"Broadcasts of A Country at War" - A live radio drama to be presented at Quick Center | Press Releases

"Broadcasts of a Country at War," a live radio drama, will be presented at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for two shows on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3 and 8 p.m. The show consists of a collection of American radio reports from the time of World War II, including a drama designed to rouse public enthusiasm for the war effort, and the then-unsubstantiated news reports of D-Day, the largest single invasion in history which had the nation glued to their radio for hours.

The program consists of 12 short segments based on the works of two prolific and celebrated radio authors, Norman Corwin and Arch Oboler, as well as vintage commercials, and runs approximately one-hour and forty-fives minutes, including intermission.

Four episodes of Corwin's "This is War" lead off the program. This series is a gifted patriotic writer's account of wartime themes that could be classified as bombastic anti-German and anti-Japanese propaganda. It is balanced by Oboler's sympathetic treatment of individuals on both sides in his drama, "The Women Stayed at Home," which tells the story of a lonely woman who secretly takes a shipwrecked German soldier into her home.

Also portrayed will be War Bond ads and news broadcasts of V-E Day (Victory in Europe) and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan.

Daniel Smith of New Haven directs the show and will also do the organ accompaniment; Ted Powell of Stratford will provide live sound effects. Featured in the cast are: Kristen Graham of Trumbull; Joe Mango of Ansonia; Kimberly Mikenis, Michael Sayers and John Watson, all of New Haven; and Tom Zingarelli of Bridgeport.

This is the first in a series of three radio dramas. Tickets are $18 for all three shows; single tickets are $10. There will be a post-show "Art to Heart" discussion with the company. For tickets or information call the box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.