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Robert Farris Thompson, The Machine Stops and Akron Symphony

90.3 WCPN ideastream and Hiram College have partnered together on the production and broadcast of "The Machine Stops," a radio drama adapted from the remarkably clairvoyant short story written by E.M. Forster in 1909. The one-hour AROUND NOON special premieres on Friday, November 16 at 9pm on 90.3 WCPN. (An encore presentation will air on Monday, November 19 at noon.).

Recorded in August in the Idea Center's Westfield Insurance™ Studio Theatre before a live studio audience, the story was dramatized by the local professional theater team of playwright Eric Coble, director David Hansen and actors Nick Koesters, Rasheryl McCreary, Dawn Youngs, Jazmin Corona and Tim Keo. The production includes original music by local composer Dennis Yurich.

"The Machine Stops" describes a world where life on the surface of the earth is so inhospitable that the human population lives below ground in small, hive-like apartments with all human communication moving through "the machine." The story focuses on two characters, Vashti and her son Kuno, who live on opposite ends of the world.

"The Machine Stops" grew out of a symposium on Human Enhancement sponsored by the Center for Literature, Medicine and the Biomedical Humanities at Hiram College. Eric Coble, working with theater educator Jodi Maile, led symposium participants in sessions responding to the original story and his adaptation. A few months later, in September 2005, a cast of professional actors performed a dramatic reading of "The Machine Stops" for Cleveland's inaugural Ingenuity Festival. Shortly after a second performance, Coble was approached by David Hansen, to adapt the story for radio.

Eric Coble and David Hansen will join Dee Perry during AROUND NOON November 16 at noon for a preview of the broadcast airing at 9pm that evening (and repeating November 19 at noon).

"The Machine Stops," dramatized by Eric Coble, is based on "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster.

Jazmin Corona as Voice #3

Tim Keo as Voice #2

Nick Koesters as Kuno

Rasheryl McCreary as Vashti

Dennis Yurich - Original Music and Sound

Kelly Elliott - Foley Artist

David Hansen as the Narrator

Dawn Youngs as Voice #1

Dave DeOreo is coordinating producer for Ideastream Public Media’s arts and culture team.