News Release

Live radio comes to campus February 23

February 19, 2010

A bit of broadcast history will come to life as the creator of As Darkness Falls brings two episodes of the hybrid TV/radio horror anthology series to Penn State Harrisburg, Tuesday, Feb. 23.

The 7 p.m. production is free and open to the public in the Olmsted Building auditorium. For information, phone 717-948-6189.

Featuring actors from the California cast and local talent, As Darkness Falls is a program inspired by such classic radio fare as Lights Out and CBS Radio Mystery Theater – shows that generated huge levels of suspense via the human imagination.

As Darkness Falls is recorded and filmed with the video running on the Internet and on selected Time Warner Channel stations while the audio version is available as a podcast and on affiliate radio stations.

Presented in true 1940s radio drama fashion with live sound effect artists and live musical accompaniment, the two episodes to be staged at Penn State Harrisburg are “An Ungentle Wager” and “Madeline’s Veil.” They will be followed by a talkback session with series creator, writer, director, and producer John C. Alsedek.

In “An Ungentle Wager,” Angelina Andrews (as played by Lori Myers) has long been the darling of daytime TV drama for her starring role on a soap opera. However, when her agent (Jay Miffulof) and then her livelihood are stolen by bitter rival Cassandra Caldwell (Jennie Adams), Angelina reaches the end of her proverbial rope. She challenges Cassandra to a wager involving a very substantial cashier's check and a very sharp axe.

“Madeline’s Veil” features Madeline Charles (as played by Dana Perry) as a lovely but fading songstress in early 1950s Detroit who is involved with shady mobster Vincent Basso (Dave Olmsted). When Madeline overhears him discussing a special shipment, Basso suddenly asks her to elope, which leads her best friend (John C. Alsedek) to suspect sinister motives. Surprisingly, she returns alone from the elopement. But something is different about Madeline.

The event is supported by Student Activity Fee funds and the Communications program in the Penn State Harrisburg School of Humanities.