In April 1988, working as a novice art critic for the WBAI, I’d had the pleasure to review and interview many actors and creators of the New York Off- Broadway scene. It was my passion for the science fiction, fantasy, and horror, which lead me to call in a favor and purchase tickets for the opening night performance of CARRIE, based on the Stephen King novel. I had great seats, sitting right in front of me were Stephen & Tabitha King, and on my right was legendary Broadway artist Al Hirschfeld. The lights went down, the curtain went up, and what unfolded was a minimalist musical number of the shower scene that seemed to pay homage to DePalma’s cinematic opening scene choreographed in a Busby Berkeley style. The mesmerizing scene was shattered as actress Linzi Hateley, playing Carrie White, burst onto the stage and belted out “blood!” I would have never imaged how fare down into his seat King, a very tall man, could sink. As the production went on the lower he sank. What transpired was a kaleidoscopic train wreck the likes of which actress Betty Buckley could not even temporarily get back on track. After five performances the show closed and went on to Broadway infamy.

Going down into the basement, where the New Ohio Theater is situated, you can’t help but feel that you are walking into a bomb shelter preparing to hunker down for the apocalypse.  It was a perfect stage to watch SAMUEL & ALASDAIR: A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE ROBOT WAR, a play set in an alternate history during the Cold War era when America has been totally destroyed by robots.

Horse Trade Theater Group presents Radiotheatre’s The H.P. Lovecraft Festival, March 17-April 3 at The Kraine Theater, located at 85 East 4th Street in New York City.

Now in its 7th Season, Radiotheatre combines the artistry created during the Golden Age of Radio when Sound was king. Story Telling was combined with great voices, music and sound effects to allow the individual imaginations of its audiences create compelling movies for the mind’s eye. Radiotheatre provides a memorable, live, theatrical experience with some 21st Century touches that include cinematic scripts, fully scored orchestral sound tracks, a plethora of aural effects and, sometimes, a few visuals. It all comes together in a performance that is a unique production with non-traditional, modern, innovative stage presentation.

 - The relentless masked killers from Rogue Pictures