Playing On Air: Short Audio Plays

About Playing On Air: Short Audio Plays

Hear short, contemporary stage plays with first-rate casts. Playing on Air brings together award winners and emerging young talent, and each play is followed by a conversation with the playwrights and cast. Tune in for great American plays with great American actors, hosted and produced by Claudia Catania.

Publisher

Playing on Air

Category

arts · arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Mar 2015

Latest episode

20 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

6 of 196 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   A HEADSPACE MEDITATION by Mara Nelson-Greenberg

   Mara Nelson-Greenberg's audio play, "A Headspace Meditation," guides listeners through a calming meditation, encouraging them to slow down and feel more grounded as part of the Playing on Air series.

2. 

   6 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   THE RED COAT by John Patrick Shanley

   Playwright John Patrick Shanley's play "The Red Coat" follows a teenage boy in the Bronx who waits outside a party to tell a girl he loves her, featuring Amy Ryan and Michael Stuhlbarg.

3. 

   23 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   FATHER'S SIN by Maleek Rae

   Today, we are proud to premiere the inaugural MC Libby Commission, "Father's Sin" by Maleek Rae with music by Xander Browne. "Father's Sin" is Directed by POA Alum, Goldie E. Patrick Jezelle the Gazelle and Revelations) Welcome back to another episode of Playing on Air! Last month, we premiered "73, SK." by Else Went, directed by Emma Rosa Went, and "The Corner Cafe" by Charles Mee, directed by Tom Dugdale.  We've got 5 plays for the '25 - '26 Season, 4 of which are new plays, and 3 of those new plays are commissions. The cast of "Father's Sin" features Maleek Rae and POA Alum, Frankie Faison Playing on Air is hosted by Artistic Director, Joshua Kahan Brody and Associate Artistic Director & Creative Producer, Garlia Cornelia Jones. ABOUT THE PLAY, "FATHER'S SIN": FATHER'S SIN is an audio offering that captures a father on death row making his final phone call to his son. Through this brief yet powerful piece, it explores the passing of generational legacies—the good, the bad, and the divine. Using music and poetic language, FATHER'S SIN is a hand reaching out with hope, seeking connection and understanding across the divides of time and circumstance. Featuring original music by Maleek Rae and Xander Browne, the piece highlights how music can step in during moments when words fail us and we struggle to express what we truly feel. Hosted by Joshua Kahan Brody & Garlia Cornelia Jones Produced by Garlia Cornelia Jones & Joshua Kahan Brody Recording by John Kilgore Audio editing and sound design by John Kilgore and Xander Browne Our Theme Music is by Tom Kochan. "Father's Sin" music composed by Xander Browne Lyrics Maleek Rae "Father's Sin" audio play mixing by John Kilgore "Father's Sin" song mixing by Xander Browne Piano, Xander Browne Viola and Violin, LeiOra Hughes, viola and violin Rap, Maleek Rae Vocals, Murphy Lorenzo Applin Jr. Season Key Art: Tylar Greer-Travis Visit our website, www.playingonair.org for more information and to support our programming. Subscribe, Like, Follow, Review or leave a comment! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Who has been a guest on Playing On Air: Short Audio Plays

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kirsten Greenidge
• Seret Scott
• Postell Pringle
• Nikkole Salter
• Brittany Allen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

166 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Contact Playing On Air: Short Audio Plays

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

• 

  The Moth

• 

  This American Life

• 

  Radiolab

• 

  Hidden Brain

• 

  Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Questions about Playing On Air: Short Audio Plays