mary Thomas, James Dineen, Mark Homayoun, Carole Dane, Matthew Richards and Sam A. Mowry.
Originally aired in the spring and summer of 1935, “The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon” was a very faithful adaptation of the Alex Raymond comic strip, starring Gale Gordon as the heroic Flash, Maurice Franklin as brilliant scientist Dr. Zarkov, and Bruno Wick as evil overlord Ming the Merciless.
WRW has presented individual episodes of “Flash Gordon” at past UFO Festivals, most recently in 2007, but this is the first time the “Brave Earth man” has been at the top of the bill!
For more information about the UFO Festival, check out the McMenamins site. There’s no charge to attend “Marooned on Planet Mongo!” but if you’d like to support WRW, we will have CDs of other WRW shows available for sale before and after.
Come join the Willamette Radio Workshop as we make another journey to Middle-earth with “The Hobbit’s Greatest Hits,” our one-of-a-kind adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic. We start at the beginning and end at the end, but a lucky draw from the hat will take us to “The Trouble with Wargs,” “Roast Mutton,” meeting the “Trolls, Goblins and Riddles in the Dark,” or any number of other mysterious destinations in Middle Earth.
The performance is set for 2pm Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the McMenamins Kennedy School, part of the annual J.R.R. Tolkien Birthday Celebration. The performance is absolutely free, but remember: when you come to Middle-earth, you too may be called into service! Audience participation includes the battle of the Five Armies and a costume contest judged by you, the audience. Prizes will be awarded. What more could you ask for?
The Willamette Radio Workshop is proud to present the 7th annual Halloween audio theater extravaganza at McMenamins Kennedy School on Saturday, October 31st at 4 and 6 pm. This year’s presentation is an original compilation of stories based on “The St. James Infirmary Blues”, featuring live music and foley, and streaming in real time on the internet. “Tales from St. James Infirmary” is a cross between ER, The X Files and EC Comics, featuring stories of zombies, lost loves, murder and revenge – in other words the perfect Halloween confection. You’ll never be unsatisfied with your HMO again.
There will be two programs with eleven stories split between the two. Here’s the schedule so you won’t miss a thing. All shows are free and open to everyone (who has the guts, that is).
First Show 4pm in the Kennedy School Gymnasium:
“St James Sisters” by Cynthia J. McGean. A Civil war tale of Old Man St. James and his seven daughters. Angels of mercy? Well, that’s what they say.
“Old Doc Haggard” by David Ian. The old gang is looking for something to do. Too bad they stumble upon the old, burned out infirmary. Nothing could live in there. Could it?
“Room 413” our first story from William S. Gregory. Join four nurses as they work the graveyard shift. Something bad needs attention in room 413.
“Raising Dan” by William E. Gregory. When you play poker in the bowels of St. James, you’d better be ready to bet your life on it.
“Case Study” 720 by Bryan Mackey. A disturbing case awaits Dr. Seward at the original St. James Infirmary in the White Chapel section of London. What could happen here? We visit an old friend in a new setting.
Second Show at 6pm in the Kennedy School Gymnasium:
“Delicious” by William S. Gregory. Script voted most terrifying by our dramaturge. Sam just thinks it’s a nice chat with an old friend. See who’s right.
“The Reason Why” another by William S. Gregory. Science, fame and fortune are all examined in one moment in time. Have you had your 15 minutes yet?
“The Real McCoy” by Angela McKennie. A jazz aged, snappy patter, fun house ride of love, double crossing and the St. James Infirmary. Somebody gets a happy ending.
“No Shelter” by Afterhell’s own Joe Medina. Raoul loves Jenny; he’d never do anything to hurt her. Well, Jenny might argue the point. If she could.
“The System” by Jan Bear. Every guy has a system. Some work better than others. Some work too well.
“Tesla” by Sam Spackman. Where is Jonathan? Who are those men in black? Questions will be the death of you. Haven’t you learned anything?
CAST AND CREW FOR THE HALLOWEEN SHOW
Tim McKennie, Lindsae Klein, Alyson Osborn, James Dineen, Mark Homayoun, David Loftus, Bryan Mackey, Sarah Rea and Mary Thomas.
Sam A. Mowry is the producer and director.
Cynthia J. McGean is our Dramaturge.
Marty Gallagher- Sound Co-ordinator/Auto harp, David Ian- Foley, Dino de AElfweald- Foley, Randall Howington- Grip/Foley, Lori Day-Reynolds-Mix, Marc Rose- Sound Special Effects and Abelton.
Galen Huckins- Musical Director/Composer. Megafauna and the Classic Revolution are the musicians.
Jeff Hylton-Simmonds- Streaming Mix for Radio 23. Listen in at:
Writers for the full recorded “Tales from the St. James Infirmary” (featuring additional stories) include: Jan Bear, Sandra De Helen, Fred Greenhalgh, William E. Gregory, William S. Gregory, David Ian, Craig Kenworthy, Bryan Mackey, Cynthia McGean, Angela McKennie, Joe Medina, Rolf Semprebon and Sam Spackman. Watch for the full collection of Tales next Halloween on a radio station near you.
Special thanks to Jamie Lawson and Joe Medina/Afterhell, Dry Smoke and Whispers, Jerrel McQuen, Claudine Hemminway, Tapestry Theater and Judy Straasland, West Hills Covenant Church, Filmusik, Classical Revolution, Joanne Gallagher and all our families and friends who make this possible. That means you, you listening audience!
In the summer of 2005, the Willamette Radio Workshop appeared on the OPB Radio program “LiveWire,” performing “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” This is a seven-minute adaptation of the final chapter, written by Cynthia J. McGean and performed by Tim McKennie, Greg Alexander, David Ian, Marty Gallagher, Marc Rose, Atticus Mowry, Robert Kowal and Sam A. Mowry. Posted with permission from “LiveWire.”
“Bats in the Belfry: A Hair-Raising Fund-Raiser” is a Halloween-themed variety show at The Old Church on Sunday, October 25, at 3:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit The Old Church attic to provide safer access and upgrades for better stage lighting and improved insulation/ventilation. Don your costume and bring the family for treats, wine, cider, door prizes, and a chance to win a professionally carved pumpkin.
The fun includes music from pianists Michael Allen Harrison and Susan DeWitt Smith, organist Tom Curry, and violinist Ron Blessinger, Director of Third Angle. PSU’s Student Opera Club will perform excerpts from “Maelstrom, A Zombie Opera”.
The Willamette Radio Workshop is happy to be able to add to the festivities by presenting William S. Gregory’s “Room 413,” especially commissioned for WRW’s Halloween show “Tales From St. James Infirmary.”
The cast includes Mary Thomas, Sarah Rea, Lindsae Klein, David Ian, Martin John Gallagher, Dino de AElfweald and Sam A. Mowry.
Advance tickets are $12.50 (adults), $5 (youth 6-17 years), and free (children 0-5 years) from www.PDXtix.net/oldchurch or 503-205-0715; tickets at the door are $17 (adults), $5 (youth 6-17 years), and free (children 0-5 years).
The unofficial “Audio Theater Month” begins with a preview of Willamette Radio Workshop’s Halloween spectacular, “Tales From St. James Infirmary.” A special sampler of four of these original stories will be presented this Friday evening, Oct 2nd, as part of the “mediartZ: Art as Experiential, Art as Participatory, Art as Electronic” Kick Off Party @ North Bank Artists Gallery (http://www.northbankartistsgallery.com/), 1005 Main St., in downtown Vancouver. This event is free and open to the public.
Willamette Radio Workshop will be doing these Halloween themed audio drama presentations starting at 6pm and then periodically during the evening.
All original stories from a collection of national and local radio dramatists are loosely based around the Jazz classic “St. James Infirmary Blues”. Friday evening’s plays will include “The Legend Of Old Doc Haggard” by David Ian, “In This Cornered” by Craig Kenworthy, “Leaving You is Hell” by Frederick Greenhalgh and “The Reason Why” by William S. Gregory.
The performance will include live Foley Sound Effects by David Ian and Dino de AElfweald Music and Ableton by Martin John Gallagher and Special Effect SFX by Marc Rose.
Our cast includes Mark Loring, Keith Cable, James Dineen, Bill Barry, Bryan Mackey, Mark Homayoun, Lindsae Klein, Sybil Johnson, Mary Thomas and is directed by Sam A. Mowry.
More “Tales From St. James Infirmary will be presented Halloween night at McMenamins Kennedy School at 4 and 6pm.
WRW’s performance of “The War of the Worlds” played to a packed house at the UFO Festival last Saturday. Kevin Cooke was kind enough to shoot some pictures!
The 2009 McMenamins UFO Festival will feature a live radio presentation by the Award winning Willamette Radio Workshop of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. One performance only will be in Mattie’s Room at the Hotel Oregon, 2 p.m. Saturday May 16th, 2009.
The War of the Worlds is regarded as the classic radio drama. The Willamette Radio Workshop has performed this timeless tale on numerous occasions. We have always presented it in the classic Old Time Radio style (OTR), with live sound effects and music. This year we give it the WRW treatment. Creating a blend of the best of the old and new. Our matchless Foley team of David Ian and Martin John Gallagher joins forces with Marc Rose of Dry Smoke and Whispers fame, to create a unique production, true to the original, but original in its own right.
Following in the path of our award winning adaptation of Archibald Macleish’s Fall of the City, join us for a glimpse into radio’s past and future. See what panicked America, launched the career of Orson Welles and proved the devastating power of mass media to an unsuspecting world.
The cast includes Chris Porter, Bryan Mackey, James Lawrence, Todd Tolces and Matthew Richards. Our stage manager is Autumn Lawrence and live sound is by Lori Day-Reynolds.
Original music and sound design by Marc Rose.
Live Foley by David Ian and Martin John Gallagher.
Crowd direction by Martin John Gallagher.
Special thanks to Pat Janowski.
The production is produced, directed and features Sam A. Mowry.
The “Movies in the Park” series from Portland Parks & Recreation continues, offering this weekend the ambitious presentation of the silent classic The Lost World, featuring an original score performed by Filmusik Chamber Orchestra, joined by Willamette Radio Workshop, (Mark Homayoun, Sara Rae, Tim Riley and Sam A. Mowry) plus live Foley sound effects by David Ian and Dino de AElfweald. This masterwork from 1925, a simpler time when claymation monsters ruled the earth and hunted unwitting saps in bowler hats, offers a new challenge to the Filmusik/WRW collaboration. Our group of musicians and actors recreate this classic in the open air under the mega-screen for this one-time-only performance.
The unofficial “Audio Theater Month” begins with a preview of Willamette Radio Workshop’s Halloween spectacular, “Tales From St. James Infirmary.” A special sampler of four of these original stories will be presented this Friday evening, Oct 2nd, as part of the “mediartZ: Art as Experiential, Art as Participatory, Art as Electronic” Kick Off Party @ North Bank Artists Gallery (
