L.A. Theatre Works Elevates Audio Drama with Ambitious "Citadel" Podcast Series

28 May 2025

L.A. Theatre Works (LATW), the Los Angeles-based powerhouse of audio storytelling, is making waves once again with its latest podcast series Citadel. Known for decades of excellence in adapting stage plays into powerful audio dramas, LATW is embracing the podcast era with creativity, precision, and a continued commitment to making theater accessible in new, immersive formats.

Citadel, which centers on climate catastrophe and psychological survival in a high-tech dystopia, is the latest in LATW's long tradition of blending powerful storytelling with aural ingenuity. Set in the near future, the podcast explores life inside a domed city that shields its elite citizens from the uninhabitable world beyond. But as is always the case with utopias, cracks appear moral, emotional, and systemic and what unfolds is a tense, character-driven narrative that questions power, privilege, and survival.

The story’s themes are both timely and haunting, reflecting growing public anxiety about climate change, authoritarianism, and social division. But rather than leaning on clichés, Citadel digs into its characters’ psychological complexity. Listeners are drawn into intimate relationships, betrayals, and dilemmas that feel incredibly human even in an artificial world.

What sets LATW’s production apart is its signature use of cinematic sound design and its cast of accomplished voice actors. Featuring performances by recognizable stage and screen talents, each episode is packed with emotion, tension, and sharp dialogue. The show's production quality rivals any top-tier podcast on platforms like Audible or Spotify, proving once again that LATW remains a leader in the audio drama world.

LATW has long made its mark by reviving classic plays and modern works for audio audiences. Since transitioning from stage performance to recorded radio dramas in the 1980s, the nonprofit has produced over 400 plays, many featuring Hollywood veterans such as Annette Bening, Alfred Molina, and George Clooney. Their mission: to democratize access to theater and preserve dramatic literature in an engaging and portable format.

Over the years, LATW's audio dramas have aired on over 80 public radio stations across the U.S. and are now accessible on major streaming platforms and podcast apps. The organization also distributes recordings to libraries and schools, ensuring that students and educators have access to world-class theatrical productions, even where live theater is scarce.

With Citadel, LATW isn't just producing another play, it's creating a sensory experience. Each soundscape is meticulously crafted, each voice layered with care, making listeners feel as if they’re walking the polished halls of the titular dome, peeking behind government curtains, and breathing the filtered air of a world on the brink.

In a cultural moment where attention spans are short and screens dominate daily life, LATW's work reminds us of the power of listening. Citadel is more than a podcast; it's a revival of the radio play tradition, reimagined for the 21st century.

As podcasts continue to dominate the storytelling space, L.A. Theatre Works’ pivot to immersive fiction shows how theater can evolve without losing its soul. Citadel is both a thrilling listen and a sign of things to come.