An action/comedy about a major US metropolis becoming a sanctuary city for notorious criminals in the 1920s and 1930s. And it’s all true. Like the dramas that aired during the golden age of radio, this historical fiction blends genres in an immersive podcast adventure.
This is an unusual project as it is like an episodic TV Series but audio only. This takes place in 1920s Minnesota, so an old-time midwestern/Fargo-ish accent is best.
ROLES:
LEON (Male, 25-50) – An endearing hustler, average citizens love him—he even has a jar on his desk to pay off people’s parking tickets and settle other minor squabbles. But make no mistake, he’s the criminals main conduit to political power, and that kind of money and power can’t help but corrupt. Leon is even-keeled and calculated.
BURT (Male, 20-40) – Burt Stevens is our entry point to the story and the city. He’s young, adventurous, and so naive he actually thinks he’s street smart. While he might not be stupid, he’s no stranger to bad decisions. Burt can be a good best friend for one night on the town, but is a lousy guy to have to depend on for much more than that. He thinks things will be easy in Saint Paul—how clever can crooks really be?—and is determined to make a quick buck. He thinks he’ll be able to find some legendary loot that’s rumored to be hidden in the caves under the city, but everyone else knows that’s a long shot. Even still, he hears stories of Saint Paul and knows there’s money to be made.
NINA (Female, 25-80) – She’s made her fortune running an elegant brothel that’s a bonafide resort to the criminal class. But she’s never above some extremely lewd conversation. Nina’s sex-positive charm can be deceptive. She’s as powerful as any of the men in town. Voiceover Reference (Maria Bamford playing her mother, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz1XVNtshqA)
DAN (Male, 25-70) – Dan doesn’t have an enemy in town, but he does dress suspiciously nice to simply be the owner of his hotdog cafe. Probably because he’s also a gangster’s banker, a fence for money laundering, and the liaison between criminals and the police. Dapper Dan seamlessly toggles between threatening and overly nice, making him comical to some and confusing to others.
SAMMY (Male, 20-35) – “The Most Arrested Man in Saint Paul” approaches everything with careful calculation, piercing honesty, and empirical rigor. He’s a former lightweight champion, up and down the east coast, and he’ll still make a suit for any man up to 142 pounds that can best him in the ring. Loud about everything except his criminal enterprises, he’s currently bootlegging in a bungalow down the street from Hamline University.
MISC (Male/Female, 20-60) – We’re also seeking a voice artist that can do multiple voices for numerous smaller roles. Think Hank Azaria.
