Arch Oboler's Johnny Got His GunJohnny Got His Gun was our second radio drama. It deals with the sensitive issue of veteran post-traumatic stress disorder. We promoted #22ADay to raise awareness for the 22 veteran suicides that occur daily in the United States.
The radio play is based on the book of the same title by Dalton Trumbo. It was adapted for the radio by Arch Oboler. It explores the inner thoughts of a wounded World War I veteran who has "no arms, no legs, no ears with which to hear, no eyes with which to see, no mouth with which to speak." The show originally aired on March 9th, 1940. We aired our show on Saturday, June 13th, 2020 at 2pm. |
Directed & Edited by Bob Johnson
Associate Produced by Kate Greenberg
Associate Produced by Kate Greenberg
Cast
Joe Bonham: Jack Boggan
Kareen: Rosie Garcia
Mother: Jane Culley
Announcer: Harry Minot
Additional Voices: Lola Hughes, Josh Karen, Mary Sheridan, Leif Smith, Nils Swanson
Trumpeter: Molly Brakewood
Kareen: Rosie Garcia
Mother: Jane Culley
Announcer: Harry Minot
Additional Voices: Lola Hughes, Josh Karen, Mary Sheridan, Leif Smith, Nils Swanson
Trumpeter: Molly Brakewood
Cast Biographies
Jack Boggan (Joe Bonham) is a graduate of SUNY Purchase with a double major in Theatre and History. Some of his favorite performances include Hotspur (King Henry IV, Part I), Macbeth (Macbeth), Chauncey Oglethorpe (A Box of Monkeys) and Longshoe (Short Eyes). Jack previously worked with WPKN in War of the Worlds, and is incredibly honored to be a part of its mission to keep theatre thriving during this difficult time. Black Lives Matter.
Rosie Garcia (Kareen) is thrilled to be back working with this team after being Announcer 2 in War of the Worlds! As a current student at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, she is no stranger to the stage, but telling stories with just the voice has been extremely fulfilling. Recent credits include Christmas on Uranus, a comedic musical in which she choreographed and performed. A big thanks to Bob and Kate for organizing this fun and important piece.
Jane Culley (Mother) Multi award winning Off-Broadway and Indie Film actress. 28 Shakespearean leading ladies (favorites include Lady Macbeth, Constance - King John, Elizabeth - Richard III, Hermione - Winter’s Tale), plus First Witch and Nurse in Macbeth at Public Theatre with Raul Julia. Recent other favorites include Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull and directed The Proposal, one woman show The Belle of Amherst as Emily Dickenson. NY Magazine award as Best Actress for Pa’te which won many international awards including Grand Prize at Houston Film festival, Beverly Hills, Wasserman Award at Lincoln Center and was shortlisted for Academy Award nomination for Best Dramatic Short.
Harry Minot (Narrator) started out at WLAD Radio in Danbury CT at age 16. At 19 he began working as a Producer at Compton Advertising in NYC. At 25 he became General Manager of WPKN Radio in Bridgeport, CT, continuing for almost 30 years in a tenure which included that station’s transition to independence from its educational licensee. He has worked as a Customer Service Representative at a call center and as a Security Officer. He hosts a monthly WPKN program on the 4th Wednesdays from 4 to 6:50pm and also records voice acting projects from his soundproof announcer booth. https://www.voices.com/actors/HarryMinot/demos
Lola Hughes (Additional Voices) Recently moved to NYC before the pandemic from Florida, Lola Hughes is a proud alumni of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. An EMC who gained points from Totem Pole Playhouse and Mt. Gretna Playhouse. After graduation, Lola worked with the New Renaissance Theater Company in Pittsburgh, PA doing Shakespeare in the Park. Her play later that year was chosen to be in the Strawberry One Act Festival in NYC in 2019. Since then Lola moved to NYC and began working with companies such as Ripple Effect Artists, this is her first radio show! She is honored and excited to be a part of this production!
Josh Karen (Additional Voices) has had the opportunity to act in many forms, but has never worked on radio drama, and is very proud and excited to have this as his first experience. He’d like to thank Bob, Kate, and the incredibly talented cast and is glad to bring people a distraction during this tough time.
Mary Sheridan (Additional Voices) is the recipient of the 2016 Best Supporting Actress Award for the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Her favorite NYC theatres to work at include: NPTC, The Culture Project, Urban Stages, New York Theatre Workshop & Theatre Row. Her past favorite roles include: Maxine in Tongue of a Bird, Alma in Summer and Smoke, Savage in Savage in Limbo, Ophelia in Hamlet and Ann in All My Sons. Mary has done several short films with J. Boyett (www.jboyett.net), is currently working on a cabaret show and is a Yale University graduate. www.marysheridan.net
Leif Smith (Additional Voices) is a designer, musician, artisan and teacher who lives in Redding, CT. He has emceed and performed at local fairs and festivals for the past 15 years. He designs scenery for several theaters in the region; restores antique homes and furniture; and writes, plays and sings music with the trio My Dad's Truck. This is Leif’s first foray into radio plays.
Nils Swanson (Additional Voices) is originally from Denver, CO but moved to Cortlandt Manor three years ago with his wife Amy. Nils has worked in Theater for the last 30 years and is the Creator and Artistic Director of the newest theater in Peekskill, NY - FORALL Theater (www.foralltheater.com). FORALL Theater, though closed temporarily, is planning to continue this fall with it's first full season.
Molly Brakewood (Trumpeter) has been playing trumpet since she was 8 years old, and has played Taps at a number of community memorial gatherings. She graduated from Port Chester High School this past June and is headed to Cornell University in the fall to study biomedical engineering.