CPF Radio Hour – Create an Audio Play or Series

Are you interested in creating a new audio series or play?

Audio theatre isn’t limited in scope like stage plays are. You can bring interstellar beings, dystopian cities, and even druid magic to life! All it takes is a little imagination. Keep reading to learn more.

The CPF Radio Hour is a pre-recorded podcast with a 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

Please send all inquiries to CPFRadioHour@gmail.com.

Pitching an Audio Play or Series

Audio Plays

• Submissions should be at least 10 minutes long
• Submissions longer than 30 minutes may be divided into two or more episodes (“parts”).
• 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 of the email
• 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 of the email.
• 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.

Additional Submission Guidelines (plays and series)

• Submissions should incorporate 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 normally “too difficult” to stage like horror, fantasy, and science fiction work well for audio plays.
• Don’t 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.
• Don’t incorporate copyright-protected music into your story.
• 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!

What Happens Next?

Timeline

It takes approximately 1 year to produce a radio series or play, depending on the length of the script and the complexity of the intended soundscape.

Voice Talent

The playwright is welcome to suggest voice talent for the characters, but it is not required. We know a lot of talented performers, and many of them are in the voice talent business. And we always recommend hosting auditions.

Streaming

The fully produced audio play or series will be free-to-stream on our podcast site. You and others will be able to download the audio file directly from the website.