Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts launches 2007-08 season with "Live Radio Dramas - War Broadcasts" September 14-15 | Press Releases

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts 2007-08 season at Fairfield University opens with the popular series, "Live Radio Dramas," a continuing program set in the radio studios of the 30s and 40s when actors and announcers took to their microphones to inform and entertain America's families as they gathered around the radio for their daily dose of enrichment. "War Broadcasts" starts the series with a bang on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. with a matinee performance on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Wien Experimental Theatre.

World War II was the first "radio war" and it proved to be a groundbreaking time for communication. The captive radio audiences of the day were hungry for information from the front and caught up in the intrigue clandestine operations provided. Programmers and governments realized quickly that radio could also be used as a tool to affect the war effort. From disseminating propaganda to selling War Bonds, the airwaves and the fight overseas were inextricably linked. These tactics have evolved and spawned, for better or worse, a tangled web of 21st century media coverage.

The war touched every show and "War Broadcasts" offers a "tasting" of vintage radio comedies, adventure thrillers, dramas, news broadcasts and commercials. Everyone knew someone stationed overseas and as the company performs episodes of "The Shadow" - in which the dark hero struggles to solve the mystery of sabotage at home on our own American military ships - and "Assignment Home" - a show that portrays a female psychiatrist helping a veteran come to terms with a devastating war injury - the actors, musicians and technicians are also affected in personal ways when news broadcasts are aired.

Daniel Smith of New Haven, director of "Radio Dramas" and a talented musician, presents an accurate replication of a vintage radio station, complete with live sound effects, live music and a company of actors, expert in the nuances necessary to bring interesting characters using snappy dialogue to life in style.

Joining Smith in the studio are Gary Cavello and John Watson, also of New Haven, Brianne Bresky of Milford and Geoffrey Gilbert of Stratford. A live string trio plays original music by Smith, while the composer accompanies on the organ.

Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.quickcenter.com or call the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. Subscription discounts apply. For more information, visit the website at www.quickcenter.com.