The Pringle Audio Fiction Festival is set for Thu, June 25th-Sun, June 28th, 2026 at The Macklanburg Playhouse at Stephens College in Columbia, MO. This celebration of audio fiction and arts features evening performances, in person workshops and live audio drama performances in Columbia, MO. This event is made possible by funds provided through a grant by the Leo Gilbert Wetherill Foundation and financial assistance provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Auditions for Saturday's live in-person performances will be held via Google Meet on Monday, June 1 at 7:00 PM CST. Please email info@natf.org for a meeting link and early access to audition scripts.

THURSDAY JUNE 25th:

Celebrating Audio Theatre: Past, Present and Future
10 am CST at Macklanburg Playhouse at Stephens College, 100 Willis Ave., Columbia, MO 65215
We're all here because we love this art. It's been called Radio Drama, Radio Theatre, Full-Cast Production, Multi-cast Recording -- but what is Audio Theatre -- and what is not? When did it start? How has it changed? What are the most successful examples? How is it created? Who did it best? Who listens to it? How does it reach its audience? What's it like today? Where is it going tomorrow? Explore these questions -- and add your own -- with an interactive session illustrated with a treasure-trove of surprising and fascinating recorded clips guaranteed to fire up your imagination. Presented by Richard Fish of Firehouse Theatre at WFHB, Bloomington, Indiana.

SPOKEN: A Celebration of the Spoken Word
6-10 pm at Cafe Berlin, 220 North Tenth St, Columbia, MO
Enjoy an evening of the audio arts with Columbia Writer's Guild and National Audio Theatre Festivals, featuring Janet Reed, Victoria Garten presented by the Columbia Writers Guild, followed by a festival curated set featuring Tony Brewer, Dwight Frizzell, Greg Mackender, Norbert Herber and more. 6-10 pm at Cafe Berlin, 220 North Tenth St, Columbia, MO

FRIDAY JUNE 26th:

Celebrating Audio Theatre: Music + SFX = Soundscape
2 pm CST at Macklanburg Playhouse
Dwight Frizzell, Professor & Sound Head at Kansas City Art Institute will team up with Greg Mackender, a national composer/sound designer for theater and film/animation to discuss Soundscape techniques, tools and applications, Greg writes, “The developments in audio and music technology have been a revolution in every sense of the word…There are several industry standards that have emerged. Certain software applications, platforms and methodologies that have proven track records over time. My professional teaching (is focused on) what students are likely to encounter when launching their own careers. I’ll detail the software skillset I’ve culled from the ‘toolboxes’ of industry professionals in theatre, film, and the audio recording industry.” SFX Director Tony Brewer and local Composer Marley Magner will join.

Treasure Island: A Telling for the New World
7-9 pm at Macklanburg Playhouse, 100 Willis Ave, Columbia, MO
An exclusive sneak peek at the new Otherworld Media reimagining of R. L. Stevenson’s adventure classic told across eight hour-long chapters, starring Keith David, John Goodman and Glynn Turman, with an original score by Taj Mahal. Featuring cinematic sound design by Randy Thom (Skywalker Sound), Matt Schwartz and MelodyGun Sound Studios, Burbank. Writer/Director Orson Ossman and Co-Producer Katie Hendrix will join us in person to share their innovative approach to production, followed by a listening session of the first episode with Q&A to follow.

SAT NIGHT SHOW! JUNE 27th
Doors at 6:30 pm, Show at 7 pm
MACKLANBURG PLAYHOUSE at Stephens College
featuring two original Audio Plays with live SFX and live band.

FRIEND OF E.R. Written by LeeAnne Lowry Featuring a live radio theatre performance inspired by the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok, brought to life through live actors, immersive sound, and audio storytelling.

WELLSPRING featuring the voice of Marideth Sisco (Ozark folk singer), Tony Brewer (Waterphone, a midi-water instrument), Steve Donofrio (singing bowls), Greg Mackender (midi-water instrument) and Dwight Frizzell (composer, clarinet, midi-wind instrument and multi-channel sound).

2026 Corwin Award Ceremony

ICK AND THE CHARM Written by Steve D’Onofrio & Abridged by Butch D’Ambrosio featuring Special Guest Barbara Rosenblat, acclaimed audiobook narrator & "Miss Rosa" in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black.

SUNDAY JUNE 28th
Radio Broadcast of the Saturday Night Show on KOPN.org 89.5 fm Columbia MO
Join Jackie Casteel on KOPN's Rootin' Tootin' Radio as she brings the audio performances from Saturday Night to the airwaves!