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!

Smashing pumpkins, anyone?

At the risk of airing spoilers to my Halloween special later this month, take a sneak preview of the wanton vegetable abuse that goes into the making of a haunting horror audio story

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”).

After a series of dark and troubling adventures through the dying world of Moloch this past August, we start September with a startling interview with the creator of this stunning series, Roger Gregg of Dublin, Ireland. We rig up the transatlantic phone equipment, ignore the phone bill, and probe the mind of one of audio theater?s most original and captivating producers. Find out what this independent, professional producer thinks about the state of audio theater, literature and the world.

Following up this rare opportunity is another trek through alternate dimensions with our friends at Dry Smoke and Whispers, creators of the riveting ?Shadowman Saga? — the ?Murder on the Huddleston Ferry.? The telepathic detective Emile Song enters deep space in the search for the East End Reaper, a techno-fiend terrorizing the people of Quaymet, while powers of the galaxy grapple for ultimate control.

Upcoming Episodes

September 6: Roger Gregg Speaks
September 13: Part 1, ?Murder on the Huddleston Ferry?
September 20: Part 2, ?Murder on the Huddleston Ferry?
September 27: Part 3, ?Murder on the Huddleston Ferry?

Well, we’ve careened through outer space, been sucked into small towns with their fair share of secrets and heard some new old time radio, and this month, Radio Drama Revival! enters yet more bold new terrain with the American premiere of an incredible audio folktale/satire, the acclaimed “Last Harbinger” by Crazy Dog Audio Theatre from Dublin, Ireland.

The land of Moloch is dying. While the seas rise and dark pollution saturates the skies, the rich giggle and preen their nodules while delighting in a gigantic festival celebrating… themselves. Those who are poor and dying suffer because God doesn’t like them, and God would have nothing any different. It is to this dark world that the Harbinger comes, bringing a message of hope and peace.

Yet, the powers that be don’t want hope. Or peace.

Tune in Thursdays (1-1:30PM) in August for an incredible ride through a terrifying world that’s all too familiar, riddled with biting satire and compelling characters. Echoes of Dosteovesky and Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” and performances by Ireland’s top talent (with guest appearance by Firesign Theatre’s Phil Proctor) saturate this tale originally produced for RTE1 Radio 1, the national radio station of Ireland.

I had the opportunity to chat with these two crazy cats who have been producing Dry Smoke and Whispers (and other great audio) off and on for 27 years… yes, that’s longer than I’ve been alive people!

Needless to say, they have an excellent rapport and some great insights about the state of audio drama as well as what makes a great story work. Tune in today 1PM on 90.9/104.1 in the Portland, Maine area or via WMPG‘s streaming audio.

Of course, you can always stay tuned for the podcast, which I’ll have together either later today or tomorrow.