Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays was co-produced by KTOO and Theater Alaska in association with Ghost Light Theatre
The Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays was presented January 31, 2025 – February 2, 2025 on 104.3 and streamed at ktoo.org. The Silver Wolf aka Roselupus, The Case of the Sultry Songstress: A Detective Seau N. Sew Mystery, The Last of Shakespeare, Star of the Palace Grand, Shift and Spirit of the Valley were performed before a live studio audience and simultaneously broadcast.
We are posting only the audio we have permission to share on-demand.
PROGRAM
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The Silver Wolf aka Roselupus by Juneau playwright Merry Ellefson.
Once upon a time, there was a little prince named Roselupin—locked in a tower, or so the old story says. But what if the tower is a house on Starr Hill? Or Blueberry Hill? Or Pederson Hill? In this fresh, enchanting fable inspired by Margaret Shannon’s The Purple Bear and the untamed beauty of Juneau, Roselupin embarks on a journey to uncover what it means to be wild, to feel worry, to find courage, and to grow. The Silver Wolf invites audiences of all ages into a whimsical, heartfelt tale of transformation, wonder, and the strength it takes to embrace change.
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The Case of the Sultry Songstress: A Detective Seau N. Sew Mystery by Juneau playwright Hetty LaVerne.
Presented by Juneau Ghost Light Theatre
Detective Seau N. Sew, a 1940s gumshoe, is hired by the vivacious Bubbles Halloway to investigate a mysterious and poetic threat. *Thunder clap* Can he suss out the perpetrator among a slew of suspicious characters? Find out in this original noir dramedy!
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The Last of Shakespeare, new work by Anchorage playwright Kristen Ritter.
In this heartfelt and haunting comedy, a determined theater producer fights to keep her late parents’ dream alive: the beloved small-town Summer Shakespeare Festival. But when the mischievous ghost of a young William Shakespeare appears, his singular goal is to bring the curtain down for good. As passions clash and secrets unfold, this quirky tale weaves laughter, love, and legacy into a battle for the soul of the stage. Will the festival’s magic survive, or will Shakespeare have the final word? Find out in The Last of Shakespeare—a story where the past and present collide in a battle for artistry and identity.
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Star of the Palace Grand, new work by Juneau playwright Dave Hunsaker
Step into the Yukon of 1900, where two larger-than-life women cross paths in the glittering yet gritty Palace Grand Emporium of Dawson City. The Star of the Palace Grand brings to life the (allegedly true) meeting between Mae McKamish Melbourne Meadows, common-law wife of showman Arizona Charlie, and Josephine Marcus Earp, partner to the infamous Wyatt Earp.
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Shift by Edgar Mendoza
After losing his father to a devastating flood, Ronaldo travels to the Philippines to find the mysterious instructions his father promised to leave him. At his father’s ancestral home, he’s confronted by strangers, each with their own version of the truth about the instructions. As the conflicting accounts pull him in different directions, Ronaldo must decipher what’s real and what’s a lie. In a race against the storm, he faces a life-altering decision—one that could change everything he thought he knew about his father.
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Spirit of the Valley, by Juneau playwright Frank Henry Kaash Katasse
Join Tlingit twins Kaash and Shaa on a thrilling adventure through the majestic Alaskan wilderness! Separated during a family trip, they must face ferocious Wolves, outwit a rap-battling Raven, and reason with a dramatic Bear as they search for the mysterious Spirit of the Valley—and a way to protect the land they love.
Perfect for audiences of all ages, The Spirit of the Valley blends humor, heart, and a vital message about caring for the natural world. Join us for an inspiring, family-friendly adventure that asks, “What role will you play in preserving the beauty of the earth?”
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Festival Funders
The festival received funding from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional funding from the Rasmuson Foundation, The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and the City and Borough of Juneau, and The Juneau Community Foundation.