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A Note from the Producer
Listening is at the center of radio storytelling where meaning is made as a process of interpretation. To what am I listening to? How does it connect to my life? - John Barber
For this episode of Re-Imagined Radio we feature two exemplary examples of radio storytelling performed by The Willamette Radio Workshop of Portland, Oregon, an award winning company of actors, designers and writers dedicated to continuing the legacy of the Golden Age of radio drama while pushing the boundaries of its future. Active since 2001, The Willamette Radio Workshop presents live performances and studio productions as well as workshops in radio writing and performing in the Portland-Vancouver metroplex.
When Re-Imagined Radio began in 2013, The Willamette Radio Workshop provided performances of “The War of the Worlds,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” “The Fall of the City,” and more. It’s been too long since Re-Imagined Radio hosted a performance by The Willamette Radio Workshop. It’s good to do so now.
For this episode of Re-Imagined Radio, The Willamette Radio Workshop presents two radio stories, one contemporary, the other classic.
The contemporary story is “Hiro & Liling” written by Portland writer Kristina Jones. See below for more information about this performance.
The classic story is “The Martian Death March” written by Ernest Kinoy, the house writer for both Dimension X and X Minus One radio series. See below for more information about this performance.
Both stories illustrate how writers can move difficult subjects to other contexts where they can be discussed with greater ease and insight. Science fiction has long done this with stories set in space or on other planets. Folklore adds the lenses of recollection and reflection as ways of teaching how what happened previously affects our lives today.
As I noted at the beginning of this note, meaning is made by listening. Listen to both stories carefully. Listen to how ambient sounds, sound effects, even music establish a sense of place. What is this place? Do the sounds you hear make it believable? Can you see yourself there, observing, even participating in the action? Combined with the dialogue, which provides even more details, how does this place and the story connect to your life?
By listening carefully you become part of the story. The story becomes part of you. The experience has meaning. Enjoy!
— John Barber, Re-Imagined Radio Producer and Host
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Graphic Design by Holly Slocum Design
Hiro & Liling
Inspired by Japanese folklore, this love story written by Portland, Oregon, writer Kristina Jones, unfolds as a grandfather traces in simple, lyrical language the relationship between a war-hardened Japanese General and a young Chinese girl orphaned by his troops.
The voices of Chris Porter, Laura Faye Smith, Janet Plenner, Genevieve Winters, David Loftus, Atticus Welles Mowry, and Sam A. Mowry, along with original music by Peter Armetta bring this story to life. Directed by Sam A. Mowry.
The Martian Death March
Written by Ernest Kinoy and first broadcast 14 January 1951, the story is told by a Martian colonist who, as a boy accompanied a group of spider-like Martians on a trek from an Earth-imposed reservation to their former homes in the mountains of Mars.
The voices of Christopher Hart, Sam A. Mowry, Karyn O’Bryant, Patt Blem, Scott Jameson, Todd Tolces, and David Ian lend their vocal talents to this story. Directed by Sam A. Mowry.
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The Martian Death March
Allegedly, Ernest Kinoy was inspired to write “The Martian Death March” after reading about American Indians who escaped reservations hoping to find freedom in their former homelands. Possibly Kinoy read about a group of eight hundred Nez Perce Indians, who led by Chief Joseph, left their reservation in Oregon hoping to find freedom in Canada. Chief Joseph led his people across the rough mountainous terrain evading U.S. troops, only to be captured within 40 miles of the Canadian border in 1877. As Chief Joseph surrendered he proclaimed, "Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."
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Hiro & Liling
At once poignant and hopeful, potent and reflective, the story of "Hiro & Liling" represents some of the best writing to emerge from the 2004 Writers-on-the-Air Workshop, directed by Cynthia McGean, and hosted by The Willamette Radio Workshop. Portland based author, Kristina Jones, sought inspiration from Japanese folklore, possibly the story of Meota Iwa (夫婦岩), or The Married Couple Rocks. The Shintoists believe the rocks represent the marriage between Izanagi and Izanami, deities from Japanese mythology.
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Hiro & Liling
Written by Kristina Jones a talented and joyful free spirit, Jones brings to her students over 30 years of experience on a national and international level as a vocal performer, teacher, choral conductor/clinician, band coach, and theater director. She has also served as a dialect coach in five languages and has produced radio programs. She also teaches kundalini yoga meditation classes. Kristina resides in Ocean Park, Washington.
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The Martian Death March
Ernest Kinoy (1925-2014) was born and raised in New York City. His attendance at Columbia University was interrupted by military service during World War II. Captured in Europe by German forces he served time in the slave labor camp at Berga in Thuringia, Germany. Following his release at the end of war, Kinoy graduated from Columbia and became a staff writer at NBC Television in 1948.
Kinoy remained at NBC until 1960 writing scripts for many of the network's television series including Studio One and Playhouse 90. After leaving NBC Kinoy continued writing episodes for popular television series like Doctor Kildare, The Defenders, Route 66, Naked City, and Shane. He also wrote scripts for television movies.
Often overlooked is Kinoy's writing and adapting for radio. He adapted numerous stories by young science fiction writers like Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Philip K. Dick for both Dimension X (1950-1951) and X Minus One (1955-1958). The X Minus One: A Tribute episode of Re-Imagined Radio features Kinoy's adaptation of Ray Brabury's "The Veldt" from its original publication in The Saturday Evening Post.
Kinoy also contributed his own, original, scripts to Dimenision X and X Minus One. Notable is "The Martian Death March" which was first broadcast as episode #34 of Dimension X (14 January 1951), then reprised for episode #17 of X Minus One (8 September 1955), and repeated as episode #75, 14 November 1956. The cast included Ralph Bell, David Seffer, Dick Hamilton, Roger DeKoven, and Lawrence Kerr.
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Behind-the-Scenes Crew
Sound Design by Sam Mowry of Willamette Radio Workshop
Post Production by Marc Rose of Fuse Audio Design
Social Media by Regina Carol Social Media Management and Photography
Graphic Design by Holly Slocum Design
Produced and Hosted by John Barber
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Broadcast
KXRW FM, Vancouver, WA, tune radio to 99.9 FM,
KXRY FM, Portland, OR, (aka XRAY), tune radio to 91.1 FM or 107.1 FM
KUIK AM, Portland, OR, tune radio to 1360 AM
KMWV FM, Salem, OR, tune radio to 98.3 FM
CKXU FM, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, tune radio to 88.3 FM
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Internet Stream
KXRW FM, Vancouver, WA
Point your browser to KXRW.FM, press either the "Listen" or "Live Stream-Listen" buttons at top of page
KXRY FM, (aka XRAY), Portland, OR
Point your browser to KXRY.FM, press the large "Play" button at the top of the page. Or, use the XRAY App, available through the Apple and Android stores.
Or, program Amazon's Alexa to play KXRY.
KUIK AM, Portland, OR
Point your browser to KUIK Internet radio
KMWV FM, Salem, OR
Point your browser to KMWV Internet radio
CKXU FM, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Point your browser to CKXU FM, press the "Play" button at the top of the page.
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August
Monday, 16 August
"Nirvana & Gehenna"
Re-Imagined Radio presents "Nirvana & Gehenna," an original interdimensional documentary produced by three-time Emmy winner Marc Rose, of Portland, Oregon. Three worlds. Three Dimensions. One future.
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September
Monday, 20 September
"Dracula"
Re-Imagined Radio presents "Dracula," the original man in black, based on the legendary novel by Bram Stoker.
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October
Monday, 18 October
"The War of the Worlds"
Re-Imagined Radio presents "The War of the Worlds" to celebrate the anniversary of this most (in)famous radio broadcast ever, and International Audio Drama Day.
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November
Monday, 15 November
Something exciting is in the works . . . stay tuned.
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December
Monday, 20 December
"A Christmas Carol"
Re-Imagined Radio presents "A Radio Christmas Carol," our annual community holiday celebration.
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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RADIO REACH
Reach listeners locally in the Vancouver-Portland metroplex, regionally from Longview to Salem, internationally all across Canada with broadcast episodes of Re-Imagined Radio, and globally with on demand Internet streaming.
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PERFORMANCE AND PROMOTIONAL INCLUSION
Have your company name included in a broadcast and/or placed on promotional posters and social media posts for an episode of Re-Imagined Radio.
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SUPPORTING LIVE ARTS
We believe in the transformative power of live arts in a community. Your sponsorship invests directly into our community by making Re-Imagined Radio possible not only for listeners but also the actors, musicians, engineers, writers and students involved.
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To learn more about sponsoring Re-Imagined Radio, contact our Producer, John Barber.
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Visit Re-Imagined Radio website to stream past episodes and be up-to-date and in the know whether you are relaxing at home or on the go!
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What is Re-Imagined Radio?
Re-Imagined Radio experiments with radio art and drama as community performance and 21st century storytelling. Close your eyes and listen. Let the scripted dialogue and sound effects engage your imagination. Share your thoughts and photos via social media.
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