H.G. Wells'
War of the Worlds

September 30 - October 2
Directed by Diane Kerner Arnett

 


From The Director:

Even after we humans have explored every inch of the universe, War of the Worlds will still appeal to us. It illustrates one of the deepest fears we have shared through the centuries - the fear of an unknown and uncaring menace destroying our lives without giving any warning.

We see and hear echoes of that fear every day, with memories of the September 11 terrorist attacks still fresh in our minds as we continue these several years later to witness the destruction wrought by nature in Hurricane Katrina.

The live rendition of sound effects in Pottsy's creative adaptation links this performance to the 1938 radio broadcast when listeners had barely recovered from radio reports of the Hindenberg disaster and as radio was becoming the messenger bearing news of Hitler's bloody march across Europe.

Though that was almost seven decades ago, and the H.G. Wells novel it was adapted from was 40 years before that, the horror of the story still rings true. And if we occasionally acknowledge that fear, it can only serve to make us hold our loved ones a little closer.

-- Diane Kerner Arnett




The Cast

William "Gus" Gocella ........................................................ as Alex Edwards
Rick Frederick ........................................................ as Jerry Oliver
Chris Mackowski ........................................................ as Chaz Bradley
Rebekah J. Cramer ........................................................ as Roberta Seedin
Dani Brien ........................................................ as Laura Mallecker
Michael Church ........................................................ as Caller 1 and Dr. Oliver Bozley
Cole Vecchio ........................................................ as Caller 2
Julie Shembeda-Burns ........................................................ as Carol Tibbits
Casey Bucher ........................................................ as William, Donald Stokes and Bystander 2
Martha Madden ........................................................ as Bystander 1 and Professor
Kimberly Marcott Weinberg ........................................................ as Chris Johansen
Linda Pascarella ........................................................ as Bystander 3
Barbara Gee ........................................................ as Taylor and The Director
Charles Church ........................................................ as the Announcer
Chris Taylor ....................................................... as Mary Rechelfratz (pre-show)

 

The Crew

Diane Kerner Arnett  ........................ Director
Nanci Garris ........................ Producer, Set Designer, Assistant Director
Richard Blair ........................ Light Design and Operation
Pottsy ........................ Sound Mixing and Recording
Rebekah D. Blair, Charles E. Church and Anne Holliday ........................ Sound Effects
Martha Madden ........................ Costumes
Eric Van Druff ........................ Curtain
Sharie Radzavich, Julie Dykstra ........................ Publicity
Kathleen Vecchio ........................ Library Display

 

From the Assistant Director: 

Having the opportunity to work on W.o.W. with Diane and Pottsy has been exciting and challenging. Participating in a project that began with just a conversational idea and watching it blossom into a full-blown script and then a performance was incredible.

When asked to design a set, I went into my usual mode of designing a world that transformed the stage. As I watched the rehearsals and really listened to the play, I knew the script called for something different. This world is one of the actors' voices, and those voices are the stars. So, on a minimal set where those voices have a chance to shine, I ask the audience to enjoy what transpires and to allow those voices to speak. For me, War of the Worlds has been an "out of this world" experience.

--Nanci Garris


 

From the Adaptation Author:

We had the idea to do W.o.W., but listening to the Orson Welles version, realized it wouldn't play today because no one would believe it. I went back to the novel, got some facts and started from scratch.

The show is updated to focus on the Bradford area, bringing the horror home to us. This version also uses some of the language and technology used in the media today.

--Pottsy

 

Special Thanks:

Sally Costik, curator, Bradford Landmark Society

UPB

The Bradford Era

WESB

Bradford Area Public Library