DRAMAS

Writer, Philip Freneau
I wrote, produced and directed this historical drama for W. John Bauer, English Professor at Kean University , in 1982. We toured New Jersey performing it with grants from the Monmouth County Historical Society and the New Jersey Historical Commission. John and I did many months of research on Freneau's fascinating life along side the leaders of the Revolution from George Washington to Ben Franklin. The cast featured myself, Joe Bevilacqua as Philip Freneau, plus William Melillo, Alison Nead, Rick Ramos, Leslie Spital and Cathi Tully. I recorded the show to tape, just as I do with most of my stage plays and it aired on WBAI-FM in New York on September 29, 1982. It has since aired on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

This wonderfully imaginative fantasy, written by Daws Butler (Yogi Bear), tells the tale of a husband and wife who run into a congress of trolls, while en route to a Halloween party during a thunder storm. It was directed by me, Joe Bevilacqua, and features charming performances by me, along with William Melillo, Cathi Tully, Suzanne Gilbert and James Cronin. It first aired on WKNJ-FM in Union New Jersey in 1981, has since aired on WBAI-FM in New York, NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
In 1995, Roger Hendricks Simon and I created this two-hour adaptation of William's Shakespeare's great fantasy. It was performed LIVE on the air on WBAI-FM in New York, and featured a full cast, sound effects and music. It has since aired, in four-half-hour segments, on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Recorded before a live audience at the Manhattan School Music, this joyful play for all ages, was written by Sara Levine Simon and directed by Roger Hendricks Simon. It first aired on NPR Playhouse in 1994. It is a tender story about a great concert musician and his cello, who talks to him, performed by me, Joe Bevilacqua as Barnardo, Tova Feldshuh as his cello, Roger Hendricks Simon in sever, with music performed by the cellist Michael Carera and the Manhattan Chamber Symphonia, conducted by Glen Cortese. It has since aired on XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

William Melillo wrote this modern memory play, produced and directed by me, Joe Bevilacqua, for WBAI-FM in New York in 1982. It features a great cast, including me, Cathi Tully, Elizabeth Jackson, Richard Costable, Rosemary DeRubeis, and Thomas Babakowski. It has since aired on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

(second segment of show)
The great Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) played my wife in this touching story of a couple married for seven years, learning something new about each other. It was written by Daws Butler (Yogi Bear) and was recorded in Daws's studio in Beverly Hills, California, in 1985. It has since aired, as part of the first installment of ''What the Butler Wrote: Scenes from the Daws Butler Workshop,'' on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Another great original drama created for NPR Playhouse, in 1994, by Roger Hendricks Simon and written by Ralph Tyler, with original music by jazz great Jay Lenhart. It is a stunning modernization of the classic Greek drama, performed by Roger Hendricks Simon and Maddie O'Shay. It has since aired on XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

This modern adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's classic ''The Emperor's New Clothes'' was written by Nigerian playwright Emmanuel Adele, and directed by me, Joe Bevilacqua. The play first aired on WKNJ-FM in Union, New Jersey,performed by me, long with Emmanuel Adele, Peter Cummings and James Cronin. It has since aired on WBAI-FM in New York, NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

William Melillo wrote this intimate drama, produced and directed by me, Joe Bevilacqua, for WBAI-FM in New York in 1982. It features a great cast: Cathi Tully, Richard Costable, Rosemary DeRubeis, and Thomas Babakowski. It has since aired on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Audio Link

I produced, directed and starred in this semi-autobiographical drama by legendary voice actor, Daws Butler, in 1982, for WBAI-FM in New York. Years before the ABC Television hit,''Thirtysomething,'' Daws wrote of the personal story of an advertising man in crisis. The realistic character drama features me, Joe Bevilacqua as Adam, Elizabeth Jackson as Melissa, and William Evans as Ed. It has since aired, as the fifth installment of ''What the Butler Wrote: Scenes from the Daws Butler Workshop, on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

This classic play was adapted for radio by me, Joe Bevilacqua, for WBAI-FM in New York, in 1982. It features some outstanding acting by Cathi Tully, Bob Miller, and the late William Duff-Griffin. It has since aired on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Another great play by Daws Butler, a sequel to More Poetry Than Truth, this comedy-drama tells the story of Herbie and Manta Ray, autograph hounds, who annoy quirky poet, Edgerton Voss, until he becomes their friend. It features me, Joe Bevilacqua, as Edgerton, Melissa Jackson as Manta, and William Melillo as Herbie. It has since aired, as the first installment of ''What the Butler Wrote: Scenes from the Daws Butler Workshop,'' on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

I directed this eerie science fiction play by legendary voice actor Daws Butler , for WKNJ-FM in Union, New Jersey, in 1981. Set in the distant future at space station, where man is near extinction, and giant worms rule the universe, it features Rick Ramos as Barnstormer Pfaff and Peter Cummings as 10. It has since aired on NPR stations nationwide, as well as XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.

Another great original comedy-drama created for NPR Playhouse, in 1994, directed by Roger Hendricks Simon, written by Jack Cornwall, and performed by Mia Hemholt and Chet Carlin. The play involves a rather sick relationship between a psychiatrist and his patient. It has since aired on XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel 163.