LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL RADIO PRODUCTION OF "SUPER INDIAN"
| Production staff member Carolyn Dunn and sound effects artist Janna Lopez discuss the production with director William Dufris |  |
| Musicians Vince Whipple and Brian Josephs go over music cues for the live production of "Super Indian." |  |
| Actors Thirza Defoe and Delanna Studi work on a scene from "Super Indian." |  |
In April 2007, Native Voices at the Autry teamed with the Native Radio Theater to produce Arigon Starr's radio comedy series SUPER INDIAN. The programs were directed by William Dufris and featured live sound effects by Tony Palermo and Janna Lopez, with incidental music by Brian Joseph. Three performances were taped live at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, CA. The ten five minute programs were edited and mixed by director William Dufris and broacast on the Native Voice One Radio Network.
Featuring an all-star Native American cast including Kalani Queypo, Robert Vestal, Delanna Studi, Thirza Defoe, Arigon Starr, Kevin Sifieuntes, Gil Birmingham, Tom Allard, Michael Wise, Joseph Sanfelipppo and Michael Matthys, SUPER INDIAN the radio series tells the origin story of Hubert Logan, a young Indian boy who eats tainted commodity cheese and gains super powers.
Show Credits
CAST:
TOM ALLARD as Wampum Baggs, Ficus McFiggus
GIL BIRMINGHAM as Chief Jerry Yellowshirt, Agent 49
THIRZA DEFOE as Tillie Thunder, Priscilla Yellowshirt, Sage
MICHAEL MATTHYS as Diogi, Dr. Eaton Crowe, Bick Bucks
KALANI QUEYPO as Hubert Logan, Super Indian
JOSEPH SANFELIPPO as the Announcer, Technoskin, Twiggus McFiggus, Tribal Policeman
KEVIN SIFUENTES as Derek Thunder, Vito Couer D'Alene, Wallace Ward, Janitor
ARIGON STARR as Flora Logan, Vivian Hardy
DELANNA STUDI as Lena Marie, Carrie Logan, Nurse Jayne, Tori the Dog
ROBERT VESTAL as General Bear, Mega Bear, Cal Van Erik
MICHAEL WISE as Uncle Chester, Mick Logan
Written by Arigon Starr
Directed by William Dufris
Sound Effects Artists: Michel Tyabji, Janna Lopez and Tony Palermo
Musicians: Brian Josephs, Vince Whipple
Engineering by Jeremy Satchel, Chris Johnson
Production Staff: Jennifer Bobiwash, Rose-Yvonne Colletta, Carolyn Dunn, Patty Gomes, John Gregg, Ian Skorodin, Donna Tuggle
Producers: Jean Bruce Scott, Randy Reinholz
Thanks to Hollywood Sound, Frank Blythe, Sue Zizza, National Audio Theater Festivals, Besty Richards, John Gray, Jackie Autry, The Autry National Center
Support provided by Wells Fargo, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, J.P. Morgan Chase, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The James Irvine Foundation, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, Actors Equity, Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and NRT, the Native Radio Theater Project and a special thanks to the Fox Studios.
Co-Production of Native American Telecommunications, Inc. and Native Voices at the Autry.
NRT Co-Executive Producers: Shirley K. Sneve, Randy Reinholz, Producer, Jean Bruce Scott
Click the title to listen. Each episode is approximately five minutes, all are MP3 files.
EPISODE ONE -- "Commod Bod" |
EPISODE SIX -- "Circle of Evil - Wampum Baggs' Revenge" |
| In a mysterious government lab, Dr. Eaton Crowe adds an unstable compound --“Rezium” -- to an ordinary block of commodity cheese in order to enhance its nutritional values. The cheese reaches the Leaning Oak Reservation and is served at a birthday party for Derek Thunder. Derek and his friend Hubert Logan eat the cheese and are drastically altered forever. | Grandma Flora Logan’s disturbing prophetic dreams prompt her to step-up Hubert’s super-hero training. As they train in the tribal forest, Wampum Baggs gathers his “Circle of Evil,” including Vivian Hardy, Bick Bucks, Cal Van Erik, Sage and Twiggus McFiggus to refine their evil plans for the people of Leaning Oak. |
EPISODE TWO -- "The Origins of Wampum Baggs" |
EPISODE SEVEN -- "Bick Bucks' Serenade" |
| Two years later, tribal historian Grandma Logan is interviewed by filmmaker Wallace Ward. When Grandma Logan’s best student, teacher Jörgen Storm takes possession of a wampum belt, a super villain is born. Jörgen transforms into the all-powerful Wampum Baggs and adds devious Derek Thunder as his troublesome sidekick. | When PBS pledge-break darling native flute player Bick Bucks comes to the Leaning Oak Reservation, he has more than a concert in mind. He has evil plans for Grandma Logan and the people of Leaning Oak. Super Indian, Mega Bear and Diogi also discover they have a unique ally with a deep connection to Bick Bucks’ flute. |
EPISODE THREE -- "Technoskin" |
EPISODE EIGHT -- "The Education of Little Twig" |
| Derek Thunder and Wampum Baggs attempt to gain control of the Leaning Oak Reservation by dispatching super robot, Technoskin. At Priscilla Yellowshirt’s bidding the massive metallic hulk zaps the “Indian” out of unsuspecting tribal members, rendering them subservient zombies. Hubert Logan for the first time becomes “Super Indian,” aided by his sidekick “Mega Bear” and their intelligent dog-friend Diogi. | When Hubert Logan loses his job as a janitor at the Leaning Oak Bingo Hall, he’s hired as a tour guide for Twiggus McFiggus, the spoiled, wealthy son of a Scottish industrialist. Twiggus expresses interest in learning the ways of Leaning Oak – however, he has more evil plans for the reservation. |
EPISODE FOUR -- "Moccasin Minute" |
EPISODE NINE '' "Cal Van Erik" |
| The Moccasin Telegraph enters the electronic age as disgruntled new-ager Vivian Hardy takes to the reservation airwaves. Vivian compels everyone to reveal their deepest secrets as she hums and waves the Mystic Crystals of Malibu before their shocked faces. Super Indian, Mega Bear and Diogi are challenged to keep their secret identities under wraps and discover the real power behind Vivian’s crystals. | Native American movie star Cal Van Erik and his assistant Sage arrive on the Leaning Oak Reservation to make a film about the occupation of the Bingo Hall. Sly Tribal Chief Yellowshirt thinks the film centers around him. So does Bingo Hall boss Lena Marie. When the focus shifts to Grandma Logan, Cal Van Erik has a very dangerous surprise for everyone at Leaning Oak. |
EPISODE FIVE -- "The Sock" |
EPISODE TEN -- "Wampum Baggs Defeated" |
| As Super Indian, Mega Bear and Diogi drive to a personal appearance on another reservation, evil villain Wampum Baggs appears out of the clouds, causing the Rez Rocket to crash. Super Indian is unconscious and pinned beneath the car as Mega Bear and Diogi desperately try to find a way to free him before they’re buried beneath an avalanche. | Super Indian, Mega Bear and Diogi arrive at the Bingo Hall to find Wampum Baggs using his evil powers to spin Grandma Logan crazily on the ceiling. Super Indian must use all his powers to resist the temptation of Sage, Cal Van Erik’s taunts and the awesome, destructive power of Wampum Baggs. |