The dates below indicate the date we upload each play to our website (usually around 10 PM Pacific time). You can listen to "Shoestring Radio Theatre" on-demand or find out how to tune into one of our radio broadcasts on our homepage.
November 27 and December 4
Vinegar Hill
In 1879, Kate Webster was put to death for the terrible act of murdering Mrs Martha Thomas. But who was this Victorian woman and what drove her to commit such a heinous crime?
- Written by ................ Alan Kilpatrick
- Directed by ............... Steve Rubenstein
- Produced by ............... Steve Rubenstein
December 11
I Saw You First
A botanist who claims she can electronically talk with plants, makes trouble for the community and herself.
- Written by ................ E. M. McGinnis
- Directed by ............... Marilyn Hughes
- Produced by ............... Monica Sullivan
December 18 and 25
A Christmas Carol
A radio drama adaptation of the classic 1843 character study of a man who isolates himself from the world only to discover, almost too late, his need for love and friendship
- Written by ................ Charles Dickens
- Adapted and Directed by ....Paul Dougherty
- Produced by ............... Monica Sullivan
January 1, 8 and 15
Amazing Struggles
We return to the year 1937 when science fiction writers really needed to yearn for a utopian future. A witty vision of dreamers in conflict during the Great Depression is captured in this 3 part satire.
- Written by ................ Hugh A.D. Spencer
- Directed by ............... Jeff Wincek
- Produced by ............... Monica Sullivan
Founding Producer
Producer
Artists-In-Residence
- Greeta Ahart
- Rob Avila
- Dawn Bailey
- Tom Backos
- Heather Clisby
- Tamar Cohn
- Cynthia Cravens
- Erik R. Deckers
- Stephen Dietz
- Chrissy Dodds
- Kathy Dominici
- Paul Dougherty
- Melissa Flower
- Geoffrey Gallegos
- Julie Long Gallegos
- Charlene Godard
- Geoff Godard
- Frances Germeshausen
- Virginia Handley
- Mim Herzenstein
- Russ Hickman
- Marilyn Hughes
- Steven Kacsmar
- Byron Lambie
- Adam Ling
- Ian Mackenzie
- Pam Mackenzie
- George McRae
- Frank Munnich
- Paul Nowack
- Annette Oliveira
- Randy Parker
- Louis Parnell
- Nico Pemantle
- Damien Pickering
- LeAnne Rumbel
- Bryan Session
- Anne Stone
- Darryl Standring
- Randolph Varney
- Clinton Vidal
- B.K. Wells
- Perry Whittle
- Jeff Wincek
- Jonathan W. Wind
Webmaster
Submission Guidelines
"Shoestring Radio Theatre" accepts submissions from writers. We are always looking for good, original radio plays of any genre. We have produced dozens of scripts submitted by writers from all over the world who originally found us on the web.
Format
Your script needs to be a radio play (i.e. no stage directions or visual cues). We do not accept stage plays or screenplays. Radio drama scripts should include only things you can hear—i.e. dialogue, sound effects and music cues (stings, transitions, etc.). Radio drama scripts should also include a synopsis of the story, and a cast list of characters. There is no industry standard for radio drama script layout, so we will leave the exact formatting up to you; just make sure that it's easy to distinguish the dialogue from the sfx and music.
Length
To fit into our weekly 30-minute broadcast, plays can be a maximum of 28 minutes long (most scripts are about one minute per page but it depends on the formatting). Therefore, we accept 25-28 minute plays (which air in one part) and 50-56 minute plays (which air in two parts). We also accept shorts, which can be up to 10 minutes in length.
Fame Not Fortune
As a non-profit organization which really does operate on a shoestring budget, we do not pay for scripts at this point in time. However, if we produce your play, we absorb all production costs and it will air nationally on public radio stations across the country. You will also receive a copy of the finished production.
Agreement
If we accept your script, we will send you a writer's agreement, which:
- Grants us permission to produce your script
- Grants us Public Broadcasting rights to the finished production
- Grants you, the writer, all rights to the original script
Feedback Policy
Unfortunately, due to the volume of scripts we receive, we cannot provide feedback on your scripts.
Please do not be discouraged if we reject your submission. We reject scripts for any number of reasons,
including excessive length, unsuitable content, and sometimes writing quality. Unfortunately, even if we
really like the idea, we do not have time to work with writers to improve their scripts. Our advice is to
keep writing as much as possible to gain experience, show your scripts to others for feedback, and take
writing classes if you feel it would be helpful. Good luck!
Mailing Address and Email Address
We accept both hard copies of scripts and email submissions (Microsoft Word, PDF or Text file).
Please use the contact info below.
Below are links to other radio drama resources on the web. If you would like to add your web site to this list, please email its name, its URL, and a brief description to .
The Ancient Radio Players
A troupe of radio theatre performers who do live and studio shows, ranging from adventure-serials to horror, comedy and variety.
Atlanta Radio Theatre Company
Best known for their adaptations of the works of H.P. Lovecraft, the ARTC "performs, records, and broadcasts fully dramatized, fully sound-scaped audio dramas." Their catalog includes everything from the horror of Lovecraft, to the seminal science fantasy of H G Wells, to their own original works in dark fantasy, science fiction, romance, pulp adventure, and comedy. The site includes a good index of links to other radio drama sites.
Audiotheater
A resource page for finding audio theater and producing it.
Crunchy Frog Comedy
Crunchy Frog Comedy is a comic "radio" show inspired in large part by Monty Python's Flying Circus. The show features original comedies (sketches and plays) written and performed by the Crunchy Frog Players, many of whom are also involved in Shoestring Radio Theatre.
Radio Repertory Company of America
"Producers of Original Suspense/Comedy for the Audio Medium." Titles include "The Stealer of Souls" with special appearance from "Married with Children" star Katey Sagal, "Garson Krebs: Private Eye" which aired on NPR Playhouse, and "The Brooke Sisters" in which two wonderfully eccentric ex-criminals help solve murders.
Tony Palermo's RuyaSonic Site
Info related to radio drama including script writing/formatting, music, sound effects, engineering, directing, old radio shows and more. Hosted by Tony Palermo, a radio dramatist, director and composer living in Los Angeles, California. He has written, adapted and scored numerous radio plays for the Museum of Television & Radio's Los Angeles branch.
Staff Web Sites
Visit the personal web sites of SRT staff members!
Erik Deckers' Laughing Stalk
Writer Erik Deckers (who wrote our Slick Bracer P.I. comedy series) has a web site which contains several humor pieces he's written for The Wakarusa Tribune and The Mishawaka Enterprise, two small papers in Northern Indiana.
Emusements.com
This web site by writer/director/webmaster Randy Parker includes his blog and creative portfolio.
Nico Pemantle: Singer/Songwriter
Writer-director Nico Pemantle is also a singer/songwriter. His web site includes a biography, information on his two albums (and how to mail order them), and six songs which you can listen to online.
