FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Glenn Carlson
The One Act Players
415-519-1728
SHERLOCK HOLMES BACK ON THE CASE
Award-winning Bay-Area audio theater group releases much-praised new recording of world-famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tales
(San Francisco, October 10, 2002) – C.S.I., watch out! The original physical-evidence genius is back in action, brought to life in a thrilling new voice-theater adaptation of classic Sherlock Holmes stories. The Bay Area’s own One-Act Players have created three complete full-cast audio plays that celebrate the deductive powers of the world’s most famous detective.
Released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the knighting of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” is an independently produced, 90-minute long program that adapts three of Doyle’s most popular Holmes stories: The Speckled Band, A Scandal in Bohemia, and The Final Adventure. Produced and directed by One-Act founding member Glenn Carlson, the recordings evoke the excitement and imaginative “theater of the mind” experience of old-time radio.
The cast of “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” features some of the Bay Area’s top voice talents, and they seek to at once stay true to the golden age of radio’s unique dramatic style and the literary genius of Sherlock Holmes’ creator. “We’re pretty passionate about keeping good, old-fashioned radio drama alive,” says One-Act executive director Glenn Carlson. “We’re striving to keep this vibrant, vital art form going, and we think that with the popularity of web-based audio programming, we’ve got a new outlet for this kind of entertainment.”
The recordings have received praise from local industry heavyweights and from Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts around the world. “The One Act Players have certainly hit their stride with this CD,” says CW Wolfe, Director at San Francisco’s Voice Factory, Northern California’s preeminent voice training and commercial casting academy. “The performances are meticulous and the youthful exuberance of the cast comes shining through. Glenn Carlson’s direction is first-rate as he brings standout performances from each cast member.” Roger Johnson of The District Messenger, the official newsletter of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London also praised the effort: “I’ve been able to listen to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on CD and can report that I enjoyed the experience. Scot Crisp is a very laid-back Holmes and Glenn Carlson is a nice intelligent Watson … Well done!”
The One Act Players formed in 1999, and debuted with a new adaptation of the classic 1935 radio serial “Flash Gordon”. Their recording of Episode One – The New Planet took the 2000 Silver Mark Time Award for Science Fiction Audio presented by the American Society for Science Fiction.
The Players work in many genres, embracing science-fiction, mystery, drama, and comedy with equal enthusiasm and aplomb. Other productions include an adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s 1886 horror classic, “The Horla,” as well as contemporary twists on children’s classics such as “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. All of their work has been placed into the permanent collection of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City.
The San Francisco-based group produces studio recordings and present both on-air (radio and Internet) broadcasts of old-time radio classics and adaptations of classic and contemporary material. One Act also strives to give voice to writers working in the unique, but under-produced medium of audio theater, including adaptations of acclaimed works by playwrights Emmett Louverde, Jim Gustafson and Jim Cort.
More information about The One Act Players and the cast members themselves can be found at www.oneact.org.