This is the first installment of a five-part series on the production of a single Mr|Tots show from start to finished. Parts two through five (editing, music, casting, performance) will be posted over the next two-plus months.
While most of you have probably heard a Mr|Tots production through a live broadcast or a podcast, many might be unaware of the amount of work that goes into each episode of our show. Although we originally chose our projects not one week before they were performed, we now plan sometimes months in advance in order to accommodate our growing cast and take advantage of our increasingly sophisticated resources. The summer months are a valuable time for the Mr|Tots crew, since they offer the chance to prepare for the next batch of shows without the pressure of the Middlebury academic schedule. For the first part of The Making of a Mr|Tots Broadcast, we’ll be examining the process of conceiving of and writing an episode of The Middlebury Radio Theater of Thrills and Suspense. The episode in question: our upcoming production of Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep. As this is an adaptation of a preexisting work, there are differences from the process used for an original piece, but the principles are the same.
Continue reading ‘The Making of a Mr|Tots Broadcast, Part One - Writing’
As part of our continued shameless self-promotion, the Middlebury Radio Theater of Thrills and Suspense encourages you all to head on over to our brand new Facebook Page and declare your support! In the future we’ll be using the page to get in touch with our fans directly and provide you guys with information about our exciting upcoming events. Enjoy, and thanks!
… all things must pass, and even the exciting third season of the Middlebury Radio Theater of Thrills and Suspense can’t go against the wisdom of history’s most underrated Beatle. This year we saw a massive influx of new talent into the group and produced some of our finest work. We also saw the culmination of some of our longest-running series, including Nazi Hunters and Brookshale, and planted the seeds for some exciting new pieces going forward. Among other things, you can expect Season Four to include:
- New installments of The Time Presidents and Chris Kringle: Soldier of Fortune, among others.
- Some thrilling new original pieces from our robust stable of writers.
- New and exciting genre experiments as we continue to push the boundaries of what is both possible and socially acceptable on radio.
- A weekly dramatic serial? It could happen!
- A dazzling cast and crew, featuring your old favorites and a variety of new and exciting voices!
- And, of course, the heaping helping of madness you’ve come to expect from us.
This summer we’ll be working hard to prepare for our September 2008 premiere, and will be making updates to this site. Until we return to the air, we encourage you to listen to our podcast and browse our archives for old material. We’d love to hear what you think of the show, so feel free to contact us as well. Season Four is coming, folks, and we hope to make it our best yet! Until then, on behalf of all of us here at the Middlebury Radio Theater of Thrills and Suspense, thanks for listening.
Derek Long reads the credits one last time.
Credits 3.5×10
The tale of the DuPont clan comes to a close as ownership of Brookshale is decided!
Brookshale 3×5: The Series Finale
Dichotoman kidnapped! The Borrower alone! Doc Broc coping more or less successfully with her emotional problems! And a new hero in town! All this and more in this, the final episode of Noah Mease’s epic New Tales From Kafka City trilogy! Starring Derek Long, Stefan Claypool, Katie Zurbach, Andrew McDonald, and Jessie Gurd as Doc Broc.
New Tales From Kafka City III
Jessie Gurd makes her case.
Student For Hire
