Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival – National Audio Theater Festivals

Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction RevivaL 2026

National Audio Theatre Festivals, Inc. presents

The Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival

Thursday, June 25th – Saturday June 27th, 2026

at The Macklanburg Playhouse at Stephens College in Columbia, MO

and locations throughout Columbia’s downtown District

The National Audio Theatre Festivals is pleased to announce the return of the Pringle Midwest Audio Fiction Revival, Thu, June 25th-Sat, June 27th, 2026 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 Macklanburg Playhouse located at 100 Willis Ave, Columbia, MO, within walking distance of a variety of shops and restaurants.

This hands-on festival includes Audio Fiction panels and workshops during the day, nightly receptions and culminates in a Saturday Night performance with live foley artist Tony Brewer and house band Celestial Mammals, led by Dwight Frizzell, recorded live for broadcast on KOPN 89.5 fm Community Radio. All registered participants will have an opportunity to take part in this show, whether as an actor, sound FX assistant, or tech staff! Register early to ensure you get the role you desire and note any special skills when completing your transaction. All access passes available here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/national-audio-theatre-festival–2026.

Questions? Contact info@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

More schedule details to come as we get closer to the event.

THURSDAY JUNE 25th

THURSDAY JUNE 25th:

Celebrating Audio Theatre: Past, Present and Future
2 pm 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

Enjoy an evening of the audio arts with Columbia Writer’s Guild and National Audio Theatre Festivals, featuring spoken word with Janet Reed, Victoria Garten, followed by a festival curated set by Tony Brewer featuring Barbara Rosenblat, and finally a music set by the Celestial Mammals: Dwight Frizzell, Greg Mackender, Norbert Herber and more. 6-10 pm at Cafe Berlin, 220 North Tenth St, Columbia, MO

FRIDAY JUNE 26th

Join NATF for an episode of the new TREASURE ISLAND, a historic radio reimagining of R.L. Stevenson’s adventure classic, told in eight hour-long chapters and fully dramatized, with cinematic Sound Design from Skywalker’s Randy Thom and MelodyGun Sound Studios, Burbank.

The first episode will be followed up by a Q&A session from Creators Orson Ossman and Katie Hendrix. 7-9 pm, Macklanburg Playhouse, 100 Willis Ave, Columbia, MO.

Celebrating Audio Theatre: Music + SFX = Soundscape
1:30 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.

SAT NIGHT SHOW! Doors at 6:30 pm, Show at 7 pm, featuring two original Audio Plays with live SFX and live band.

WELLSPRING featuring 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 multichannel 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.

FRIEND OF E.R. written by LeeAnne Lowry & directed by Ellen Stewart. Cast to be announced.