"Golden-Age Thrillers" debuts at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

"Golden-Age Thrillers" debuts at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

"Golden-Age Thrillers," a quartet of suspense-filled classic radio dramas, comes to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 8, at 3 and 8 p.m. The performances will take place in the Quick Center's Wien Experimental Theatre.

New Haven composer/director Daniel Smith leads the cast through dramas that showcase some of America's favorite shows from radio's golden era. The program kicks off with "Pat Novak for Hire," a series about one of the toughest of the hard-boiled detectives that originally starred Jack Webb and Raymond Burr.

Next up is "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy," a classic cliffhanger serial for children that follows the oft-implausible adventures of intrepid Jack and his uncle, Captain Fairfield. In this outing, the pair searches for the world's only source of Trantonium before the evildoers get their hands on it.

"The Abominable Snowman," an episode of "Escape," follows three men and their Shirpa guide as they undertake a perilous journey into the freezing Himalayas to capture a frightening creature few have seen, but many fear. The final drama is an episode of "Suspense" called "Crime Without Passion," the story of a celebrated criminal attorney who kills his girlfriend out of rage and then uses his professional expertise to craft the perfect alibi.

Several local actors will bring the radio dramas to life, including: Geoffrey Gilbert of Stamford; Stacie Bloxsom and Brianne Bresky, of Milford; and Tom Zingarelli of Bridgeport. Smith will provide live music and Ted Powell of Stamford will produce live sound effects. The show also includes a few vintage advertisements for Lucky Strike, Wheaties and other brands.

Tickets to "Golden-Age Thrillers" are $15. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 03-21-2006 10:03 AM

Volume: 38 Number: 209