Audible in the News: May 31 Edition

Highlights from this week's global press coverage of Audible.

PROOF OF LOVE, THE INAUGURAL PRODUCTION FROM AUDIBLE'S EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT FUND, EARNS GLOWING REVIEWS

Audible's production of Proof of Love at the Minetta Lane Theatre is earning many positive reviews. The New Yorker called it “charming,” Newsday highlighted the play as one of “10 Best Things to Do This Weekend,” and AM New York named it a “Weekend AM NY Pick.” The first of Audible's plays from our emerging playwright fund was written by Newark native and resident Chisa Hutchinson.

“Pressley, under Jade King Carroll's direction, gives life to Constance's biting quips and classist judgments and delivers a charming performance full of snark and pep.” —The New Yorker

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY FEATURES AUTHOR ALYSSA COLE'S FIRST-EVER AUDIBLE ORIGINAL

Entertainment Weekly featured best-selling author Alyssa Cole's upcoming Audible Original The A.I Who Loved Me. Cole spoke about her experience writing exclusively for audio and why she loves listening to Audible books.

“When my books weren't in audio, I had people asking me to get them recorded. I didn't quite understand what the hype was at first, but (and I know this sounds like an infomercial or something), when I finally started listening, I realized I could read all the time!? Like, when I was cleaning, when I was driving, while walking the dogs...audiobooks allow me to read way more.” —Alyssa Cole

PIX11 SHOWCASES AUDIBLE'S INNOVATION CATHEDRAL

PIX11 showcased Audible's years-long effort to restore the 80,000 square foot space now known as Audible's Innovation Cathedral. PIX11 spoke with Meryl Hether, whose parents and grandparents were married at the church, about the significance of the restoration to Newark's history. PIX11 also highlighted Audible's Newark Now initiative.

“I think this is amazing. I love that they kept the history and then brought it to a modern place.” —Meryl Hether

THE DAILY STAR HIGHLIGHTS AUDIBLE'S UPCOMING STAGE AT WILDERNESS FESTIVAL

In the UK, The Daily Star previewed Audible's upcoming presentation of “Audible Live Stage,” a striking audio-first stage hosted at Wilderness Festival 2019 in the heart of Oxfordshire's idyllic countryside. “Audible Live Stage” will bring the power of voice to life with a thoughtful, engaging and insightful program of talks, debates, discussions and performances celebrating the best of the spoken-word.

“Audible, spoken word kings, are bringing a live stage to the Oxfordshire event with talks from Rose McGowan, Adam Kay, and many more.” – The Daily Star

BUSTLE CITES AUDIBLE'S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON STUDY

In a story about the rise in popularity of audiobooks, Bustle cited Audible's study with University College London, which revealed that listening to Audible books elicited a more intense physiological and emotional reaction than watching a film or television.

“According to a 2018 study conducted by the University College London and funded by Audible, audiobooks can make listeners more emotional than movies and television during key narrative moments...If you love audiobooks, you should listen to them. And yes, it counts as reading.” - Bustle

ROMPER SUGGESTS TWO AUDIBLE ORIGINALS “FOR KIDS THAT WON'T BORE PARENTS”

In a listicle of “Audiobooks For Kids That Won't Bore Parents To Tears,” Romper suggested Audible Originals Riley Mack and Other Known Troublemakers and Zero G.

NEWARK CELEBRATES THE GRAND OPENING OF AUDIBLE'S INNOVATION CATHEDRAL

The Newark Star-Ledger, NBC New York, CBS Radio, CW New York, the Associated Press, New Jersey Real Estate Report, and many more local and national media outlets celebrated the grand opening of Audible's 80,000 square foot Innovation Cathedral.

“Audible just opened an office inside an old N.J. church, complete with organ pipes and stained glass.” — Newark Star-Ledger

RED MAGAZINE NAMES THREE ONLY-FROM-AUDIBLE TITLES AMONG “BEST AUDIOBOOKS”

In the UK, Red Magazine named three only-from-Audible titles—Our Mutual Friend performed by Meera Syal, Station Eleven performed by Jack Hawkins, and The End of The Affair performed by Colin Firth—among the best audiobooks.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ANNOUNCES YARA SHAHIDI AS STAR OF STAN LEE'S ALLIANCES: A TRICK OF LIGHT

The Hollywood Reporter announced that actor and activist Yara Shahidi will star in the upcoming Audible Original Stan Lee's Alliances: A Trick of Light—the first installment of a new connected universe of stories and characters, debuting on Audible in a first-of-its-kind audio storytelling event.

“I'm honored to help bring to life Stan Lee's Alliances: A Trick of Light. This project has allowed me to dive deeper into a world of imagination created for us by Stan Lee, whose stories seem to always transcend time.” —Yara Shahidi

NICK OFFERMAN RAVES ABOUT WORKING WITH AUDIBLE

In an interview with UPROXX, Nick Offerman raved about his experience working with Audible on his most recent Audible Original More Bedtime Stories For Cynics also featuring Mike Birbiglia, Alia Shawkat, Ellen Page, Patrick Stewart, and more.

“Well, the brains at Audible are, I would consider, superior to my own. They told me about the project... The people writing the stories are so clever... When Audible broached this to me, they said, 'It's meant as a bedtime story, but it's very grown-up and all of these weird, and fun, perverse people are going to be writing and reading the stories.' I said, 'Oh, that sounds like it should have been my idea. Please count me in.'” —Nick Offerman

THEATER OUTLETS FEATURE WORLD PREMIERE OF PROOF OF LOVE AT THE MINETTA LANE

Playbill and Broadway World featured the world premiere of Audible's production of Proof of Love at the Minetta Lane Theatre.

*“The play is the inaugural production to come out of Audible's Emerging Playwright program, which currently includes 25 commissions. As with previous Audible productions at the Minetta Lane, the play will be recorded and released as an audio play.” —Playbill_

MARIE CLAIRE AND COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE PRAISE AUDIBLE TITLES

Marie Claire selected Audible Original The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson as one of “15 True Crime Podcasts to Listen to in 2019”, and Country Living Magazine named Audible exclusives Born a Crime performed by Trevor Noah and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer performed by Nick Offerman among the “20 Best Audiobooks for Those Extra-Long Road Trips.”