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Category Archives: Radio Hour: Alice

Cheryl Ann Cluff’s most memorable Plan-B sound design

Cheryl Ann Cluff

Cheryl Ann Cluff

Cheryl Ann Cluff co-founded Plan-B in 1991 and is the company’s Managing Director. She has directed MESA VERDE and all five RADIO HOURs, including RADIO HOUR: FRANKENSTEIN (Utah Broadcasters Association Gold Award, Best Radio Feature Story or Program) and RADIO HOUR: ALICE. She has designed sound for most Plan-B productions since 2000, most recently SHE WAS MY BROTHER and BORDERLANDS.

My most memorable design experience was probably for our production of Mercury Theatre’s THE WAR OF THE WORLDS back in 2002. This show is most memorable for me from a sound design perspective because it was my first experience designing sounds that were performed live, on stage by a foley, using various objects to create the sounds, pretty much like they did back in the Golden Age of Radio in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Absolutely no sounds were pre-recorded for that show, which was a first. I co-designed sound with Cory Thorell and I was also the live foley on stage during the run of the show.

I had designed sound for live radio drama for the 1996 production of RADIO MACBETH but it the sounds for that show weren’t completely live sounds performed by a foley on stage. A good majority of sounds were prerecorded with a few live effects, and none of them were actually performed live in front of the audience. I was the foley for that show, and I ran sound and performed the live effects in a small closet off stage at the Art Barn. Don’t ask why I was in the closet (literally, not figuratively) – it’s a rather long, stupid story and not a terribly exciting one at that.

Then, later in 1998, I designed live sound for an original adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s THE RATS IN THE WALLS, which was included in THE PBTC RADIO SHOW. But there were only a few effects for that show, some of which were also pre-recorded.

Another reason THE WAR OF THE WORLDS really stands out for me mostly because, well, it’s the infamous THE WAR OF THE WORLDS where, in the original Mercury Theatre production, listeners actually thought the earth was being invaded by aliens. So it felt like the impact of the show would be more memorable with all the history behind it. Oh, AND THEN, the attack on the World Trade Center had occurred the prior year, and some of the descriptions in the script of explosions and buildings burning and falling down were just uncanny. With that being so fresh and in the country’s immediate consciousness, we knew there would be obvious comparisons to the events on 9/11.

Cheryl Ann Cluff

Cheryl Ann Cluff

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS was much more of a creative and emotional challenge than any other production (with the exception of the emotional challenge connected to THE LARAMIE PROJECT).

Please click here for information on Plan-B’s 2011/12 season, featuring three world premieres by Utah playwrights!

END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE RUN RADIO HOUR: ALICE (runs thru October 31, 2009) – David Evanoff, Composer/Musician

The music for RADIO HOUR: ALICE was composed in cinematic fashion. I recorded a read-through of the radio drama and then sat at the piano to come up with the score outline. The piano sketch was then orchestrated into brass, strings, percussion, guitar and keyboards.

Everything was recorded as MIDI information so once I got into rehearsal with the cast I was still able to quickly change tempos, entrances, cut-offs and make things longer or shorter depending on the actors’ mood or pace.

Once I had a good idea of the speed and direction of the live show, I then brought in my live performance. I play keyboards, guitar and even my iPhone live along with the recorded material.

I have really enjoyed the script this year. I felt it had a perfect blend of darkness and humor. The script, and later the actors’ interpretations, led me to create clever music. Funny at times, often scary or psychedelic, I’m proud as hell of this year’s show and the music that accompanies it!

Don’t miss it…

END OF REHEARSAL WEEK #2 RADIO HOUR: ALICE (October 22-31, 2009) – Emma Munson, Actor

WOW. We open in four days! AHHH! Honestly the show has come together really well. This has been the most amazing experience for me. I could not have asked for a better cast, crew and director.

It never ceases to amaze me how talented the rest of the cast is. Bill is the perfect Psychopomp…he’s so scary and great. And don’t even get me started on Jay, Tobin and Teresa. How they do so many fantastic voices is beyond me. Everyone in the cast is so friendly and hilarious, and they do such a great job bringing Matt’s marvelous script to life.

Now the crew…here do I even start? Well, we can start with Jen, the stage manager. She is so amazing. I don’t know what we would do without her organization, patience and candy bottle. Cory and Daisy, two of the nicest people I know, are working on foley. The show has really come to life because of them. Then there’s Dave, the most talented composer/music performer ever. He was so patient when he was working on the last song with me and I am so grateful he’s there with his fantastic creepy music. Jesse the light designer and Eric and Mark the sound guys make everyone look and sound great! And I can’t tell you how thankful I am for Cheryl. She’s so agreeable and patient. She is the best director!

This show has definitely been one of the best experiences I have ever had and I’m so grateful to get to do it. I can’t wait to start the run and let the public come and experience our Wonderland…if they dare.

END OF REHEARSAL WEEK #1 RADIO HOUR: ALICE (October 22-31, 2009) – Bill Allred, Actor

Thank God we have Jen, the stage manager with a big bottle of candy. I keep forgetting how hard being an actor can be. It’s tedious; going back over the same things time and time again. It’s hard on your vocal chords; poor Teresa as the Queen has to shout ‘Off with her head!’ time and time again. And there’s the fact that, for people like me, you come to rehearsal for four hours of work after you’ve already put in your time at a day job.

But how rewarding too. It’s just incredible to be around creative people like Tobin, Jay, Teresa and Emma as we do our part to bring the RADIO HOUR: ALICE script that Matt has given us to life. Cheryl, the director, is great too; pointing us in the right direction and then giving us room to create.

We’ve already been working with the sound effects for the show…and the music too, yesterday. Cory with the foley design and Daisy doing the actual foley work in the background. It’s all coming together so nicely I think. And Dave Evanoff, who is creating the music, is one of my favorite people ever.

I really like this. I don’t think I can possibly convey how much. I think it’s going to be a fantastic show. And I really love a stage manager who comes to rehearsal with a big bottle of candy!

Thanks everyone, for letting a radio guy come and be a part of the Plan-B RADIO HOUR: ALICE experience.