O. Henry’s classic Christmas story “The Gift of the Magi,” originally published in 1905, it is a straightforward adaptation of the beloved classic adapted for radio. It’s the story of a young couple – a man and wife each willing to make deep sacrifices, to show their love at Christmas by giving the perfect Christmas gift to the other.
A Family Christmas Story.
RADIO HOUR is a co-production between Salt Lake City’s Plan-B Theatre Company and the University of Utah’s Public Radio station KUER’s Radio West.
PLAY DETAILS
- CHARACTERS: 2M 1F (No Doubling)
- O. Henry – Narrator
Della – A young newlywed woman
Jim – A young newlywed man
- O. Henry – Narrator
- Period Costumes or contemporary clothes
- Radio Station setting OR full stage setting
- Sound Effects required (can be Foley, recorded, or a mix of both. Music required.)
- 13 minutes
- ORDER #3243.1
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
- A copy of the PERUSAL SCRIPT (in PDF format) which contains half of the script of the play is available, (it also has an extensive Author’s Note.) Gift of the Magi PERUSAL
- The shorter play: THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL is available for production as a self-contained performance HERE
- The shorter play: THE BLACK KNIGHT is available for production as a self-contained performance HERE
- VIEW other plays in the RADIO HOUR Series HERE
- VIEW our list of other plays available as Staged Radio Plays HERE
- LISTEN to the original broadcasts from KUER’s Radio West Productions HERE
PRODUCTION/REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)
- Script in PDF format — Order #3243.1a : $15.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3243.1d : $15
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3243.1e : $15
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
PRODUCTIONS
- Premiered at Plan-B Theatre Company (co-produced by KUER’s Radio West program) — 2016
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
The Gift of the Magi
Part 1 of Episode 9 of the RADIO HOUR Series
by
Matthew Ivan Bennett
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“THE GIFT OF THE MAGI is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
From the catalog of
