Producer Director Charles Goforth

Performed by a full cast

The Lovely Dark is a fiction podcast about how darkness in our lives may reveal a path to love and light.

Each of these short audio plays is written by an award-winning writer and performed by a cast of remarkable actors, including Oscar winners and members of New York City’s Labyrinth Theater Company. Each episode is produced with a full cast and a beautiful, immersive soundscape.

In the dark, we can see lights that were hidden before. We might finally see a way forward or come to a threshold that we must cross. Maybe we catch an ugly view of ourselves and resolve to make a change, or we discover a new capacity for love or forgiveness that in the full light of day we could never have imagined.

Welcome, Friends, to The Lovely Dark.

1. Introduction

2. Customer Service written by Lia Romeo

Jasmine’s grandma has died recently, and she misses her terribly, especially now that her mom is so busy. So, when Jasmine finds an antique phone in the basement, she tries to use it for a fanciful chat with her grandma. But this phone is not a toy!

3. Guy Donalson written by Joey Palestina

In this steampunk opera, set in the year 2070, Guy Donalson meets a hologram therapist who sends him on the ride of his life—his selfish, screwed up, almost irredeemable life.

4. The Change written by Lia Romeo

Lily’s baby is acting so strangely. She barely recognizes him! Desperate, frightened, and out of answers, she Googles “Black Magic.”

5. A Cosmic Misunderstanding written by Hedia Anvar, with Paul Dimitropoulos

Joyce and Rafik are ambassadors from Earth on a peaceful mission to greet a newly discovered species. But just before they make it to the planet’s surface, they are thrown into an orbiting prison. Surely, there has been a (cosmic!) misunderstanding.

6. Clementine written by Kaethe Fine

Clementine wants to be a mother but cannot carry a pregnancy. When she commits to adopting a baby, she undergoes a frightening transformation.

7. We Came All This Way written by Jan Rosenberg

Before she died in a car accident, Jeff’s wife promised their two young daughters a dog. Jeff breaks the promise and hopes instead that a camping trip will help the girls to heal. But in these ancient woods, a promise is a promise.

8. Learning to Swim written by Dipti Bramhandkar

Amar is thrilled to be taking his wife, Neeta, to see a surprise that he’s gotten for her. But when they arrive, and Neeta sees what he’s done, her heart darkens.

9. Just Beyond written by Padraic Lillis

Nathan’s dream of becoming a renowned artist has brought him to a precipice. Now is the moment for a brave leap! Can he summon the courage to go beyond himself?

10. Kishori’s Canteen written by Dipti Bramhandkar

Kishori has died recently and left her husband and poet daughter with a struggling family restaurant. But how will they save it when they no longer understand what it is?

11. Before Your Eyes written by Deborah Zoe Laufer

As she takes her last dying breaths, Jamie is surrounded by family, and is being introduced to Lucas, her new great grandson. In a flash, she rewinds to a time when she met another boy named Lucas, the love of her life, and she joins him now for one last trip.

12. The Long Way Home written by Lia Romeo

After a night of hard drinking, James hails an Uber for the short ride home. But when the familiar route turns weird, and he doesn’t recognize the streets, he fears that he’s being taken someplace else.

13. Flowers & Buttons written by Padraic Lillis

In the shadow of a terrible loss, two circus clowns discover that their friendship is more brightly illuminated than ever..

14. Behind-the-Scenes Interviews, Introduction

15. Interview with Andre Fratto, Composer

16. Interview with Dipti Bramhandkar, Writer

17. Interview with Padraic Lillis, Writer

18. Epilogue with Charles Goforth, Producer

19. Closing Credits