Lend Me An Ear

For nine years, the Bi-Union Radio Players have been volunteering their talents for the annual Lend Me an Ear night of old-time radio benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank. During that period, we have had nearly 100 diverse cast members. It really has helped us to become a cohesive group. 

There is much buzz in the entertainment world here in anticipation of the event. We actually know of at least one SAG-AFTRA-eligible actor who joined just to be able to perform in the show! In addition to bringing our SAG-AFTRA and local AEA members together for a good cause, it allows our brothers and sisters to hone their craft and expand their horizons, perhaps giving them the opportunity to do voices and characters not normally in their repertoire.

The great publicity the event always generates also helps brand the union as a community player, especially as we are higher profile now that we have so much work as a result of our tax incentives, which is really fantastic in a “right-to-work-for-less” state.

This year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of Lend Me an Ear, and are hoping to secure the rights to something special: Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds, in honor of the 75th anniversary of its broadcast. This could prove to be another big boon for our organizing work here in Atlanta.

Read more about radio players in the Winter 2013 issue of SAG-AFTRA magazine. Click here to view it.

Barry Stoltze
Producer, LMAE
Co-National Board member