The University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company continues its 48th season with the Michigan Premiere of War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Written by Joe Landry, performances will take place at The Marlene Boll Theatre inside the Boll Family YMCA in downtown Detroit.
The play celebrates the 80th anniversary of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel, The War of the Worlds. Welles’ historic broadcast threw humanity into chaos when everyone thought extraterrestrials actually landed on earth. The radio drama vividly described the unfolding events with such realism it permanently altered broadcast radio.
Joe Landry’s adaptation, War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, retells the story of this infamous evening on stage. Live foley sound effects, music and vintage commercials will bring to life the story behind the broadcast while we once again experience the alien invasion. This radio-play-within-a-radio-play is a thrilling homage to the form’s golden age and a timely reminder of what fear can do to a society.
War of the Words: The Panic Broadcast runs Nov. 30 – Dec. 09 with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 6, 7 and 8; and at 3 p.m. on Dec. 2 and 9.
Directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre, Andrew Papa, the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s cast — a collective of artists composed of faculty, guest artists and students from the acclaimed University of Detroit Mercy acting program — includes professional David Gram. Students include Andrew Guay, Preston Cornelius, Taylor LaPorte and Elise Pannemann.
The production team features Assistant Professor Melinda Pacha as scenic and costume designer, Alan Devlin as technical director and sound designer, Seth Amadei as lighting designer, Bridget Smith as stage manager and Amelia Rose Glen as assistant stage manager. Other members of the production team are Associate Professor Greg Grobis as managing director, Damian Torres-Botello, S.J., as outreach and audience development coordinator and Evans Tasiopoulos as ticket office coordinator and photographer.
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Specials events and engagements
War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast events and special engagements include:
- Friday, Nov. 30 – Opening Night Cast Party: Join the cast and crew at the Detroit Beer Co. after the show!
- Saturday, Dec. 1 – Community Night: Celebrate our Detroit community with $15 discounted tickets. Then gather with your friends after the show to connect, network and enjoy discounted bites and beverages – up to 50 percent off!
- Sunday, Dec. 2 – Theatre Discussion Project: “The Real on Fake News” – Take part in a discussion about how media disseminates information and its real impact on people’s lives. Brad Schwartz, author of Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News, will lead a discussion about our current news climate and its impact on our society. Discover what has changed over time, what has not changed, and how we become more aware of media literacy in this hyperbolic era of fake news proliferation.
- Thursday, Dec. 6 – Community Night: Celebrate our Detroit community with $15 discounted tickets. Then gather with your friends after the show to connect, network and enjoy discounted bites and beverages – up to 50 percent off!
- Saturday, Dec. 8 – Pre-Show Event: “Sound Check” – The art of sound is both precise and fun. In our production, sound effects are accomplished through foley artistry, a common practice during America’s radio days. Before the play, attend a foley art demonstration and then remain for the performance to see (and hear) sound in action.
More information about events and special engagements is available at www.TheTheatreCo.com.
Tickets, ticket office, and theatre location
Tickets to War of the Worlds The Panic Broadcast are available online at www.DetroitMercyArts.com or over the phone at 313-993-3270. Individual ticket prices are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for veterans and $10 for students (with valid ID). Discounts are available for groups of 10-15 and special rates for groups larger than 15. To schedule your group, contact Damian Torres-Botello for further details at 313-993-3273.
Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s 48th season is presented at The Marlene Boll Theatre at the Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway St. in Detroit. This intimate black box theater seats an audience between 90-120 people depending on the production. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with a Thursday evening performance on Nov. 6; and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Due to limited seating, patrons are encouraged to secure their tickets early.
The Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Ticket office is located in Room 43 in Reno Hall on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. Hours are Wednesdays – Fridays; Noon – 5 p.m. To order tickets, please call 313-993-3270.