My Voice Acting Life in Audiodrama: From Childhood Radio Theater Fan to Professional Performer

How I Fell in Love with Audiodrama

Audiodrama – telling stories through just voices, sound effects, and music – has been my passion since I was a kid. This amazing medium got its start in the golden days of radio, from the 1920s through the 1950s. Back then, families would gather around their radios for comedy shows like Fibber McGee and Molly, get spooked by mystery series like The Shadow, or follow along with cop shows like Dragnet.

My own love affair with audiodrama began with an LP that had two episodes of The Lone Ranger on it. That was it – I was hooked. My brother and I practically wore out a set of records filled with snippets from classic radio shows like The Fred Allen Show and crime dramas like Gangbusters. We played those records over and over until the grooves were practically invisible.

Bringing Classic Radio Back to Life

Fast forward to today, and I’m living my childhood dream by performing in live Radio Theater productions. These are staged recreations of those vintage radio programs I grew up loving. I’ve had the chance to be part of some incredible shows – War of the Worlds, The Jack Benny Show, Philip Marlowe Mysteries, and so many others.

I’m a regular voice contributor with the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound (we call ourselves REPS), and we’re all about keeping those classic radio shows alive through live performances. This fall, I get to be the Emcee for our semi-annual REPS Showcase, which is always a blast. I also am a regular cast member of the Midnight Mystery Theater here in Seattle, a comedy group that does original plays in a style very reminiscent of The Goon Shows, Firesign Theater, and Monty Python‘s records. That’s a blast as well! (and, in fact, the two living members of the Firesign Theater will be performing at the REPS Showcase this year!)

The Modern Audiodrama Boom

Here’s what’s really neat – audiodrama is having a massive comeback thanks to dramatic podcasts. Shows like Welcome to Night Vale and The Bright Sessions have introduced a whole new generation to this storytelling format. What I love about modern audiodrama is how perfectly it fits into people’s lives. It’s more manageable than a full audiobook, completely portable, and listeners can take these stories with them anywhere on their phones.

I’ve been lucky enough to voice characters in some of these newer productions too. In the audiodrama Fables Radio: Old Tales Revisited, I got to be the opening voice of Mayor Cole – bringing a character to life through voice alone never gets old. I’ve also done lots of work as a cast member and the main Announcer for the Sole Twin Audio podcast. I also played a Nanobot in the awesomely crazy UK podcast audiodrama called Pod to Pluto.

Why Audiodrama Voice Work Means Everything to Me

There’s something pure and powerful about audiodrama that you don’t get anywhere else. As a voice actor, you’re creating entire worlds and characters using nothing but your voice, working alongside talented sound designers and musicians. It’s storytelling stripped down to its most essential elements, and it connects directly with people’s imaginations.

Whether I’m recreating the magic of those classic radio shows from my childhood or contributing to cutting-edge podcast dramas, audiodrama remains one of the most rewarding forms of voice work I do. It’s where my passion started, and it’s where I continue to grow as a performer!