Radio Drama Revival

Our audio horror 'treats' continue this week with a new discovery (to us) - the fantastic talents of Campfire Radio Theater. The tale we have for you today is the spooky classic ghost-story with fresh take tale "Hungry Hollow." A few hikers disappear in the woods and find a lost woman. The ravishing runaway sets up a series of twisted consequences. As shadows grow longer, a hideous truth emerges regarding the campfire legends of a wrathful old woman said to inhabit the valley. Creator John Ballentine tells us it was recorded in the woods using a Zoom H2 recorder, and as you know we're suckers for field recording. The location recording gives the production this fresh, gripping, 'you are watching this happen' sense of urgency that makes the creepy direction of the story oh-so-much-more-effective. The post Episode 353 – Entering the “Hungry Hollow” with Campfire Radio Theater appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

This week's show we feature a few horror classics - first, the WB Yeats controversial classic "Purgatory," about an old man and a boy standing outside the charred remains of a house, where souls don't rest easy.  It was produced by the late Yuri Rasovsky and is part of the "Tales for a Stormy Night" collection, available on Downpour.com and Audible.com (Get it free with a 30-day trial of Audible, audibletrial.com/radiodrama). Next up, off the "Horrorscopes" collection by the Audio Comics Company, we feature the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Cask of Amontillado." Because, really. Don't go in deep dark caverns alone with a dude looking for wine. What the hell are you thinking? The Halloween horror lead-up continues... The post Episode 352 – Entering ‘Purgatory’ and Down Deep Looking for a Wine Cask… appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

We are thrilled that the razorblade-sharp-whit-theyre-coming-for-you-and-UFOs-really-landed-and-stole-your-grandma-kinda-sorta-maybe-radio-drama Nightvale has become a sensation.  From the poorly lit studio of a strange, strange town in god-only-knows-where, these 'reports' confirm every warning sign you've ever heard.  We're hooked, Tumblr's hooked, and you should be too, though as a loyal listener to this podcast you've heard all kinds of great eerie radio shows before now... We look back to the sensationally sordid show Wormwood, which more or less invented the serialized dark mystery podcast genre back in 2007, culminated in a thrilling third season in 2011, then spun-off into a comic book series which continues to this day. We feature a selection of the third season - Wormwood 'Revelations' - where Xander Crowe is being tortured by an evil demonic spirit but finds a way to free himself, and start looking into the other weird mysteries in the town of Wormwood.  What exactly IS going down at the library? The post Episode 351 – Digging up a Dose of ‘Wormwood’ appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

Is it that close to Halloween alREADY? Fred stumbles out of the woods of Maine to sing the praises of Roger Gregg's new short drama-poetry-music-videos that have appeared on YouTube... which are stripped of their distracting visuals and fed to you in their pure unadulterated audio goodness, alongside a Blair Witch style docu-horror-drama "The Ghosts of Reenascreena Lighthouse." Check out more of Roger's stuff: Previous episodes of RDR featuring Crazy Dog Audio Theatre Roger Gregg's "Crazy Dog" Website ZBS Foundation - where you can purchase CDs and MP3 downloads of Roger's stuff Crazy Dog Audio Theatre YouTube - page with lots of awesome short strange videos The post Episode 350 – Crazy Dog Devils and Haunted Lighthouses appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

This week we visit 19th century France in English - and French! - through a skilled alliance of Chatterbox Audio Theater and Rhodes College. The adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's classic short story tells the story of Mathilde, who dreams of mingling with high society. When her husband secures an invitation to a ball, she finally gets the opportunity to live out that dream. But her taste of privilege -- and the borrowed necklace that enables her to look the part -- come at an enormous cost. News! Chatterbox Audio Theater also has an Oct 5 show with WERU radio legend Ira Glass. Details and tickets The post Episode 349 – Discovering “The Necklace” with Chatterbox Audio Theater appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

This week we experience the offbeat audio musical Paradox, written by New York based filmmaker Jack Feldstein. Jack's already well versed in the offbeat; his process of filmmaking consists of 'neonizing' live action or animation footage to create a whole new work, with funky, witty narratives. You have to see it to believe it. Now enter this crazy audio musical. Why do it? Jack says: Radio drama more than any other dramatic form relies on sound and words. And as a scriptwriter I believe that perhaps radio drama is the purest form of executing a script. Inspired by THE LITTLE PRINCE, ALICE IN WONDERLAND and THE WIZARD OF OZ...plus adult themes...I wrote a first draft of the script Paradox...and when I considered what I had written...I thought that Paradox could incorporate songs. So I placed an ad on Craig's List New York seeking a composer/songwriter. Drew Kresman responded and I liked what I heard when he sent me some of the compositions he'd previously done...so we got together and the collaboration began. I had worked with Daniel Broadhurst before...he'd acted in a play I'd written about a clown and a bearded lady who yearn to flee the circus and become "ordinary"...that play had toured New York libraries last summer....and through Daniel I met Cassie Bell and heard her extraordinary singing. I felt she'd be perfect as Simone. And that's how Daniel Broadhurst and Cassie Bell came to be involved. Originally, I envisioned a bigger cast to play all the characters...but remarkably Daniel was able to transform himself into the different characters...and so we decided he should play all the roles of creatures and people Simone meets along her path in Paradox. We recorded Paradox in a sound studio in pretty much one take. And then after Daniel Broadhurst learned Pro Tools we re-recorded the songs and added changes and sound effects which improved the audio. Paradox is a modern fairy tale that has fun and whimsy and absurdity but also adult and philosophical concepts. I hope you like it! And that is that. This one, you've got to listen to believe. PARADOX: Book by Jack Feldstein Lyrics/Music by Drew Kresman with Daniel Broadhurst and Cassie Bell The post Episode 348 – Trying to Find Mother and Discovering a Paradox appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

Regular host Fred Greenhalgh stumbles out of the woods of Maine to thank Sibby Wieland and to get cranking on an exclusive interview with Producer Dirk Maggs about the digital download release of the phenomenal audio adaptation of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. In between gushing extravagantly about the new show, we talk to Dirk about the pressure about building out and working with an all-star cast, and some of the magic that can happen when you have audio alone to work with.  And exactly what are Angel Islington's wings made out of?  Plus chat about the upcoming Hitchhiker's Live radio tour, with members of the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on tour throughout the UK this fall. Neverwhere is now available for sale through AudioGO: http://www.audiogo.com/uk/neverwhere-neil-gaiman-gid-1012620 Don't forget to vote for Sibby! The post Episode 347 – Talking Neverwhere with Dirk Maggs appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

Sibby Wieland from Sound Stages Radio and Noir Dame Productions returns to host the last podcast in August, direct from Dragon*Con, and the Atlanta Sheraton, one of the con's magnificent host hotels. Audio drama certainly has its part in this pan-confection of a convention - with well over 50,000 guests! Sibby also reminds listeners to vote in three panels for another big convention - South by Southwest - where Sound Stages Radio and Radio Drama Revival hope to introduce audio drama to a whole new generation of creators and techies. We need your votes. Then we get to the big enchilada... or... what exactly *is* that strange object? Ace Galaksi is a deadpan, special special agent whose investigations into the universe begin to undermine the powers that be. Enjoy episode 1 and 2 from this fun new SF satire, hailing from Toronto; unlike Dragon*Con, Ace Galaksi doesn't have a cast of thousands - but does have quite a cast!

Showcasing the diversity and vitality of modern audio drama

This week we enjoy some well-aged podcast drama from Curious Echo Radio, two episodes from the 2008 serial "The Moon Wraith", as well as an episode of the more recent (futuristic, you might say!) "Frank Gadsen, Personal Injury Lawyer of the Future." Brother, can you spare a vote? Sound Stages Radio and Radio Drama Revival have collected all the panels submitted on audio drama to SXSW (South by Southwest) here - at goo.gl/XCED3V. South by Southwest is one of the most popular conferences on film, interactive media and technology in the world. It's where Twitter first took off. A well attended panel on audio drama could benefit podcasters, audio drama fans and the artform as a whole.  We only have until September 6th, so please vote - and encourage your friends, family and the anthropomorphic animals in your life to vote, too.

Harry Strange is a noir detective of a different stripe - solving supernatural crimes. Weird frequencies come to a head with "Kaboom!", an episode from that podcast's second season. Then, we tune into a fun interview segment from "Stu's Show," originally broadcast as a live interview with audio legend Stan Freberg, who describes how he moved from performing radio segments for his pets, to landing a major voice acting job. Sibby Wieland of Sound Stages Radio, and Noir Dame Productions, is guest host for this episode - and gets pluggerific early on. South by Southwest (SXSW) is coming up, and Sound Stages and Radio Drama Revival are teaming up, asking listeners - their friends and family - and their pets, if their pets have figured out how to use the Internet - to vote for submitted SXSW panels on audio drama. Audience votes make it more likely that audio drama will be one of the discussed topics at this year's SXSW.

This week we spotlight the evocative audio drama of writer, director, and filmmaker Kristin Cato.  Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cato is a experienced filmmaker, whose shorts have been seen at U.S. and overseas film festivals. She has also worked on the stage, both behind the scenes as a director, and in arts management. We first feature "Dreaming Fire," one of her early works, which premiered as a quadrophonic piece at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Then, we tune in for the first episode of Cato's series "The Lighted Bridge." A prehistoric woman falls into ice, then unexpectedly wakes up in a French museum thousands of years later.  Sibby Wieland from Sound Stages Radio and Noir Dame Productions returns again as guest host.

This week we follow the adventures of Alice in Wonderland, a full cast Voices in the Wind production which features a new original song, "My Garden Back at Home". Georgia Lee Schultz stars as Alice; Barbara Rosenblat is featured as the Queen. Sibby Wieland from Sound Stages Radio and Noir Dame Productions guest hosts.  

This week we feature the second half of the 2003 'radio movie' Not from Space, a satire of commercial radio that pioneered the internet-era of audio drama and was heard nationally on XM Satellite Radio. Winner of the Mark Time Award and Communicator Award This scathing satire of the advertising industry taunts you with a live radio broadcast complete with all-too-truthful commercials from a series of wacky sponsors you'll grow to love. The station's owner is Jimbo Thomas -- always ready to weasel his way onto the airwaves just because he likes the sound of his own voice. Listen to breaking news as an assassination attempt unfolds and the sponsors seize the opportunity to cash in on the latest frenzy. Soon alien visitors arrive from a neighboring world, sending Earth's two biggest corporate empires into the ultimate power struggle -- fighting for control of the very station you're listening to. Part 2 of 2. Also featuring a chilling scene from Season 2 of The Cleansed! The post Episode 341 – A Word from Our Spacey Sponsors appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.

This week we continue our theme of out-of-this-world productions with the 2003 'radio movie' Not from Space, a satire of commercial radio that pioneered the internet-era of audio drama and was heard nationally on XM Satellite Radio. This scathing satire of the advertising industry taunts you with a live radio broadcast complete with all-too-truthful commercials from a series of wacky sponsors you'll grow to love. The station's owner is Jimbo Thomas -- always ready to weasel his way onto the airwaves just because he likes the sound of his own voice. Listen to breaking news as an assassination attempt unfolds and the sponsors seize the opportunity to cash in on the latest frenzy. Soon alien visitors arrive from a neighboring world, sending Earth's two biggest corporate empires into the ultimate power struggle -- fighting for control of the very station you're listening to. Part 1 of 2. Also featuring a promo of the new Season 2 of The Cleansed. The post Episode 340 – Still Reporting, but Not From Space… appeared first on Radio Drama Revival.