Dear Theater Family,
It is with immense pride and excitement that I welcome you to The Gold Rush Diary of a Greedy Man: The Radio Play, written and directed by INCA Senior: Arielle Garrity. This marks a milestone for our club as it is the first time we’ve taken on the challenge of producing a radio play. It’s been a unique and rewarding journey, and I’m thrilled to share the culmination of our hard work with you.
Watching students step into the role of director never ceases to amaze me. Arielle has taken on this responsibility with incredible dedication, meeting the high expectations I set for anyone leading a production. Directing isn’t easy—it requires vision, perseverance, and the ability to inspire others. I expect the same level of professionalism and quality from student directors as I would bring to a show myself, and Arielle has risen to the challenge beautifully.
This production has been an exercise in creativity and focus for our cast and crew. Unlike a traditional stage play, there’s nothing to watch—this time, we invite you to fully engage with your sense of hearing. Every line, every sound effect, and every pause is crafted to pull you into the world of The Gold Rush Diary of a Greedy Man. It’s a different kind of storytelling that relies entirely on sound to paint vivid pictures in your imagination.
To provide some context for this art form, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fascinating history of radio drama. Radio shows emerged in the early 20th century, reaching their peak in the 1930s and 1940s, often referred to as the "Golden Age of Radio." Families would gather around their radios to listen to thrilling mysteries, comedies, and live performances. Iconic programs like The War of the Worlds (1938) by Orson Welles demonstrated the power of audio storytelling, creating gripping and immersive experiences without a single visual. The immediacy and intimacy of radio connected people to stories in a way that was deeply personal and imaginative.
As you settle in to listen to our production, I encourage you to embrace this time-honored tradition. Let your mind paint the scenes and characters brought to life by the voices, music, and sound effects. This has been both a challenge and a joy for our students to create, and I am confident you’ll find it as engaging as any visual performance.
Thank you for supporting our theater program and for allowing us to explore new creative horizons. Sit back, relax, and let The Gold Rush Diary of a Greedy Man take you on an auditory adventure.
Warm regards,
Ms. Smith
INCA Drama Club Sponsor
