TheatreUNCA: “War of the Worlds”

In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds – Orson Welles’ dramatization of the H.G. Wells novel – TheatreUNCA will bring the drama to the stage, with shows Sept. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., and a special midnight show on Sept. 29, all in Belk Theatre.

The original 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds was part of the radio drama series, The Mercury Theatre on the Air, and after media reports alleging that the show caused public panic, the show gained legendary status.

The version that TheatreUNCA will bring to the Belk Theatre stage is War of the Worlds – The 1938 Radio Script, a drama by Howard E. Koch, given a new interpretation by guest director Kirstin Leigh Daniel. Students Connor Harmsworth and Jarrett Lefler, will be the “Foley” artists – providing the sound effects that were the staple of the golden age of radio. Completing the cast will be students Geordie Bailey, Marcus Christensen, Jack Cook, Morgan Fuller, Tori Isenhour, Alex Levine and Bri Stewart, and local stage mainstay, George Heard of the chemistry faculty.

War of the Worlds is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

General admission tickets to TheatreUNCA performances are $12; students and OLLI members, $7; and faculty and seniors, $10. Tickets are available at the door and online. When ordering tickets for the midnight show, use the September 30 selection.

For more information, contact Suzie Morris in UNC Asheville’s Department of Drama, smorris1@unca.edu or 828.251.6610.

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