Our Mission

The National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc. (NATF) is an organization for new or experienced audio theatre, radio drama and radio theatre creators and participants. NATF promotes, supports, produces, and educates within the audio theatre genre. ​

​Look for training events, promotion of the art form to the public, and fostering of communications between individuals and groups interested in the format.

The National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc. began in 1979 as the Midwest Radio Theatre Workshop, and is a fully-qualified 501(c)(3) non-for-profit corporation based in Missouri. The mission of the NATF is to serve the advancement of audio theatre and evolving media arts through education and presentation. NATF hosts annual education and workshop based programs through the HEAR Now Festival and other events.

Upcoming Programs

The National Audio Theatre Festivals presents HEAR Now: The Audio Fiction and Arts Festival, June 11th – 14th, 2020. HEAR Now is the audio equivalent of a film festival for contemporary audio story-telling in all its forms: live and scripted solo performances, multi-voiced, classic radio drama, experimental narrative, and much more. This four-day Festival offers a multi-faceted program showcasing the many forms of audio fiction and sound art storytelling in theaters and other 'listening' venues. 

Script Contest

NATF and HEAR Now are pleased to announce that the Marion Thauer Brown Scriptwriting Competition is accepting submissions of new original audio dramas. The MTB Scriptwriting Competition awards two prizes: one of $250 and one of $100 for original plot-driven family-friendly audio drama scripts.

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