In 2014, Play Troupe celebrated the era when families gathered round to thrill to radio dramas and the Great American Songbook.

 

The season inaugurated a proud partnership with community public radio station WCWP 88.1 FM, operated by Long Island University. Together, we produced and recorded a total of six radio dramas (using the original, vintage scripts) with beloved songs of the era.

 

The season also included the stage musical The 1940's Radio Hour, in July at the Landmark on Main Street, featuring the decade’s most popular songs along with the behind-the-scenes antics at a small radio station full of big characters.

 

See our complete schedule and listen to archive recordings below.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Deepest Gratitude

To WCWP Director of Broadcasting & Station Manager

Dan Cox

for his vision and collaboration

during this exciting year!

 

 

 

 

 

COMPLETE SCHEDULE:

 

Spring Radio Drama Series with WCWP

Broadcast live from Hillwood Recital Hall
The Tilles Center at LIU Post

720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale, NY 11548

 

On air at 88.1 FM and streamed online at wcwp.org.

 

 

The Maltese Falcon

Broadcast live on Friday, March 14, 2014 @ 2pm 

Listen to the archive recording, at left!

Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, "The Maltese Falcon" chronicles the adventures of private detective Sam Spade as he becomes embroiled with a group of eccentric criminals—including one dangerous, dishonest beauty—on a quest to claim a priceless statuette.

 

 

 

The Thin Man

Broadcast live on Friday, April 25, 2014 @ 2pm

Listen to the archive recording, at left!

Also based on a Dashiell Hammett novel, “The Thin Man” tells the story of witty, would-be-retired detective Nick Charles and his socialite wife Nora, who—in between cocktails—team up to solve a murderous missing persons case involving a cavalcade of suspects, all of whom agree to come to dinner.
 

 

 

Casablanca

Broadcast live on Friday, May 23, 2014 @ 2pm

Listen to the archive recording, at left!

Featuring the 1944 radio drama script based on the famous film, “Casablanca” tells the story of nightclub owner Rick Blaine and his bittersweet reunion with his once-great love, Ilsa Lund. Ilsa has fled to Morocco with her resistance-leader husband to secure visas and escape to America. But can Ilsa and Rick escape their past?

 

 

 

 

Summer Production: a Play With Music!

Presented at The Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington

232 Main Street, Port Washington, NY 11050

 

The 1940's Radio Hour

July 18-20 & 25-27, 2014

Fridays/Saturdays @ 8pm and Sundays @ 3pm

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Radio Drama Series with WCWP

Recorded in front of a live studio audience at the Hillwood Recital Hall
The Tilles Center at LIU Post

720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale, NY 11548

 

 

The Philadelphia Story

Recorded Saturday, September 27, 2014 @ 1pm

Listen AND view the archive recording, at left!

Based on the play by Philip Barry (which starred Kathryn Hepburn on Broadway, as well as in the film adaptation), The Philadelphia Story is a 1942 radio comedy about a witty divorcee caught between her ex-husband, her new fiancé, and a tabloid reporter sent to cover her society wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

War of the Worlds

Recorded Thursday, October 30, 2014 @ 8pm

Archive recording coming soon!

In H.G. Wells’ famous science fiction novel, Martians invade Earth and terrify the populace. The story was told most infamously on the air by Orson Welles in 1938, initially leading listeners to believe the events of the story were real. This adaptation of the 1953 film aired in 1955.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a Wonderful Life

Recorded Saturday, November 22, 2014 @ 1pm

Archive recording coming soon!

In this 1947 radio adaptation of Frank Capra’s beloved holiday film, a common man falls so far into despair that his guardian angel must show him how many lives he has touched and how wonderful his life really is—just in time for Christmas.