The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts is excited to present “War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast” Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium. General admission tickets are $10, Northwestern employees are $5 and students with ID are $3.
This production commemorates the 85th anniversary of the infamous October 30, 1938, radio play “War of the Worlds” written by H.G. Wells that was originally presented by “Mercury Theater of the Air.” Orson Welles was the director and star of the original production.
Northwestern’s cast of 22 will present the original production of “War of the Worlds” along with the history that occurred during that period that terrified thousands of Americans who thought the broadcast of a Martian invasion was real sending many into a mass panic – essentially making this production a play within a play.
“Presenting a play within a play is always an interesting experience and hopefully the audience will enjoy the story,” Kimberly Weast, professor of theatre arts and director of the production, said.
The audience will see the stage as if it were the CBS radio studio in 1938. Actors will be standing around microphones, reading from scripts and using items such as tin cans and cigar boxes to alter their voices. The actors also will be involved in creating many of the live Foley sound effects, which is always a challenge.
“The students have learned a significant amount about radio history, Foley stages, and how difficult it is to read out loud and use their voices to tell a story,” Weast said.
Mickey Jordan, director of technical theatre, is the assistant director. Designers are the students of the Theatre Production I & II classes. Ashland Crites, Hennessey sophomore majoring in English, is the stage manager.
Students involved with this production include the following:
Archer Bohlen of Ringwood, senior computer science major; Gabriel Bussinger of Woodward, sophomore speech and theater major; Alan Garcia, Beaver junior majoring in biology-health science; Samuel Grinder of Sayre, senior vocal music major; Jameson Hale of Elk City, junior vocal music major; Temberlenn Hall of Magnolia, junior speech and theater major; Maegan Holson of Waynoka, sophomore psychology major; Wyatt Kite of Enid, freshman psychology major; Jaden Matthews of Hennessey, sophomore English major; Gail Schroeder of Okeene, freshman speech and theater major; Darian Smith of Alva, senior music major; Emily Smith of Harrah, senior vocal music major; Lisa Turner of Alva, senior speech and theater major; Rosa Vargas of Lahoma, freshman instrumental music major; Emily Wright of Cheyenne, sophomore mass communication major; and Crites.
For more information on “War of the Worlds” or the theatre program, contact Weast at (580) 327-8462 or kkweast@nwosu.edu or Jordan at (580) 327-8458 or mojordan@nwosu.edu.
For additional information about the theatre program, visit www.www.nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/fine-arts/speech-and-theatre. More about all facets of the Reichenberger Fine Arts Department may be found at www.www.nwosu.edu/fine-arts.
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