ZORRO Returns to the World of Radio Drama

DO YOU...
Love listening to audiobooks?
Enjoy listening to stories while on the road traveling or driving back and forth to work?
Listening to your iPod, Creative Zen (or other portable listening device) when jogging, working out at the gym or exercising at home?
Love hearing a great story?
Love swashbuckling action and adventure?

Then ZORRO has something for you! ZORRO, the swashbuckling hero of Spanish California, has found his way back to the world of radio drama with three great full-cast productions complete with sound effects and music.

Listen along as Zorro fights injustice and courts love in the Zorro story that started it all... The one that created a legend... THE MARK OF ZORRO

Zorro creator Johnston McCulley's first ever Zorro story The Mark of Zorro (originally titled The Curse of Capistrano) is a highly entertaining, fun, fast paced swashbuckling adventure from start to finish. The evil Captain Ramon rules the pueblo de Los Angeles with an iron fist and a twisted sense of justice. He's intent to capture the affections of the beautiful Lolita Pulido while at the same time destroying her family, ruining the de la Vega name and capturing Zorro. However, Zorro has other plans for he also has eyes for the fair señorita Lolita. As for the corrupt Capitan, Zorro has something for him too... the point of a blade! But will he have the strength to win this fight after being hunted and pursued like a fox day and night by Sgt Gonzalez and his men?

Nominated for a Grammy Award and 2 Audie Awards The Mark of Zorro was also recommended as one of the best audios of 2011 by Sound Commentary, Parade Magazine, and AudioFile Magazine.

Adapted for audio and dramatized by award winning Hollywood Theater of the Ear producer Yuri Rasovsky. Published by Blackstone Audio. 

The Cast:
Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Heat, Batman, Tombstone) as Diego de la Vega/Zorro
Ruth Livier (Ylse, Resurrection Blvd) as Lolita Pulido
Meshach Taylor (Designing Women) as Sgt Gonzalez
Armin Shimerman (Quark from Star Trek DS9) as the Tavern Landlord
Elizabeth Peña (The Incredibles, Lone Star) as Doña Catalina Pulido
Ned Schmidtke (*Audie winner) as Don Carlos Pulido
Keith Szarabajka (*Audie Award winner) as Captain Ramon
Kristoffer Tabori (*winner of 1 Emmy Award and multiple Audie Awards) as Don Alejandro de la Vega
Stefan Rudnicki (*winner of 2 Grammy Awards and 11 Audie Awards) as Frey Felipe
Scott Brick (*winner of 40 AudioFile Earphone awards and 2 Audie Awards) as the Governor
Phil Proctor (Firesign Theatre) in multiple roles
John Sloan in multiple roles
Gordo Panza in multiple roles 

* indicates cast members who are award winning audiobook narrators and the awards they have won as such.

http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Full-Cast-Audio-Dramatization/dp/144172889 

ZORRO AND THE PIRATE RAIDERS

Colonial Radio Theatre brings you Zorro and the Pirate Raiders a high seas adventure that is reminiscent of the old serialized Saturday matinee picture shows of the 1940s and 50s. Captain Ramon is bent on revenge and has sold out the good people of Los Angeles. The pueblo has been ransacked by the pirate Bardoso and the lovely señorita Lolita Pulido has been carried of as part of the spoil. It's up to Zorro to bring her back alive and well..... or die trying.

CRT brings you a rousing tale filled with swashbuckling fun and adventure, booming sound effects and stirring music. 

The Cast:
Kevin Cirone as Diego de la Vega/Zorro
Shonna McEachern as Lolita Pulido
Hugh Metzler as Bardoso
J.T. Turner as Captain Ramon
Sam Donato as Sgt Garcia
Joseph Zamperelli Jr. as Friar Felipe
Dan Powell  as Sanchez and Don Audre
Narrated by Jerry Robbins

http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Pirate-Raiders-Radio-Dramatization/dp/144189215X 

ZORRO RIDES AGAIN

CRT brings you the third story in Zorro creator Johnston McCulley's series of tales about the masked hero of Alta California. This time there's a new Commandante in charge of things in Los Angeles. Can Captain Rocha be trusted to govern justly or will he be as corrupt and power hungry as his predecessor Captain Ramon? His ruling powers will soon be put to the test for someone appearing to be Zorro has unleashed a wave of cruel deeds on the people of the district. As the cries for justice escalate the people want to know has Zorro turned outlaw or has he gone mad? Who is this masked man and who will stop him? Find out as Zorro Rides Again!

Colonial Radio Theater puts together another dynamic Zorro adventure any audio listener is sure to enjoy.

The Cast:
Kevin Cirone as Diego de la Vega/Zorro
Jeremy Benson as Captain Rocha
Shonna McEachern as Lolita Pulido
Hugh Metzler as Bardoso
Sam Donato as Sgt Garcia
J.T. Turner as Friar Francisco, Don Alejandro de la Vega, and Old Marcos
Joseph Zamperelli Jr as Juan Lopez and Friar Felipe 
Shana Dirik as Doña Catalina Pulido
Dan Powell as Juan
Elie Hirschman as Don Audre
Jerry Robbins as Esteban Rodriguez 

http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Rides-Again-Radio-Dramatization/dp/1611062586/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1333520298&sr=1-1-catcorr 

Coming Soon......

From award winning producer Barry Creyton the sequel to The Mark of Zorro featuring Val Kilmer, Ruth Livier and a star studded cast.

The Mark of Zorro nominated for two 2012 Audie Award for best Audio Drama

 
The Mark of Zorro starring Val Kilmer, Ruth Livier, Meshach Taylor, Armin Shimerman, Elizabeth Pena and an outstanding cast has been nominated for two 2012 Audie Awards - Best Audio Drama and Distinguished Achievement in Production.

http://www.audiopub.org/press/2012%20Audies%20Finalists%20press%20release.pdf

Sound Commentary selects The Mark of Zorro as one the best of 2011

 
According to the October 1, 2011 edition of Sound Commentary The Mark of Zorro has been voted one of the best audiobooks of 2011. Here's the original review from Sound Commentary's October issue:

Campy is the first word that comes to mind to describe this story, set in early southern California, of the masked bandit Zorro who fights the abuses of the rich and powerful, humiliates them when he can, and steals from them so he can give to the poor and others in need. He also romances the special young lady Lolida at the same time. Zorro’s real identity is the effete, very rich Don Diego de la Vega who has been informed by his father that he must marry or else forfeit his inheritance. Too lazy to actually romance the beautiful Lolita, Don Diego instead is blunt and honest about his need to marry and thus turns her off just as she finds herself drawn to the dashing hero Zorro, who saves her on several occasions. Zorro’s accomplishments are told by a barkeep who fails to notice how frequently, and coincidentally, Zorro appears just as Don Diego disappears. The story may be campy but the dramatization is first class and the full cast includes many familiar narrators in smallish parts all of whom are having a very good time with this fast paced adventure story. And so will listeners. Great fun, and room for a sequel that would be very welcome! And there are many listeners who might welcome a Zorro to their towns these days!

AudioFile lists The Mark of Zorro as one of the best in 2011

AudioFile Magazine selects The Mark of Zorro as one of the best full-cast audios of 2011.


http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/best_of_2011.html#multi

The Mark of Zorro audio book from Blackstone Audio

Now available from Blackstone Audio the audio book version of The Mark of Zorro. This unabridged presentation is approximately 7 hours in length and is read by Armando Duran.

DESCRIPTION
Originally serialized, this exciting adventure story achieved immortal fame thanks to the Douglas Fairbanks film of the same name—a cinematic triumph that inspired author Johnston McCulley to dedicate the book release to Fairbanks. It has since seen numerous film and other adaptations, including Blackstone Audio’s full-cast audio drama produced by the renowned Yuri Rasovsky and featuring the voice talents of Val Kilmer. 

1820s California, in a bygone era of sprawling haciendas and haughty caballeros, suffers beneath the whip of oppression. Missions are pillaged, native peasants are abused, and innocent men and women are persecuted by the corrupt governor and his army. But a champion of freedom rides the highways. His identity hidden behind a mask, the laughing outlaw Zorro defies the tyrant’s might. A deadly marksman and a demon swordsman, his flashing blade strikes down those who exploit the poor and oppressed. 

First published in 1919, The Mark of Zorro remains a paradigm of swashbuckling adventure and a popular novel to this day.

http://www.blackstoneaudio.com/audiobook.cfm?id=6807

The Mark of Zorro Nominated For a Grammy

Hollywood Theater of the Ear's The Mark of Zorro has been nominated for a Grammy in the Spoken Word category. Congratulations to producer Yuri Rasovsky.

http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2011&genre=32

Audio Files' BEST VOICES OF 2011 - FULL CASTS

Audio File Magazine lists The Mark of Zorro among the 10 best full-cast audio productions of 2011.

http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/best_narrators_2011.html

The Mark of Zorro sequel

Blackstone Audio has commissioned a sequel to Hollywood Theater of the Ear's The Mark of Zorro. Stay tuned for details...

Zorro and the Pirate Raiders - Zorro Rides Again Get Nice Reviews (Zorro Radio Drama)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Blog site had some nice words to say about CRT's full-cast radio drama Zorro and the Pirate Raiders.

If you grew up in the 1950s, when you think of Zorro as Guy Williams in the Disney series. Or if you grew up in the late 80s and early 90s, Duncan Regehr may have provided your vision of Zorro. Others may remember Antonio Banderas as Zorro and for many classic film buffs, it is without a doubt Douglas Fairbanks who defines the character in the silent film version.
Zorro did make it to radio in 1957, in a short-lived serial based on the Curse of Capistrano, however only two episodes of this series survive.
Zorro has been interpreted and reinterpreted so many times throughout the years that it's hard to remember that Zorro originiated in the pulp magazines in stories by Johnston McCulley. may have passed Zorro by for the most part, modern producers of radio drama have picked up the torch.
The Colonial Radio Theatre  brought two of these stories to radio in Zorro and the Pirate Raiders and Zorro Rides Again.
Summaries
In Zorro and the Pirate Raiders, the commandante of the pueblo, Captain Ramon, forms an alliance with cutthroat pirates to  raid the pueblo and split the booty. Ramon also orders the pirates to kill Don Diego de la Vega and kidnap his bride-to-be. Zorro thwarts the attack on Don Diego with the help of other caballeros and then pursues the pirates across the sea.
In Zorro Rides Again, Zorro has retired after The Pirate Raiders but is forced to return when an imposter begins to commit injustices in the name of Zorro. Zorro must clear his name and find the imposter before friends turn against him and the government executes.
Review
These Zorro productions are superb swashbuckling adventures.  Each feature length adventure was filled with action, adventure, and surprise twists throughout the story. The sound effects were amazing, and help to transport you back to Old California.
There were differences between this production and most Zorro adaptations. The biggest was that Zorro had allies: twenty caballeros who fought alongside him. This is a stark difference between modern productions which have Zorro fighting a lone battle against evil, which has become the trend.  However, the CRT's version of Zorro remains faithful to the original vision of McCulley.
Zorro and his caballeros are courageous and gallant, living by a code of honor.  McCulley's vision of Zorro was as a North American version of the knights of old and this really shows through in the Colonial Radio Theater production.  The cast from the stars to their supporting players were all excellent. In particular, Sam Donato shined in the role of Sergeant Garcia.  Oftentimes, the role of the Sergeant in Zorro is often played as buffoon or coward, but Donato's portrayal was more nuanaced, and there was a lot more to Sergeant Garcia than meets these eyes.
There were very few flaws in these productions, and they were  a result of being faithful to the source material, so I can't complain about them. I will say that when a radio drama features a fight between two guys with knives in their mouths, the theater of the mind has to work overtime to supply the images.
Overall, these are great productions that represent Zorro as he was meant to be and provide hours of fun and excitement.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
http://www.greatdetectives.net/detectives/zorro-comes-to-radio/

Zorro fans also be sure to check out The Mark of Zorro radio drama as well.

Zorro Makes Radio Drama Review List

http://radiodramaspotlight.blogspot.com/

Johnston McCulley Zorro Full-Cast Radio Drama Adventure

Johnston McCulley's first three Zorro novels come to life before your very ears with a full-cast of actors, music and sound effects in these outstanding audio dramatizations. Enjoy hours of  swashbuckling adventure with the original masked hero of Spanish California while traveling in the car; as a bedtime story; or gathered together as a family. No matter how you listen you'll find these productions highly entertaining. So turn the lights down and your imagination up because Zorro never sounded so good!

The first three of Zorro creator Johnston McCulley's novels come to sonic life.

Cover art collage featuring the posters of the The Mark of Zorro (Hollywood Theater of the Ear - Blackstone Audio Publishing); Zorro and the Pirate Raiders (Colonial Radio Theater - Brilliance Audio Publishing); Zorro Rides Again (Colonial Radio Theater - Brilliance Audio Publishing

For more on these audio dramas follow the link.
http://zorro-swashbucklingnewsandupdates.blogspot.com/2012/06/zorro-returns-to-world-of-radio-drama.html

http://zorro-swashbucklingnewsandupdates.blogspot.com/2011/04/zorro-radio-dramas.html