A collaboration of Western Carolina University faculty, staff, students and community members will be presenting a live radio broadcast of Tarzan of the Apes in the Bardo Arts Center on Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m.
Steve Carlisle, director, Dr. Bruce Frazier, music director, Don Connelly, writer and producer, and Dr. Brian Gastle, literary researcher, along with many other WCU faculty, students and community members have joined together to produce an adaption of the 1932 radio series “Tarzan” written by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
“This is the back story. This is the story that has not been told for 80 years,” said Connelly about Tarzan of the Apes.
Carlisle, Frazier, Connelly, and Gastle have been working together for a year to create their own version of the original radio series by taking scenes from 22 episodes of Burroughs “Tarzan.” WCU’s Tarzan of the Apes will include live music from WCU and Asheville Symphony Orchestras, live character vocals from faculty, students and community members, and two surprise musical pieces.
“The production team is dedicated to bringing to the university a production that is challenging and rewarding to all involved in this event,” said Carlisle. “The organizing and collaborative effort that goes into the making of the show each year is a great accomplishment in itself. I am as excited as when we did our first of these radio shows just 5 years ago. Great collaborators and colleagues at a great university. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
Tarzan of the Apes tickets are on-sale now for $10. Proceeds from the radio broadcast will be used to fund an annual academic scholarship in the participating academic departments. Advanced tickets are encouraged and can be purchased at the Bardo Arts Center box office. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. No one will be permitted to enter the auditorium once the show begins.
