The CPF Radio Hour is a podcast series that produces original, immersive audio plays and serials by North Carolina playwrights. Sponsored by the Cary Playwrights’ Forum, the CPF Radio Hour serves as a creative opportunity for dramatic writers who have stories that reach beyond the stage.  Every audio play recording is made available online with the aim to share these unique stories with the world.

The CPF Radio Hour was created by Glenn Greggs, who wanted to showcase plays from up and coming playwrights in a “play-it-by-ear” live radio format. The CPF Radio Hour premiered on April 11^th 2017, broadcasting out of the WCOM 103.5 FM radio station in Carrboro. Glenn produced and hosted the first season of the program from April 2017 until July 2018 – a total of 49 episodes that included live radio plays, interviews with local artists, and spoken word pieces. Christian O’Neal picked up the show for its second season, hosting 32 episodes between July 2018 and May 2019.

The CPF Radio Hour is currently a pre-recorded podcast with a renewed focus on developing original, immersive audio plays and serials. Production is driven by the writers rather than deadlines and writers are provided resources to workshop scripts before production begins. The CPF Radio Hour is a resource and a creative outlet for North Carolina playwrights, but any writer with a connection to NC is encouraged to submit their work.

Current Producer:       Christian O’Neal

Want to be a part of it?

• The CPF Radio Hour and Cary Playwrights’ Forum are equal opportunity platforms. All are welcome.
• If interested in submitting an audio play or a proposal for a new series, please see the section for SUBMISSIONS below.
• If interested in lending your voice talent, please see the section for PERFORMERS.
• If interested in producing, designing, or editing radio shows, please see the section for PRODUCERS.
• If interested in listening to previous episodes, please see the ARCHIVE section.

Please send all inquiries to CPFRadioHour@gmail.com.

Submissions

Audio Plays

• Submissions should be 10-30 minutes long.
• Submissions longer than 30 minutes may be divided into two or more episodes.
• Shorter submissions are easier to produce and may have a quicker turn around than longer submissions.

• Submissions should be written in standard play format or standard radio play format. Here is a PDF, video, and example covering “Standard Manuscript Format for Stage Plays”, and here’s one for “RADIO DRAMA FORMAT”.

• Submit scripts as a .doc or .pdf to submissions@caryplaywrightsforum.org. Include “CPF RADIO HOUR SUBMISSION: <Name of Script>” in the subject line.
• Submitting an audio play does not guarantee that it will be produced.
• Due to production timelines, available slots for audio play production will be limited.
• The producer may contact you for questions and feedback concerning your submission.

Audio Series

• An audio series consists of four or more episodes.
• Episodes can vary in length but should be between 10-30 minutes.
• Episodes should have at least one recurring character.
• No anthology series unless there is a cohesive theme or connection between each story.
• If you are interested in developing an audio series, send a proposal email to CPFRadioHour@gmail.com. Include “CPF RADIO HOUR SERIES PROPOSAL: <Name of Playwright>” in the subject line.
• The proposal email should describe the setup of the series in six sentences or less. Make sure the genre, tone, and major themes of the series are communicated. Alternatively, the playwright may submit a pilot episode.
• Include an expected number of episodes in the proposal email.
• Due to production timelines, available slots for audio series production will be limited.
• The producer may contact you for questions and feedback concerning your proposal.

Further Guidelines

• Submissions should utilize sound effects, take advantage of talented voice actors, and allow the audience to exercise its imagination. Audio plays are not limited by setting, cast size, or genre.
• Genres that are normally “too difficult” to stage like horror, fantasy, and science fiction work great for audio plays.
• You don’t have to worry about finding the voice talent. We have a growing list of talented performers eager to bring your stories to life.
• Listen to old radio plays and modern audio plays to get an idea of what works for the format.
• The Cary Playwrights’ Forum exists as a resource for dramatic writers. If you have any questions on how to write or adapt an audio play – send us those questions!

Performers

Please send your resume and a brief bio to CPFRadioHour@gmail.com. If possible, please include an attachment or link of a voice sample. Make sure your resume lists previous acting, voice, or radio experience and highlights other vocal talents (impressions, dialects, animal calls, etc).

Performers are credited at the end of every episode and every episode will be made available online. Performers will be contacted when an episode is released.

Producers

If you are interested in producing, sound editing, sound effects design, and/or editing for the CPF Radio Hour, please send your resume and a brief bio to CPFRadioHour@gmail.com. Also send any questions you may have.

Archive

Links to podcast recordings before June 2019 here.

10-31-2020: NC Radio Play Festival – Halloween! Co-produced with Creative Greensboro, 10 NC-written short plays

6-28-2020: Episode 8 of THE SPIRE (previous episodes: 7  6  5  4  3  2  1 , written by Larry Bliss – here’s the series preview)

9-9-2019: Episode 3.6 The Deadly Blonde Caper by Phil Koch (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 12:01. CAST: Christian O’Neal, Rhonda Lemon, Carl Nubile

9-9-2019: Episode 3.5 Crunch by Mike Brannon (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 10:01. CAST: Thom Haynes, Sarianna Gregg, Carl Nubile

9-9-2019: Episode 3.4 Worst Birthday Ever by Jini Zlatniski (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 5:19. CAST: David Klionsky and Tim Coyle

9-2-2019: Episode 3.3 Cruise Queens by Clinton Festa (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 13:09. CAST: Stephanie Simon, Rita Hewell, Sierra Smith, David Klionsky, Tim Coyle

9-2-2019: Episode 3.2 Oh Rapture, Up Yours by Cari Hopson (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 13:12. CAST: Sierra Smith, Nat Conti, Bob O’Connell, Jason Christ

9-2-2019: Episode 3.1 An Unlikely Concert by Karin Willet (Greensboro Playwrights Forum) – 8:05. CAST: Noelle Azarelo, Joel McLaughlin, Randy Thompson

4-9-2019: ‘Results’ of the Radio Play Contest Voting!!! Winners in two categories will be announced.

3-19-2019: Radio Play Contest Entry #5 – “Rick Danger: The Kase of the Kidnapped Kerbopple” (47:25), featuring music by Thursday’s Flight

3-12-2019: Radio Play Contest Entry #4 – “Black Spectre: A Trail Grown Cold”  (50:01),  featuring music by Kevin MacLeod

2-26-2019: Radio Play Contest Entry #2 and #3 – “The (Dog) Park”  (9:16) and “A Guy Walks Into a Bar” (10:43)

2-19-2019: Radio Play Contest Entry #1 – “The Daughter in the Basement” (11:47)

2-12-2019: “The Great Celestial Cow” (Burning Coal) with Seema Kukreja

2-5-2019: “The Misadventures of Darklight and Nightbird” by Doug Simpson

1-8-2019: “This Doesn’t End Well” at Sonorous Road – interview with local playwright Brook North. Bonus! Announcement of the five finalists for the CPF Radio Play Contest!

• Hillarie – Kristen Dewey
• Pam McClure – Sallie Ann

5-9-2017 – replay of “Designer Darlings” (4/11/17) and “Sister From The Lake” (4/25/17).

• Karen – Carol Oleson
• Nicky – Kyle Mears

4-25-2017 “Sister From the Lake” by Debra Kaufman. Isabelle has lived in by herself for a long time and explains to the county sheriff about a strange visitor who came to her during a storm.

• Isabelle – Cheryl Edson
• Samantha – Rebecca Jones
• Arnold – Sean Malone

4-18-2017 “All Inclusive” by Libby Heily

• Kurt Benrud
• Kat Froehlich
• Nicola Lefler
• Christian O’Neal

4-11-2017 “Designer Darlings” by Glenn Greggs – the inaugural broadcast. Two women meet with Not A Doctor to get advice on how to raise their child.

• Nina – Kat Froehlich
• Andrea – Seema Kukreja
• Duck – Glenn Greggs