Wow, what a hell of a week for Radio Drama Revival! I got interviewed by Justin Ellis of the Portland Press Herald for the NXT Podcast, a youth culture column, and my chat with him made it on the NXT Halloween Special… thanks Justin for a great chat and for being interested in what this audio thing is all about. If you were referred to this site by listening to that podcast, I’d love to hear from you — email fred@ the domain of this site.

Also a shout-out to the Strange Maine blog, an ongoing insight into the spooky and dark crevices of Maine, who did a great write-up for the special… And if you haven’t heard it, yeah, the Halloween special was a hell of a hit! So much, in fact, that radiodramarevival.com went down for a couple of hours last night… that technical issue’s been sorted out, and I apologize if you had trouble getting the stories. It’s now all cool so hit that button going on your podcast player!

In general, this month of horror has DOUBLED the amount of people visiting the site… So hey, lots of love to the loyal listeners, and very very welcome to those who are just checking this out for the first time. Hope you stick around for a bit, and drop me a line on what you think, what you’d like to see happen, and why not comment on a story?

And finally… to today’s show. We leave the dark and twisted corners of the human imagination (for a little while) to head to New Orleans, land of dreams, land of the dead… It’s my true pleasure to play the very first piece I ever did, for the holiday that bears its name — Day of the Dead.

A young man heads to New Orleans in search of his missing lover… He finds much more than he expects, and is changed in ways he could never imagine. A tribute to a beautiful, strange and magnificent city, with a story inspired by my own strange journey and the myth of Orpheus.

Enjoy.

Radio Drama Revival! Episode 42

Terror Stalks the airwaves! On Halloween we heard three tales of horror guaranteed to haunt your dreams “Forevermore.” We kick off a killer fright-night with William Dufris‘ adaptation of “The Statement of Randolph Carter” by H.P. Lovecraft, followed by the Grist Mill production of Joe R. Lansdale’s “God of the Razor,” and conclude with a scathing double feature from FinalRune Productions with the debut of “Dark Passenger” and the replay of “The Blind Man’s Confession,” two tales written and produced by yours truly, to make you fear all things that go bump in the night… Turn out your lights, hide under the blankets, and prepare to get spooked!

Radio Drama Revival! Halloween Special 2007

The tales of audio terror continue with the conclusion of the tale of Frankenstein’s monster… The creature, repelled by men, seeks out his creator to plea for a companion — but will Frankenstein allow his creation to have peace?

 Radio Drama Revival Episode 40

For us audio dramatists, October is our Christmas.  Something about the nature of the season — with its penchant for spooky stories told around campfires, couches or cauldrons, combined with a love for eerie music and things that go bump in the night — makes our nigh forsaken artform spring to life to a surprising part of the population… including public radio!

Nearly even producer out there is making the most of this, including myself, and as I’ve been scrambling to put together the utterly frightful Halloween special, I’ve heard about similar efforts by many other excellent artists… So, to suit your audio listening, here are some other tales to tickle your eardrums with this October!

First would be the FreeQuincy Radio Theater.  They’re a passionately local theater group from Wisconsin, bringing the best elements of classic and new audio drama to their live presentations.  In celebration of the spooky holiday, they’re featuring several new and older works:

Sunday October 14th = Alex Stoli, Private Detective: The Act of Jealousy

Sunday October 21st = When Lightning Strikes

Sunday October 28th = Spring Cleaning Invasion

October 31st = Gangster’s Ghostcapades -FreeQuincy Radio Theater’s first studio recording.

Another exciting announcement came from Willamette Radio Workshop — now, I’m remiss in not having featured their outstanding work yet, but the WRW is a training ground for some excellent dramatists and produces some of the best-sound work you’ll hear anywhere.  Not the least among their great talents is the outstanding work of Sam Mowry, whose bold and commanding voice is far better suited for interesting audio drama roles than radio commercials (at least in *our* humble opinion…)

Hear their contribution to the horrorsphere this Halloween with excellent renditions of Frankenstein and The Confessions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Off the beaten path from horror is a third episode of Dick Dynamo, the absurd transdimensional adventures of a man who is “ready to pack a punch to any villain or meager elderly lady who stands in his way.”  You will find the stories are incredulous as they are amusing, and an apt satire that still honors the works of its origins.

Also, while not producing any new works for the holiday, I’d be remiss in not noting another great producer of audio stories.  The Wireless Theatre Company is a UK-based producer of a range of great stories, tackling the comic to the tragic, with some of the finest writing, acting, and directing talent.  Best of all, it’s all free and available via digital downloadable!

Finally, on Halloween, rumor has it that Dreamseed will finally release the first episode of “Soul Rift,” the series about psychic ghost-hunting detectives.

All of these stories are well worth your ears, and I hope to get the time to review and feature them in greater depth in the coming weeks on the show… And until then, keep your ears open!

Horror fans delight! Today the terror continues with a tale driven by the depths man will go to in his reckless need to explore what should be left unexplored — in this case, the boundaries of life and death.

Mary Shelley’s “Modern Prometheus” never sounded better than in this stunning, true-to-the-text audio theater adaptation of Frankenstein, put together by the massive talent of Quicksilver Radio Theatre. Adapted and Produced Craig Wichman, Directed by Jay Stern, and starring a suite of New York’s finest actors. Enjoy!

Committed to the Radio Drama Revival Archives… Contact Quicksilver if you want another listen!Art by Pierre of Frankensteinia

As a prelude to today’s episode, the beginning of a frightful month of audio horror stories here on the show, I’ve got to note that this week marks the middle of the “Begathon” pledge drive at WMPG, the station which generally gives air time, studio space, and access to a great audio-savvy volunteer army, making everything I do here on the show (and much of what I do with FinalRune) possible. If you’re a regular listener, a fan of audio drama, or just generally philanthropic and see a need for more diversity in our media choices, please donate to WMPG to directly support a great local radio station and show that there’s support for offbeat programming like Radio Drama Revival. Donate online at their website or by calling 207-874-3000. Thank you!

Now, the episode — This is the premiere broadcast of a new work by Mind’s Eye Productions, an excellent audio theater operation run locally by the celebrated audiobook narrator William Dufris. Dufris lends his amazing talent to his audio theater work and pairs it with excellent sound effects and eerie music, resulting in stories that will leave you unable to get out of bed for a while. Today’s story is a thrilling adaptation of William Hope Hodgson’s “The Derelict,” about a crew of sailors that finds a strange boat adrift in the endless ocean, and discovers all too gruesomely the reason for its abadonment.

Enjoy!

Radio Drama Revival! Episode 38

Stayed tuned to the show this October for truly terrifying theater!  I’ve packed Radio Drama Revival to the gory brim with haunting tales, culminating in a three-part live radio drama event to be held on All Hallow’s Eve.

The fright fest kicks off October 4th during WMPG’s “Begathon” pledge drive with Maine-based audio artistry by Mind’s Eye Productions, headed by Audio-award winning narrator William Dufris.  The “Derelict,” by William Hope Hodgson, tells the unsettling tale of a ghost ship found afloat deep in the ocean… It’s ominous outcome will keep you off the high seas for a while, and maybe even in your home for the remainder of the week (all the better to donate to listener-supported community radio station WMPG, who are very supportive of my audio theater exploits).

The following two weeks (Oct 11, Oct 18) we hear one of the quintessential tales of horror — Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” produced by Quicksilver Radio Theater of New York City.  This haunting adaptation is as true to the original as it is celebrated — with praise from Don Glut, author of “The Frankenstein Legend” and Leonard Maltin, author of “The Great American Broadcast.”  As per usual Quicksilver style, it features a stellar line-up of New York’s finest actors (Joseph Franchini, Clyde Baldo, Craig Wichman…) and a score by Tony-award winner Mark Hollman.  If all you’ve seen is the movies, treat yourself to the real story!  And if all you’ve read is the book, see how inspired actors use the magic of audio to bring this classic to life.

On October 25th we hear The Grist Mill’s adaptation of “If You Take My Hand My Son,” written by Mort Castle, a master of short horror fiction.  “If You Take My Hand My Son” is the tale of a man on the brink of death forced to confront his abusive father — who haunts him from beyond the grave.  Following this shocking story of reconciliation will be an exclusive interview with Mr. Castle, who is as prolific as he is insightful.  We’ll see how he, as an established writer, looks at audio theater a little differently and learn about his experience with the art.

Finally, the gates of many underworlds line up and crack open for a medley of audio terror to be unleashed on Halloween.  From 8:30-10PM on October 31st all manners of ghouls, gods, and ghosts will infiltrate our eardrums as we air a triple feature with Mind’s Eye Productions/William Dufris, The Grist Mill, and an original by my own FinalRune Productions.  A demon may be loose in the world, but no one believes him.  A god forgotten since ancient days confronts an awestruck human.  Two friends head to a haunted house and awaken an ancient evil.  The terror is non-stop Halloween night as we hear H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Statement of Randolph Carter,” Joe R. Lansdale’s “God of the Razor” (winner of the 2007 Ogle Award), and Frederick Greenhalgh’s “Dark Passenger.”

Apart from the Halloween special, which will air 8:30-10PM EST on Halloween, all episodes air the usual time, Thursday, 1PM on WMPG.  If for some reason you’re in the Portland, Maine area, you can hear WMPG at 90.9/104.1 on their FM dial, while the rest of us can tune in to www.wmpg.org.  As usual, all episodes will be available through the podcast, accessible via the little RSS icon to the right, and on the iTunes store (by searching “Radio Drama Revival”).

For most passengers of the Huddleston, it was looking to be a relaxing cross-galactic space voyage on a luxurious space liner.  Long nights at the Antigravity Red Bar, friends of a promiscuous persuasion, hours spent staring as the stars as they swooshed by… by Emille Song and the Professor, hot from the Catacombs with the Sons of the Assigned on their trail, knew better.   Because on this voyage, forces from throughout the galaxy will collide and there will be more than one Murder on the Huddleston Ferry.

Enjoy part 1 of the drama “Murder on the Huddleston” Ferry by our friends at Dry Smoke and Whispers!

Radio Drama Revival! Episode 35 

Last week, the Harbinger cried out his fervent message to the world of Moloch… a world not ready for the terrible news he brought.  Now, captured by the authorities and thrown in front of a corrupt tribunal, we learn more about the “justice” of Moloch than we ever cared to imagine and see what hope the Harbinger may yet bring to the world in these darkest moments.

Radio Drama Revival! Episode 33

In our continuing Crazy Dog-liness, we follow the Harbinger in his run from the law and reluctant public appearance to make his dire proclamation to the people of this dying land. But are the people ready for such a revelation? And how will the authorities react to such a blatant affront to their power? Find out in the riveting fourth installment of The Last Harbinger.

Radio Drama Revival! Episode 32