This American Life Live!

Thu., April 23, 8 p.m., $20, multiple locations, thisamericanlife.org.

by Lauren F. Friedman

The core idea behind This American Life — a 14-year-old Chicago Public Radio program that's now also a TV show — seems quaint, almost of another time: Every week, in an age of CGI animation and Wii remotes, 1.3 million people all over the country use a technology that seemed nifty in the '20s to listen to ordinary people tell their life stories. They can be funny or tragic, surprising or predictable, relatable or unbelievable, but they are almost universally fascinating and — best of all — true.

"It's not news, and it's not sensationalized, but there's something about it," says Seth Lind, the show's production manager. "I think it makes people feel a little less crazy."

On April 23, in a rather sensational mingling of old-world entertainment and new-fangled technology, an episode of This American Life will be recorded live and simulcast to 430 theaters all over the country.

"Radio listening is usually such a solitary thing," Lind says. "I think people are excited just to be in the room with other fans of the show."

Favorite past contributors will riff on the theme of "return to the scene of the crime." Starlee Kine will share a story about a self-help retreat and Dan Savage will talk about how his mother's death renewed his interest in Catholicism.

The show will also include special visuals: Kine's story will be illustrated by 140 Post-it notes, and host Ira Glass' introductory tale will be accompanied by a new cartoon from Chris Ware. "It's about a mouse who falls in love with a cat head — sort of an abusive relationship," says Lind, who points to Joss Whedon's musical performance as another potential highlight.

"He's not really a musician," Lind says, "but hopefully he will stop people from crying after Dan Savage's story."

Thu., April 23, 8 p.m., $20, multiple locations (The Bridge, 230 S. 40th St.; UA Riverview Plaza, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd.; AMC Plymouth Meeting Mall, 494 W. Germantown Pike), thisamericanlife.org.