Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival

The Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival is quickly approaching and we’ve scheduled a virtual meeting to take care of some show business:

Saturday, June 21st, 9 am – 11 am central: Auditions with Directors

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ska-oexq-uiz

If you are unavailable for the virtual audition, and we can arrange for one-on-one audition sessions for directors. You can set up an individual time to audition by emailing jackie@natf.org with three preferred dates/times and your desired roles for audition.

My Friend, Pegasus Murphy

Story by LeeAnne Lowry & Jamie Warren
Directed by Michael Brainard

ALEX (15): Confrontational and aggressively 15. Dramatic.
Hates P.E. Recently went through a mass friend break-up and
is dealing with anger management.
SANDRA (40): Alex’s mother. Loves cheesy sayings. Is usually
vaping. Makes and sells inspirational posters online and
considers herself an artist.
PEGASUS (14): Homeschooled and loving it. Completely
unfashionable and unabashedly strange. Doesn’t understand
personal space. Endlessly imaginative.
BRIAN (10): A chipper homeschooler who’s always after
Pegasus’s approval (and the approval of literally any living
creature that is older than him).
QUASAR (7): Another homeschooler. Very small. Perfect poker
face. Rumor has it he was accepted into Mensa and then
rejected the invitation.
MOLLY (15): One of Alex’s ex best friends. A stereotypical
mean girl.
GPS VOICE: The voice… of a GPS…

The Case of the Dead Dealer

Authored by Bill Pearce
Directed by Ellen Stewart

Jack Hammer – Hard-bitten Private Eye
Roxanne Devareaux – High society maven, wife of the victim
Harry Armstrong – Lieutenant KCPD
“Big Mike” Stephens – Union organizer, tough guy
Gwendolyn Snowden – Society editor at KC Times, real name: Hazel
Cromer; same background as Jack Hammer
Frank Debbins – Business Partner of the victim
Gladys Wilson – Deveraux and Debbins secretary
Margery Palmer – Head accountant at Berryman Accounting firm,
professional and reserved.
Male Voices Various at various places

Roulette Wheel in Space
A Radio Play by Bill Chessman
Directed by Richard Fish

Captain Coates – In charge of Space Station 13
Executive Officer Jacquard – Captain Coates’s first officer and chief accountant
Crewman Jeans – Works on Space Station 13 and the only person who actually knows how to do anything
Doctor Cardigan – Space Station 13’s medical/science specialist
Captain Lugg – In command of the freighter Big Bug
Crewman “Red” Crimson – General dogsbody for Captain Lugg
Admiral Admirable – of Space Command

Scripts and Schedule are available to view in PDF form within this shared google folder: Pringle Revival Scripts, along with an Midwest Radio Theatre Workshop compilation of tips and tricks. There are more than enough roles to go around, so please spread the word that there’s still time for actors to get involved in this unique theatre experience. Scholarships are also still available by using the discount code TALENT2025.

We look forward to seeing you at Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Fest and sharing an unforgettable weekend together with KOPN Community Radio at Compass Inc Music Center.

Warmest regards,

Jacqueline Casteel

National Audio Theatre Festivals Inc

National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc. presents

The Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival

Thursday, June 26th – Saturday June 28th, 2025

Compass Inc Music Center 1107 University Ave, Columbia, MO 65201

The National Audio Theatre Festivals is pleased to announce the return of the Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival, Thu, June 26th-Sat, June 28th, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri!

NATF has been collaborating with mid Missouri media arts organizations to put together an event that combines our past workshop efforts with your favorite HEAR Now festival programming for three days of immersive activities. Daily workshops and rehearsals happen at the Compass Music Center located at 1107 University Ave, Columbia, MO, within walking distance of a variety of shops and restaurants.

This two day hands on festival includes Audio Fiction panels and workshops between 10 am-4pm, nightly receptions and culminates in a Saturday Night performance at the Compass Music Center with live foley artist Tony Brewer and house band Alter Destiny, led by Dwight Frizzell, broadcast and streamed on KOPN 89.5 fm Community Radio. All registered participants will have an opportunity to take part in an area of this show, whether as an actor, sound FX assistant, tech staff, or maybe even writer or director! Register early to ensure you get the role you desire and note any special skills when completing your transaction.

Questions? Contact Jackie Casteel at jackie@natf.org for more information.

Registration fees enable our 501(c)3 non-profit to cover venue costs, provide non-alcoholic refreshments and presenter fees but we do not want these to be a barrier to participation. Contact jackie@natf.org for scholarship and volunteer info.

Funds were provided through a grant by the Leo Gilbert Wetherill Foundation. Additional financial assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Renee Pringle

NATF honors the passing of our longtime friend, NPR Audio Engineer, NATF board member, and Hear Now festival participant, Renee Pringle by dedicating this annual event in her name.

A native of Washington, D.C., Renee Pringle was the first Black woman hired as an Audio Engineer at National Public Radio, where she worked for 42 years. She also worked with NBC/Channel 4 and the Rites of Passage Womanhood Training Program at Union Temple Baptist Church, both in Washington, DC.

Schedule of Events

Workshop schedule subject to change as educational offerings are refined. Thank you for your patience as we try something new!

Click here for the latest schedule in PDF printable form!

THURSDAY JUNE 26th

Columbia Writers Guild Presents SPOKEN at Cafe Berlin: Join the Pringle Midwest Audio Revival welcome wagon on the Cafe Berlin Patio and catch Columbia’s own 4th Thursday reading series featuring the poetry of Barbara Harris Leonhard, Nancy Jo Allen and festival foley artist Tony Brewer. Free and open to the public, doors at 5 pm, food and drink available.

FRIDAY JUNE 27th

Participant Check In and Script Pick Up, 9 am: Coffee, Tea and Lemonade provided with light snacks. All Workshops held at Compass Music Center, 1107 University Ave, Columbia, MO 65201

Friday Morning Workshops 10 am – Noon: Meredith Ludwig will have participants dive right into her Playback Theatre Workshop to break the ice with a team oriented exercise. Divide into groups, write a 3-minute script. Choose a director, cast the piece, one read through and record. Playback! Learn scriptwriting for the ear through this interactive exercise and following discussion.

Lunch Break

Friday Afternoon Workshops, 1 pm – 3 pm: Content Creation Beyond the Mic: In depth production considerations from a diverse panel of professionals in regards to tools, tech and time. Featuring Ellen Stewart, Iysha Jackson and Marley Magner.

Content, director/producer , who is the creative team, what talents/skills, casting contrasting voices.
Producing the show
Technical 1 – approach , microphones, interfaces, recording
Music Licensing
Commercial, sponsorship, advertising
Technical 2 – Studio, board operation, Live, Broadcast parameters, publication

Rehearsals & Tech Set-Up 3:30 pm – 5 pm

Friday Evening Performance, 7 pm: Alter Destiny + The Ernie Pyle Experiment @Cafe Berlin, 220 N. Tenth St, Columbia MO 65201

Immerse yourself in the experimental side of our music director Dwight Frizzell and house band Alter Destiny at Cafe Berlin, doors at 7 pm. Festival guest Michael Brainard and FX artist Tony Brewer will provide a theatrical intermission with a selection from the Ernie Pyle Experiment. Free to all passholders, $10 cover for everyone else

Saturday Cue-to-Cue & Rehearsal time, 9 am – 11 am

Saturday Morning Workshop, 11 am – Noon: Soundscaping in all its forms: Live Foley, Field Recordings and Music Composition with Tony Brewer, Dwight Frizzell and Marley Magner

Voice Acting for Audio, 1 pm – 3 pm

Join actor, writer, and audio producer Michael for a focused workshop on acting for audio. Explore tools like: thinking in actions, listening forges impulse, wordcrafting, and when (or if) to memorize.

Hone your mic-side craft and step into the booth with confidence, clarity, and freedom

The Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival: A Live Broadcast on KOPN 89.5 fm, Doors at 6:30 pm. Featuring “Roulette Wheel in Space” by Bill Chessman, “The Case of the Dead Dealer” by Bill Pearce and additional script. Accompanied by Live Foley Artist Tony Brewer and house band Alter Destiny. Cast & Crew After Party to follow.

Available Roles for Registered Participants

Virtual Audition, Saturday, June 21st, 9 am-11am central time: https://meet.google.com/tsn-iwac-owy

Drop in Saturday Morning at any time and read for the roles you desire. We know you need to get on with your day!

Roulette Wheel in Space Written by Bill Chessman

Captain Coates – In charge of Space Station 13
Executive Officer Jacquard – Captain Coates’s first officer and chief accountant

Crewman Jeans – Works on Space Station 13 and the only person who actually knows how to do anything

Doctor Cardigan – Space Station 13’s medical/science specialist
Captain Lugg – In command of the freighter Big Bug
Crewman “Red” Crimson – General dogsbody for Captain Lugg
Admiral Admirable – of Space Command

Title: The Case of the Dead Dealer, Author: Bill Pearce

Jack Hammer – Hard-bitten Private Eye
Roxanne Devareaux – High society maven, wife of the victim
Harry Armstrong – Lieutenant KCPD
“Big Mike” Stephens – Union organizer, tough guy
Gwendolyn Snowden – Society editor at KC Times, real name: Hazel
Cromer; same background as Jack Hammer
Frank Debbins – Business Partner of the victim
Gladys Wilson – Deveraux and Debbins secretary
Margery Palmer – Head accountant at Berryman Accounting firm,
professional and reserved.
Male Voices Various at various places

My Friend, Pegasus Murphy

Story by LeeAnne Lowry & Jamie Warren
Directed by Michael Brainard

ALEX (15): Confrontational and aggressively 15. Dramatic.
Hates P.E. Recently went through a mass friend break-up and
is dealing with anger management.
SANDRA (40): Alex’s mother. Loves cheesy sayings. Is usually
vaping. Makes and sells inspirational posters online and
considers herself an artist.
PEGASUS (14): Homeschooled and loving it. Completely
unfashionable and unabashedly strange. Doesn’t understand
personal space. Endlessly imaginative.
BRIAN (10): A chipper homeschooler who’s always after
Pegasus’s approval (and the approval of literally any living
creature that is older than him).
QUASAR (7): Another homeschooler. Very small. Perfect poker
face. Rumor has it he was accepted into Mensa and then
rejected the invitation.
MOLLY (15): One of Alex’s ex best friends. A stereotypical
mean girl.
GPS VOICE: The voice… of a GPS…

ALUMNI DISCOUNT – If you have attended a previous NATF workshop or MRTW workshop, email jackie@natf.org with the year you participated and your favorite role or script for a discount code!

SATURDAY JUNE 28th

HOtel Accomodations

There are two area hotels who have provided our event room blocks and group pricing:

Stoney Creek Hotel 2601 S. Providence Road, Columbia, MO 65203

Guests may call 573 442 6400 selecting TWO for guest services (the Front Desk directly) and ask to book the NATF Courtesy Block at $99 per night for Deluxe King or Deluxe 2 Queens room.
Book online at this direct link for the NATF Courtesy Block at $99 per night. This link will expire June 6th but offer still available by phone.

The Broadway Hotel – A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel 1111 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 875-7000

Within walking distance of Festival Venues
Group Rate of $179.00 per night before taxes, Single King or Double Queen available, Room Block Name: Pringle Audio Fiction Fest
Direct Online Booking Link available until June 5th, 2025