Editing Earplay (section)

== Beginnings ==
With a grant from the [[National Endowment for the Arts|National Endowment of the Arts]], Earplay began in 1972 directed by [[Karl Schmidt (broadcaster)|Karl Schmidt]], legendary producer and radio executive at WHA [[Madison, Wisconsin]]. Karl was determined to bring a new and invigorating approach to radio drama. He faced major obstacles from other public radio broadcasters and had to prove the new approach would gain listeners. He enlisted the help of [[Tom Voegeli]], a newcomer to the field of audio, but as the son of [[Don Voegeli]] (composer of NPR's All Things Considered theme music), he had the innate knowledge and enthusiasm that Karl wanted. (Tom has had a distinguished career in public broadcasting spanning 40 years since). Another contributor was Martha Van Cleef fresh from her PhD at the UW and eager to enlist writers into this forgotten medium.

It was she who convinced both [[Edward Albee]] and [[Archibald MacLeish]] to write original dramas for Earplay. It was this that brought the program to the attention of [[BBC]] producers. Karl enlisted the aid of [[John Tydeman]]n an experienced BBC producer to oversee Albee's play, ''Listening''. The three on them spent three days in a studio working with such stars as [[Irene Worth]]. MacLeish's play [[J.B. (play)|''JB'']] was adapted by Earplay.