For Immediate Release — Monday, Feb. 13, 2006

Contact:

Mary E. McCrank

Media Relations Officer

(585) 245-5516

mccrank@geneseo.edu

SUNY Geneseo students put a modern twist on Old Time Radio

GENESEO, N.Y. — Old Time Radio will come to life again at the State University of New York at Geneseo as theatre students put on a live performance of "A Scaffold for Two," a story about a group of vigilantes.

"A Scaffold for Two" originally aired in 1974 as an episode of the long-running CBS Radio Mystery Theater. The show was cancelled in 1982 but dedicated followers continue to listen to original episodes available through online trading groups. Geneseo student and director Stephen Swift, a senior theatre major from Oneida, N.Y., got the idea to bring Old Time Radio to Geneseo after attending a performance in California. Live performances are common around Los Angeles and have gained popularity in the age of podcasting, but they are a rarity in this area, says Swift.

"What attracted me to this production," said Sam Mizrahi, a senior theatre major from Canandaigua, N.Y., who is playing the daughter, "is that I've always wanted to do voiceover work, and this is a great opportunity to try something different. It's a very intimate production."

The Geneseo production will feature Foley sound effects, which involves behind-the-scenes actors mimicking sounds in real time with on-stage actors using their voices and assorted props.

"Part of the challenge for the actors will be creating two characters: the role in the script and a showmanship-esque one to play to the audience," says Swift.

Swift updated the script to bring it into the 21^st century, being careful not to tamper with the underlying themes. Swift's version of the script revolves around the sabotage of a private aircraft, whereas the original script focused on a murderer. The lead of the vigilante group, who had originally been a mill owner, is now an oil lobbyist. "My goal is to have the audience think about who has to obey laws coming out of this production," says Swift.

The performance will take place at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in the Black Box Theatre in Brodie Hall. General admission is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Advanced tickets are not required. For more information, contact Swift at (585) 503-4089 or sbswift@gmail.com.

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