Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays

Co-produced by KTOO and Theater Alaska
In association with Juneau Ghost Light Theatre

Join us for the second Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays on KTOO News at 104.3 and 91.7, and online at ktoo.org/listen. The Festival will feature live studio productions of plays by Dave Hunsaker, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Merry Ellefson, Hetty LaVerne, and Kristen Ritter. Also included in the festival programming are new group-written plays by students from Yaakoosgé Daakahídi and Juneau Douglas High Schools, which will be performed by professional actors.

Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays is supported in part by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and the City and Borough of Juneau.

Production Team
Cheryl Snyder Producer - General Manager, KTOO Music & Arts and Vice President KTOO Public Media
Flordelino Lagundino Producer - Producing Artistic Director, Theater Alaska
Cate Ross Producer - Board Vice President, Juneau Ghost Light Theatre
Jennifer Lagundino Producer - General Manager, Theater Alaska
Ryan Conarro Instructor, Theater Alaska/KTOO, Radio Plays in the Schools
Bryan Crowder Production Manager; Assistant Instructor, Theater Alaska/KTOO, Radio Plays in the Schools
Alexandra Wagner Production Manager
Mikko Wilson KTOO 360TV Production Manager
Keith Giles Sound Engineer - Alaska Music One

Schedule:

Friday, January 31 2025

7:00pm - On the air at KTOO

Tune in to the Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays for an encore broadcast of a performance from the 2023 festival. Experience the magic of radio theater- storytelling brought to life over the airwaves. Sit back, relax, and let the theater come to you.

Saturday, February 1 2025

5:00pm - On the air at KTOO

Hear an exciting new work by Juneau playwright Merry Ellefson, paired with fresh, short pieces from the talented students of Yaakoosgé Daakahídi and Juneau–Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé . These student creations were developed as part of a special artist-in-residence project, showcasing the next generation of storytellers.

This unique event is for an invited studio audience only—but you can enjoy it from the comfort of your home, live on your radio. Don’t miss this inspiring evening of local voices and creativity.

Theater Alaska presents:

The Purple Bear
by Merry Ellefson

Once upon a time, there was a little princess 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 Red Wolf 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 Purple Bear invites audiences of all ages into a whimsical, heartfelt tale of transformation, wonder, and the strength it takes to embrace change.

Real Stuff: Addiction & Hope in Juneau
by students at Yaakoosgé Daakahídi

Step into the stories that reveal the hidden battles of addiction in the heart of Juneau, Alaska. Created by the talented student playwrights of Yaakoosge Daakahidi High School and brought to life as a gripping radio play, Real Stuff explores raw, poignant narratives of struggle, love, and redemption.

Time Travel to Stop Climate Change so Mendenhall Glacier Flooding Doesn’t Happen
by students at Yaakoosgé Daakahídi

In the heart of Alaska’s capital city, everything seems chill. But when an ominous phone alert shakes the town, it’s clear that Juneau’s time is running out.

Fight for Feathers & Fur
by students at Juneau-Douglas High School

A vibrant, funny, and heartfelt play set in Juneau, Alaska, Fight for Feathers & Fur explores what happens when two rival high schools are forced to merge. Follow the Narrator, a Brazilian exchange student, as they navigate a whirlwind of rivalries, cultural clashes, and the chaotic fight over parking spaces and basketball captaincies.

The Bear That Wanted to Learn
by students at Juneau-Douglas High School

On a cold morning in Juneau, a bear named Mac breaks free from his glass case at JDHS, driven by a curious hunger for knowledge. He crashes into a marine biology class, where he’s eager to learn about the very fish that fuel his survival: salmon.

7:00pm - Live at KTOO Studio 1A & on the air

Juneau Ghost Light Theatre the presents:

The Case of the Sultry Songstress: A Detective Seau N. Sew Mystery
By Hetty LaVerne

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!

Sunday, February 2 2025

5:00pm - Live at KTOO Studio 1A & on the air

Theater Alaska presents:

The Star of the Palace Grand
by 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.

Amidst the Klondike’s gold rush, the two women—former showgirls and survivors of the rugged West—share stories, secrets, and sharp wit over drinks. Don’t miss this intimate tale of two extraordinary women finding common ground in the frozen heart of the Yukon.

The Last of Shakespeare
by 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.

7:00pm - Live at KTOO Studio 1A & on the air

Theater Alaska presents:

The Spirit of the Valley
by 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?”

Tickets:

General Admission Tickets: $15
Students, Seniors: $10

Full Festival Pass: $35

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Date: January 31 - February 2, 2025

Location:

KTOO
360 Egan Drive,
Juneau, AK 99801

Click Here for more information