Erik Bauersfeld is one of the foremost American radio dramatists and for over 40 years has been one of the most distinguished names in cultural broadcasting.
From 1962 to 1991 Bauersfeld worked for America’s first listener-sponsored radio station Pacifica Radio’s KPFA as its Drama and Literature Director. From 1986 to 2004 he was KPFA’s Director of Special Projects. In 1986 Bauersfeld established the Bay Area Radio Drama (BARD) whose mission is to develop audio art works for radio, Internet, libraries, and other venues. The National Endowments for the Humanities and for the Arts have funded many Bay Area Radio Drama projects including an Eugene O’Neill Radio Series, seven plays under the direction of José Quintero, with sound design by Randy Thom, and an eighth directed by Edward Hastings. BARD also has produced original radio dramas by more than 30 Bay Area writers and theater artists including Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Sam Shepard, Susan Griffin, Ed Bullins, and Ellen Sebastian Chang. The productions have had national and international distribution.
Erik was the first voice to be recorded for Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back and also provided voice for Return of the Jedi and Artificial Intelligence. Erik joined the crew in Bixby Canyon for several days during the filming of One Fast Move. Erik offered compelling and astute insights about Big Sur to the beach bonfire discussion we filmed with Dar Williams, John Ventimiglia and Donal Logue.
