Hello Again, America.

Sorry for the long absence. The brain trust of the Hear Again Radio Project have been very busy planning, and preparing for our next events, but we wanted to drop you a line to let you know some of the things we've been doing.

Today, we held an extremely successful performance and workshop in Radio Drama with the University of the Arts, Summer Theater Institute in Acting + Musical Theater. We performed some of our favorite episodes from Old Time Radio, Suspense "Plan X" and My Favorite Husband "Drafted". The show was a huge success.

Then, we led a workshop for the students, and let them take the stage and perform selections from some of our other favorite episodes. It was terrific, and I think a good time was had by all.

Up next for Hear Again Radio Project, at least for now, will be at Plays and Players when we present "The American Election Selection" featuring Fibber McGee & Molly "Election Day" and Cavalcade of America "Abe Lincoln: The War Years" November 8-10. Details are forthcoming, so stay tuned, America!

Spring is in Bloom, and we're back on the air!

 This weekend at our home for special events we will present our Spring-in-Bloom program, “Baseball and Taxes”. I have asked Director Frederick Andersen to write a little something for the program to put the performance in the right frame work for the audience. His notes were so lovely, I couldn't help myself and wanted to share them with you a little early.

Welcome to the Hear Again Radio Project’s Spring-in-Bloom program, “Baseball and Taxes”! We’re coming out of the winter doldrums and beginning to look forward to better weather, longer days, even vacations, the perfect opportunity to dust off a little nostalgia and take a few steps back to a simpler time.

This time out we’re doing three episodes, two of which – “Ellery Queen: World Series Crime” and “Nine Striking Beauties” – have large casts with a lot of male roles. But the HARP cast is more than up to the challenge, everyone creating such distinct and clearly-drawn characters that, if you close your eyes, you’ll swear you’re hearing a different actor in each part. We’re also presenting an episode of “The Bickersons”, likely to prompt some of you to wonder who’s been bugging your homes!

We typically provide a musical interlude between acts, and for “Baseball and Taxes” it’s no different. You’ll be hearing “It’s Deductible” from the 1950 movie “My Blue Heaven”, starring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey, and performed by our very own Betty and Dan: Kristen Norine and Jared Delaney.

It’s always a pleasure to perform with the Hear Again cast –but it’s been a particular pleasure to handle director duties for “Baseball and Taxes”. Thanks to Old Smoothie and Artistic Director Darin Dunston for trusting me with the job. Our team of pros – including lovely musical director Linda Henderson – made it easy for me.

We always say we enjoy performing these shows as much as the audience does hearing them. If that’s the case we’re all going to have a ball with “Baseball and Taxes”! So sit back and relax: we’re on the air!

--Fred Andersen

Our Spring- in- Bloom Broadcast features Baseball and Taxes

Hello America,

We are less than one week away from the Hear Again Radio Project's final performances of the 2011-12 season. The team has been hard at work creating radio magic for you and your whole family. This time, we're featuring two annual rites of Spring that each April brings: The return of Baseball and the revenge of the Tax Man. To ease your burden, we have put together a really terrific program, under the sly direction of Mr. Frederick Andersen.

Performances are at our home for special events, Plays and Players for one weekend only. Please join us live in studio for some good old fashioned radio goodness on Saturday April 14 at 7pm and Sunday April 15 at 4pm & 7pm.

Event and ticket details can be found here: Hear Again Baseball and Taxes Event 

We hope to see you there!

 

Valentine's Va-Va Voom

Greetings America!

There's only one more week until the moment you've all been waiting for: Hear Again Radio Project's Valentine's Va-Va Voom!

In honor of the upcoming holiday and this exciting event, I've put together some OTR Valentine's Day trivia. Let's see how well you know your radio history! (Answers will be posted in the "comment" section)

Which popular radio comedian was born on Valentine's Day in 1894? Hint: He starred in a radio variety show that was named after him (and that's him in the picture).

Next weekend you'll see and hear your favorite Hear Again stars performing the "Puppy Love" episode of "Our Miss Brooks." But what "Our Miss Brooks" episode is featured in almost every Valentine's Day OTR collection? Hint: It aired on February 19, 1950.

In what classic mystery series do Nick and Nora Charles celebrate their Valentine's Day by solving a murder in an episode entitled "The Case of The Mysterious Valentine"? Hint: The series was based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett which was also adapted into a film (or three).

See if you can figure out the answers! If not, don't fret - just look at the comments.

Our Friends At Philly Senior Stage

Hey Hear Againers!

If you were at a certain retirement community in Audubon two weeks ago you may have seen some familiar equipment on the stage. Robb Hutter, who runs Philly Senior Stage, borrowed some Hear Again sound effects and yours truly to add some foley flair to his already excellent OTR show at Shannondell At Valley Forge.

Philly Senior Stage is a company that "brings theatre workshops and the thrill of performance to adults 55 years of age and older!" One of the ways they do that is by sending teaching artists (mainly Robb) to retirement communities around the Philadelphia suburbs to direct the residents in live performances.

Last month at Shannondell I had the pleasure of accompanying Robb and the residents as a foley artist in an OTR medley of clips from classics like The Inner Sanctum and Father Knows Best, vintage commercials for everything from Brylcreem to Oscar Mayer Weiner, and nostalgic songs such as That's Amore, I Could Have Danced All Night, and Making Whoopie.

It was a blast working with so many talented and sweet individuals, but it was a challenge working on Shannondell's huge stage. The sound effects were being swallowed in the space and you can only pick up a telephone receiver so loudly.

Challenges aside, it was a really wonderful and heartwarming experience. It was refreshing to work with a group of artists whose main goal was to have fun no matter how many times anyone lost their place on a page or missed a cue in the music or whatever other little flubs normally make your heart stop as a performer. They all seemed to find so much joy in just being a part of it.

To find out more about Philly Senior Stage and the wonderful work that Robb is spearheading in the community, www.phillyseniorstage.com.

I'll sign off with Shannondell's charming radio jingle:

WSDL: Shannondell, seems like old times being here with you.

(It's much more charming when they're all singing it, but you get the idea!)

More on It's A Wonderful Life

Hello Hear Again Fans!

Just four more days until the Hear Again Holiday Hullabaloo! Join us all at Plays and Players this weekend to see Lux Radio Theater's It's A Wonderful Life!

Did you know that this radio episode was adapted from the classic holiday film? The film was adapted four different times into radio episodes, and every adaptation featured Jimmy Stewart, the star of the film. Three out of the four adaptations featured Donna Reed, who played Mary in the film.

Lux Radio Theater was dedicated to using the original stars in their adaptations of popular films and plays. They payed the actors $5,000 an appearance, which would be around $80,000 today!

Here's another fun fact: the radio premier of It's A Wonderful Life aired on March 10, 1947. In fact, only one of the four radio adaptations aired anywhere near the holidays (Screen Guild Theater's version aired on December 29, 1947). What we know today as a holiday classic is a good story any time of the year!

See you all this weekend!

It's a Wonderful Life

In preparation for our own Holiday Hullabaloo, where we will present Lux Radio Theater's It's a Wonderful Life, we found this article from the Washington Post about the actress who played Zuzu in Frank Capra's film. You can find the story HERE.

We hope to see you all at Plays and Players next weekend so we can share the season with you, our friends and family in radio.