New release! The Mask of Inanna by Alicia E. Goranson
The world isn’t kind to dreamers.
Like any boy of the radio era, Leonard Allen dreamed of hitting big in New York and Hollywood; to write or host that one big show that would make everyone notice. Even after he had his chance at both, that dream still burns inside him. He’s always been able to spark the divine somewhere in his work. And he’s been noticed.
He doesn’t know the lengths people will go to take advantage of such gifts. So when the mysterious David Lewis asked him finish his classic radio drama “After Dark” after a half-century from a pirate radio station in a New England lighthouse, Len didn’t realize it wasn’t as simple as that. The truth is that Lewis served a more powerful entity than even public opinion: the goddess Inanna, Sumerian patron of love and war both.
Sometimes, a god wants a sacrifice. Sometimes, a god wants praise and devotion. But the most fickle, and the most dangerous, are those who demand a show.
Journey into the creative mind of award-winning author Alicia Goranson, as she explores the nature of power and those who covet it in a genre-busting work that blends classic fifties radio drama, tense, paranoia-fueled thrillers, and the intimate knowledge born of a career working behind-the-scenes in the performing arts. Marvel at a stunning collection of award-winning stage actors, the Post-Meridian Players, as they provide the voice and heart to a cast of over thirty. Follow Allen and Lewis as their ideological conflict threatens to consume their friends and family, a battle neither can yield.
Is magic simply a tool, or a living thing to be respected? Does man have a right to make demands of the gods? What lengths would you go to for the power to protect what you love? Whatever you believe, don’t get caught out After Dark, in THE MASK OF INANNA.
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:37 am
Everyone, please give a major shout of praise and gratitude to Neil Marsh and The Post-Meridian Radio Players (PMRP) for their significant efforts in making this production a reality.
The original concept for The Mask of Inanna was a treatment long-time nurtured by the prolific and supportive Artistic Director of PMRP, Neil Marsh. He writes about the show in this blog post:
“… one day, a thought entered my mind: what happened to these rare hosts when their programs ended? On the surface that seems like a ridiculous question. … But what if a show had been more than just its cast and crew? What if the show—and its host—had had a special purpose that was unknown to many of those involved? And…what if that show had been canceled before its time, sabotaged from within?”
http://www.themaskofinanna.com/2010/06/21/origin-story/
Next, please give it up for the voice talent and crew of PMRP, especially our core cast of the tremendous Andy Lebrun (who plays both young and old Allen), the impeccable Nellie Farrington (Scottie Harper), the seething Doug Miller (David Lewis), the stalwart Katherine Bryant (Jessie McAlister) and the terrifyingly sympathetic James Scheffler (Bob Stroud).
The full cast list is available here:
http://www.themaskofinanna.com/cast/
The Post Meridian Radio Players have a ton of other work out there and you need to expose yourself to it! Please check it out at http://pmrp.org !
Thank you for listening everybody! And don’t be caught out… After Dark!
“No program better marries the legacy of old time radio with the potential of modern audio drama. I daresay it’s a little unlike anything you have heard before.”
-Fred Greenhalgh, FinaleRune Productions and Radio Drama Revival
February 29th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Interesting piece of creativity! I enjoyed the production and the audio drama. Thanks for sharing this work with podiobooks.
March 10th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I listened to this story on its original feed. I was very impressed from the beginning; I’d say this is easily one of the 10 best audio dramas on Podiobooks.
I especially like the story-with-a-story-within-a-story format.
The modern story is a frame for the historical story, and the historical story is a frame for the radio shows. It’s very clever and nicely gives a combination of a short story anthology within larger narratives.
March 13th, 2012 at 6:39 am
This story really drew me in and held my attention! The Post-Meridian Players were all fabulous.
I’m really looking forward to anything they or Alicia E. Gronsen do aftet this.
March 29th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
“Don’t be caught out After Dark.” These words are the end of an early radio show that is brought in to the future in the most interesting way, as a prayer to the goddess Inanna, for soldiers’ safety in Iraq.
It is told in a way that takes you to the different time periods along the way as needed and incorporates lives of those then and now. I cared about them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the incredible acting of the Post Meridian players, it so easily became a staged play in my mind for me through their talents and skills.
I rate this 5 stars and thank Alicia E. Goranson for bringing it here, and Neil Marsh for giving her the idea for the play….podcast.
September 30th, 2012 at 8:45 am
In my opinion one of the best books on podiobooks. Strongly recommend to everybody. Engaging plot, interesting characters and foremost AWESOME production!!!