Fake Radio Presents: a 70th-Anniversary Celebration of “Dragnet”

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“Slickly professional in every particular…”
The LA Times

“A palpable sense of infectious goofiness…”
The LA Weekly

Pick of the week in “Things to Do”
The Oregonian

Pick of week in “Short List”
Portland Tribune

In June of 1949, a new radio show launched that changed the world of crime dramas. For it’s 70th anniversary, Fake Radio proudly presents its second show of the 2019 season, at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland! FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, we’ll recreate two episodes of the hit radio show “Dragnet”! Joining the cast is guest star John Pirruccello, acclaimed comic actor from the TV series “Twin Peaks” and “Barry” on HBO.

Times:
Doors at 7pm, curtain at 8pm

Tix:
$20 for general admission
$30 VIP seating in first three rows

Arts for All Tickets are available for shows that are not sold out, and you must buy tickets at the door the day of the show with ID. Please email staff@theoldchurch.org THREE DAYS in advance, so we can let you know that Arts for All tickets are available.

Featuring top talent from both Portland and Los Angeles, Fake Radio will re-enact two 30min episodes of this historic radio show the old-fashioned way: dressed in period clothing and standing with scripts in hand in front of old microphones. Sound and music effects will make you feel like you’re watching a live radio recording from the 1940s. We’ll even re-create the old commercials! Just be ready for the cast to occasionally go off-script!

“Dragnet”
Dragnet is perhaps the most famous police drama in US media history. Even 70 years later, it’s dramatic tone and theme music are both STILL instantly recognizable. Set over a backdrop of Los Angeles, the radio series brought realism and unpretentious acting to the airwaves, making it’s creator and lead actor Jack Webb, a household name. Webb portrayed the stoic Sergeant Joe Friday and his scripts were based on “actual police files” that the Los Angeles Police Department provided as inspiration. It first aired in June of 1949. For this special 70th anniversary performance, Fake Radio will recreate two different episodes of this iconic radio drama!

For almost 20 years, “Fake Radio” has been delighting audiences and critics alike with their unique recreations of classic radio shows from 1938 – 1958. Their shows transport audiences back in time to a live taping of an old-time-radio show. The troupe performs in the same fashion popularized during the Golden Age: cast members dress in period clothing, standing before old microphones, scripts in hand, re-creating classic stories while all of the sound effects are perfectly synchronized. The troupe’s well-known hallmark is expertly blending the original broadcast scripts — including the absurd commercials! — with unexpected improvisation.

Over time, the troupe has garnered the respect and participation of a host of well-known actors and comedians. Previous Fake Radio guest stars include:

Emmy Award winners John Larroquette, Ray Romano & Marcia Wallace; Comedy legends Fred Willard, The Kids in the Hall, & Phil Proctor from The Firesign Theatre; noted alternative comedians Tom Kenny, Maria Bamford & Rick Overton; well-established TV actors such as Jeff Garlin, John Lynch, Debra Skelton & Dean Cain; and even one of the original cast members from Saturday Night Live: Larraine Newman.