THEA 127 Broadcasting Imagination: American Radio Drama, 1935–1950

Immerses students in the performance practices of American radio drama during its Golden Age. Radio drama, also known as audio drama or radio theater, is a scripted, purely acoustic performance that relies on dialogue, music, and sound effects to create immersive stories without visual components. Emphasizing voice acting, live sound effects, ensemble work, and studio-style rehearsal, students recreate, adapt, and produce radio dramas using period-accurate techniques. Historical and cultural study supports hands-on experimentation, treating radio drama as a living performance art rather than a static artifact.