The traditions of classic radio horror are finding new life in St. James, Missouri, where student performers are preparing to transport audiences into worlds of suspense, mystery, and supernatural terror.
St. James High School's Tiger Drama program presents Dead Air: A Horror Trilogy Radio Plays, a two-night celebration of some of literature's most enduring horror stories.
Taking inspiration from the imaginative storytelling techniques of radio drama, the production features three familiar titles: Poe's Twisted Tales, Dracula, and Frankenstein.
Rather than presenting the same programme twice, the students will offer different performances on consecutive evenings, giving audiences the opportunity to experience multiple stories.
Thursday, November 12 — Poe and Dracula
The first evening, beginning at 7 p.m., features Poe's Twisted Tales and Dracula.
Edgar Allan Poe's writings helped establish many of the conventions of modern horror, with their fascination for psychological terror, mystery, and the darker corners of human imagination.
Bram Stoker's Dracula, meanwhile, remains one of the most influential vampire stories ever written.
Both provide rich opportunities for dramatic interpretation, particularly through the use of expressive voices, carefully paced dialogue, and the audience's imagination.
Friday, November 13 — Frankenstein
The second evening, also beginning at 7 p.m., is devoted to Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley's celebrated novel explores scientific ambition, responsibility, isolation, and the consequences of creating life without considering its needs.
The story has inspired generations of theatrical, cinematic, and radio adaptations.
Its emotional conflicts and atmosphere of uncertainty make it a compelling subject for student performers exploring the possibilities of audio storytelling.
Discovering the Art of Radio Drama
For young actors, radio theatre offers a distinctive creative challenge.
Without relying entirely on visual spectacle, performers must communicate character, tension, emotion, and atmosphere through their voices.
Timing, vocal expression, and the interaction between characters become especially important.
The format also invites audiences to participate in the storytelling process, imagining the locations, creatures, and dramatic events suggested by the performances.
Dead Air introduces a new generation of performers and listeners to a form of entertainment that helped shape the history of broadcasting and continues to inspire independent audio drama creators today.
Performance Information
Dead Air: A Horror Trilogy Radio Plays is presented by STJ Tiger Drama at St. James High School in Missouri.
Thursday, November 12, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Poe's Twisted Tales and Dracula
Friday, November 13, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Frankenstein
Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.
Admission is by donation.
Celebrating the Next Generation of Storytellers
At Mutual Audio Network, we believe that introducing young performers to radio drama is one of the most valuable ways to preserve and expand the art form.
School and community productions provide opportunities to develop acting skills, explore classic literature, and discover the extraordinary possibilities of storytelling through sound.
It's encouraging to see St. James High School embracing this tradition and introducing its students and audiences to the imaginative world of radio theatre.
We wish the Tiger Drama performers a wonderfully spooky and successful pair of performances!
More Information
Official St. James R-I School District announcement:
https://www.stjschools.org/article/3240767
St. James R-I School District:
https://www.stjschools.org/

Young Voices Bring Classic Horror to Life in St. James Radio Theatre!

November 11, 2026

Students at St. James High School in Missouri are bringing classic horror to life through Dead Air: A Horror Trilogy Radio Plays. Featuring Poe's Twisted Tales, Dracula, and Frankenstein, the two-night event celebrates suspense, storytelling, and the imaginative power of radio drama on November 12 and 13.

Classic Monsters Return to the Airwaves — With a New Generation Behind the Microphones!
The traditions of classic radio horror are finding new life in St. James, Missouri, where student performers are preparing to transport audiences into worlds of suspense, mystery, and supernatural terror.
St. James High School's Tiger Drama program presents Dead Air: A Horror Trilogy Radio Plays, a two-night celebration of some of literature's most enduring horror stories.
Taking inspiration from the imaginative storytelling techniques of radio drama, the production features three familiar titles: Poe's Twisted Tales, Dracula, and Frankenstein.
Rather than presenting the same programme twice, the students will offer different performances on consecutive evenings, giving audiences the opportunity to experience multiple stories.
Thursday, November 12 — Poe and Dracula
The first evening, beginning at 7 p.m., features Poe's Twisted Tales and Dracula.
Edgar Allan Poe's writings helped establish many of the conventions of modern horror, with their fascination for psychological terror, mystery, and the darker corners of human imagination.
Bram Stoker's Dracula, meanwhile, remains one of the most influential vampire stories ever written.
Both provide rich opportunities for dramatic interpretation, particularly through the use of expressive voices, carefully paced dialogue, and the audience's imagination.
Friday, November 13 — Frankenstein
The second evening, also beginning at 7 p.m., is devoted to Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley's celebrated novel explores scientific ambition, responsibility, isolation, and the consequences of creating life without considering its needs.
The story has inspired generations of theatrical, cinematic, and radio adaptations.
Its emotional conflicts and atmosphere of uncertainty make it a compelling subject for student performers exploring the possibilities of audio storytelling.
Discovering the Art of Radio Drama
For young actors, radio theatre offers a distinctive creative challenge.
Without relying entirely on visual spectacle, performers must communicate character, tension, emotion, and atmosphere through their voices.
Timing, vocal expression, and the interaction between characters become especially important.
The format also invites audiences to participate in the storytelling process, imagining the locations, creatures, and dramatic events suggested by the performances.
Dead Air introduces a new generation of performers and listeners to a form of entertainment that helped shape the history of broadcasting and continues to inspire independent audio drama creators today.
Performance Information
Dead Air: A Horror Trilogy Radio Plays is presented by STJ Tiger Drama at St. James High School in Missouri.
Thursday, November 12, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Poe's Twisted Tales and Dracula
Friday, November 13, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Frankenstein
Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.
Admission is by donation.
Celebrating the Next Generation of Storytellers
At Mutual Audio Network, we believe that introducing young performers to radio drama is one of the most valuable ways to preserve and expand the art form.
School and community productions provide opportunities to develop acting skills, explore classic literature, and discover the extraordinary possibilities of storytelling through sound.
It's encouraging to see St. James High School embracing this tradition and introducing its students and audiences to the imaginative world of radio theatre.
We wish the Tiger Drama performers a wonderfully spooky and successful pair of performances!
More Information
Official St. James R-I School District announcement:
https://www.stjschools.org/article/3240767
St. James R-I School District:
https://www.stjschools.org/