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”).

Well, we’ve crossed about all the genres so far on the show, and this month we kick off with a stellar piece of contemporary science fiction by Dreamseed. In a not-too-distant future, workers of the world are saved by a pill that makes you forget your dayjob. It’s just one perpetual paid vacation in this sweet dream life, which one man soon finds slipping away… In the spirit of Philip K. Dick, with crisp professional production and a brilliant score, I’m very excited to be sharing Buried in Falling Sand this Thursday, May 3.

For the week of May 10th, we’ll be talking with Dreamseed’s Alexander Davis, one of audio drama’s most innovative new producers. Edgy scripts, excellent production and fresh sound and music are just the beginning of his ambitions to bring audio drama to the entertainment limelight. We’ll talk about the technology and stories that drive him.

Then put on your toga as we slip back to ancient Rome for Quicksilver Radio Theater’s performance of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. This contemporary interpretation of the 1599 play features all of the intrigue, betrayal, and passion even for those of us who had trouble finishing it in high school. The broadcast on the 17th and 24th is in tandem with a new film by writer/director Jay Stern, The Changeling — a story of desire, deceit and murder.

Finally, we close the month with an original by FinalRune Productions — the genre-bending fantasy story Fall of the Hero. Sir Grace was a lofty knight, revered throughout the land with a record of dragon-slaying on par with none. Yet, a confrontation with an infamous wizard forces him to face his greatest enemy yet: himself.

Join us every week for a trek through audio adventure and discussion about the forces driving this under-appreciated artform back to the ears of America. Live at Thursdays 1PM EST on WMPG or via podcast before the sun sets on Friday.