Get Spooked by BTPM and UB Live Radio Play
Kick off the Halloween season early with a live performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!” Buffalo Toronto Public Media and the theatre department of SUNY University at Buffalo have teamed up to tell the classic terrifying story radio-play style complete with voice actors, foley sound effects, and a studio audience.
This 60-minute radio play adaptation of Washington Irving's timeless tale, written by Aaron Mays, tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who encounters the malevolent Headless Horseman, believed to be a decapitated Hessian soldier from the Revolutionary War, on his journey through a haunted town. As a creative nod to public broadcasting, satirical promotional announcements will be performed by BTPM staff members as “commercials” during the breaks in the show, just like they did with traditional radio dramas.
Performances will be held at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM on August 24 at the University at Buffalo’s Katharine Cornell Theatre. There will also be a pre-show reception prior to the 2:00 PM performance. Tickets are $20 per person for general admission, or $40 per person for the pre-show reception. Audience members must be 12 years of age or older and must be seated 10 minutes before the performance is scheduled to start. This exciting radio play will be recorded on August 24, and broadcast on WBFO throughout October.
Radio plays originated in the 1920s and rose to peak popularity in the 1940s. Households were radio reliant receiving their news and entertainment through the airwaves. Today, the growth of podcasting combined with the effects of COVID-19 paves a way for radio plays to make a comeback.
“The magic of live radio lives on,” said Tom Calderone, President & CEO of Buffalo Toronto Public Media. “After our success with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ during the holiday season, BTPM is thrilled to present ‘Sleepy Hollow’ to audiences who may not have ever experienced a live radio play and to spotlight different ways to engage audiences through radio.”
Broadcasts can be heard on WBFO at 88.7 FM in Buffalo, 91.3 in Olean, 88.1 in Jamestown, wbfo.org, the WBFO app, or with a smart speaker.
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About Buffalo Toronto Public Media
Buffalo Toronto Public Media engages with our communities through exploration and entertainment –everywhere. Our member-supported services include WNED PBS, WBFO (NPR) (88.7 in Buffalo, 91.3 in Olean, 88.1 in Jamestown), WNED Classical (94.5 in Buffalo, 89.7 WNJA in Jamestown), WBFO The Bridge (88.7 HD2 and 94.5 HD2 in Buffalo), WNED Create, and WNED PBS KIDS. WNED PBS is also a national producer of award-winning documentaries. Additional information about Buffalo Toronto Public Media can be found at wned.org.