A full-cast audio mystery for kids of all ages.

9 MP3 Songs
KIDS/FAMILY: Children's Storytelling, SPOKEN WORD: Radio Drama

Details:
Itâs the biggest week of the year for the tiny, borderland village of Pembrook, Minnesota. The townâs annual celebration is almost here - but a mysterious stranger is trying to ruin everything. With all the humans busy, itâs up to the Dogs of Pembrook to band together and solve the mystery before itâs too late.

Based on the novel by Mary Casanova
Adapted for audio and directed by Jeffrey Adams
Featuring the voice talents of

Aela Nordrum
Gene Gee
Harley Droba
Jeffrey Adams
Jessica Liggins
Liane Lehtinen
Neill Smith
Rachel Adams
Trelawney Erwin

Text © Copyright 2006 by Mary Casanova
Published by arrangement with Aladdin Paperbacks, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc. © Copyright 2007 by Icebox Radio Theater
www.iceboxradio.org

A brief history of the Icebox Radio Theater

The IBRT began in 2004 when Jeffrey Adams moved to International Falls from Oregon. Adams, a playwright and writer, had won several awards for his work in internet audio drama, and wanted to continue this work in his new home. Through a connection at church, Adams was introduced to Bruce Christopherson, manager of KBHW radio. Christoperson offered Adams airtime, equipment and any assistance necessary to bring live radio drama to KBHWâs sister station, KXBR. Adams suggested forming a theater, and offered the name Icebox Radio Theater after the town, long known as the icebox of the nation.
In May, 2004, a general information meeting was held in the Backus community room. Approximately 30 attended. Encouraged by the turnout, Adams planned to stage the IBRTâs first play in early summer.
In June, the IBRT held a âRadio Bootcampâ to introduce all who were interested in the process of live radio production. Later that month, the IBRT produced its first play, âThe Cabin Next Doorâ live over KXBR.
The following August, the IBRT produced its second play, âLifeboatâ also live on KXBR. Over the next month, Adams took a break from production to prepare a 4-part mini series to be aired in October. On October 23, the first episode of âSnowbankâ went out over KXBR, to be followed by the remaining three chapters on three consecutive Saturday evenings. The mini series featured 14 actors and was done entirely live.
That December, the IBRT performed its first show before a live audience. The I-Falls Covenant Church hosted the theaterâs production of âA Christmas Carolâ featuring a cast of dozens. Proceeds from CD sales of âA Christmas Carolâ represented the first money ever earned by the IBRT.
In January of 2005, the theater presented a program for area 4-H Kids on how to present an radio drama play. The play was well attended.
The dawning of 2005 saw a major leap forward for the IBRT. For the first time, the theater was given access to the much larger network of station KBHW. In February, the theater presented âPeanut Butter & Tofu on Jewish Ryeâ by Andrew Librizzi over KBHW to an audience covering much of Northern Minnesota and Northwest Ontario. This also marked the first time the theater performed a play not written by Adams. In February, the IBRT held its first writers workshop, which was attended by five people.
That spring, the decision was made to begin formalizing the theater into a non-profit organization. Plans were made to gather the IBRTâs first board of directors, and begin the process of filing for non-profit status. In May, the IBRT held itâs first board meeting. Members elected the following officers: Gene Gee, President; Debbie Griffith, Vice President; Neill Smith, Treasurer; Al Johnson, Secretary. Anna Remus served as a junior board member, and Jeffrey Adams was installed as Artistic Director of the theater.
In May of 2005, the theater performed âThe Canterville Ghostâ on KXBR. This would mark the last time the theater would perform on that station.
Over the next few months, many changes would come to the theater. It performed âBuzzâ before a live audience on the band shell stage in International Falls during the 4th of July celebration. It entered into an agreement with John Faith Lasers of International Falls to present a special Halloween show. The IBRT presented a recreation of the old time radio show, âThe Strange Doctor Weirdâ and the original play, âThe Dunesâ. And as Adams looked toward the new year, he envisioned forming the IBRTâs first season, a series of plays presented on a regular basis. The board suggested that the series could be performed before live audiences at Backus Auditorium.

In December, Backus and the IBRT entered into an agreement to share proceeds from a series of plays to begin early in 2006. This income allowed the theater to purchase its own sound system for the first time.
On February 2 2006, the IBRT presented âHave You Anything to Declareâ to an enthusiastic audience. This was followed by âBetween the Pipesâ on March 2, âMinnie Billings, Come Homeâ on March 30, and âTall Bearsâ on May 4. Each show featured a live musical guest and was hosted by Gene Gee.
Rather tired out from the effort, Adams took a month or two off and returned with an abbreviated presentation in the Bandshell on the 4th of July. The IBRT then re-staged âTall Bearsâ at the Koochiching County Centennial Picnic on August 5th. On August 30th, the IBRT returned to the Bandshell stage for a show featuring multiple musical guests, skits and funny commercials, and the world premiere of âThe Mermaidâ. The show was offered free to the public but still made money due to donations from area businesses.
In October, the IBRT renewed its agreement with John Faith to present a recreation of the old time radio show âRevolt of the Wormsâ and the original play âThe Batsâ. Following this performance, Adams secured funding for a broadcast of the show on station KSDM, International Falls. KSDM, always on the lookout for local programming, entered into negotiations with the theater to present the IBRT as a regular series. Adams assembled the series out of existing shows, and in November, IBRT â Season One premiered on KSDM with the Espresso Lane, Ballan Furniture and Tru Star Credit Union as sponsors.
On December 27, the theater offered a youth workshop that was attended by six area kids. A good time was had by all as the group was introduced to the technical and artistic concepts behind both live radio drama, and studio recorded radio drama.
In January, 2007, the IBRT mounted its most ambitious show yet. Area bluegrass band Sloughgrass was retained as musical guest for the world premiere of âDogwatch: Trouble in Pembrookâ a play based on the novel by Rainer childrenâs author Mary Casanova. A variety of comic skits rounded out the show, and the event earned the IBRT itâs biggest paying audience to date.
A week later, the cast gathered again to record their efforts in the basement of KBHW. The recording will be edited together with sound effects and music to create the most polished and professional IBRT play to date.
In February, the theater had another first as a new cast gathered in the basement of Backus to record, âBuzzâ a year-old script that had not recorded properly on the 4th of July, 2005. For the first time, and IBRT show was recorded and edited âIn-Studioâ. The process opened up the world of radio theater to a whole new group of actors more comfortable with the concept of studio work than live audience. âBuzzâ aired on KSDM on March 3, 2007.

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