'War Of The Worlds,' Live Radio Play, Debuts In Southampton Soon

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Just in time for Halloween, a show is debuting in Southampton that once left audiences terrified.

Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center is poised to present the Long Island premiere of Joe Landry’s War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, A Live Radio Play. The show will be presented for one weekend only, on October 21 and 22 at the Southampton Arts Center, located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton.

Performance times are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Michael Disher will direct the live radio adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic novel.

The War of the Worlds has been both popular — having never been out of print — and influential, spawning numerous feature films, radio dramas, a record album, comic book adaptations, television series, and sequels or parallel stories by other authors, Disher said.

The work was memorably dramatized in a pre-Halloween 1938 radio program directed by and starring Orson Wells, that reportedly caused panic among listeners who did not know that the news bulletins — about a Martian invasion — were fictional, Disher explained.

Landry’s radio play, War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, A Live Radio Play highlights the day leading up to the infamous Halloween 1938 broadcast — and its unpredictable aftermath, Disher said.

"Landry’s adaptation of the Wells classic is particularly relevant and pertinent. The persuasive and often pervasive power of print and broadcast journalism has never been more apparent," said Disher. "The responsibility of presenting facts without speculation or opinion is where undeniable truth lies."

The show's cast features Richard Adler, Daniel Becker, Richard Browning, Susan Cincotta, Joey Giovingo, Vincenzo Harty, Jenifer Maxson, Matthew O’Connor, Franco Pistritto, and Michaal Lyn Schepps.

Speaking with Patch, Disher explained why he believes the show speaks to the critical role of media in society.

"First of all, I have a firm belief that truth is actually one's opinion or one's perspective, whereas fact is undeniable and irrefutable," he said. "Far too often, I see and/or read news reports and literally have to stop myself and think, 'Now, is this someone's opinion, or is this actually fact?' And while I am curiously intrigued by many opinions, so much of the news which we receive on a daily, no, hourly basis, is either hypothesis, hyperbole or hype. Still, I can't imagine news that is factual only. Correct, yes. Dry and droll, without question."

Unlike during his youth, Disher said today, the public has access to news from hundreds of print outlets and "far too many 24/7 stations to avoid a reasonable amount of, shall I say, colorful journalism. It is important however to be able to separate the two — that which is fact, with that which is potentially fictitious."

War of the Worlds is history, he said.

"A seemingly harmless adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel was first presented on the radio on October 30, 1938. 85 years ago, this literary adaptation still lives on as perhaps the most terrifying radio program ever aired. And because it was convincingly aired through a communications outlet, many believed it to be true. Fiction viewed as fact is dangerous. I am actually surprised more people have not considered offering this title as a Halloween alternative. In my opinion, it is equally enlightening and frightening."

Disher said the venue for the production is simply sublime.

"In my opinion, theater needs to adapt to the current embrace of immediacy and instancy," he said. "Southampton Arts Center offered Center Stage, a beautiful space in an historic building with one initial stipulation: our theatrical events be held to one weekend only. And I have to admit, thus far, I like the format. I love radio plays. I love actively staged readings. I love workshops. The venue at Southampton Arts Center offers an intimate space and setting that easily adapts to the demands of each production."

Christina Strassfield, executive director and her staff have been "gracious and welcoming," he said. "From a performer’s standpoint, I think the brevity of the rehearsal schedule appeals to many. So few people have the available time to commit four to five nights weekly to rehearsal for six to eight weeks — and a three-weekend run of a show. Times have changed. Theatrically, we must learn to adapt — without compromising integrity or excellence."

Each production leaves its mark on Disher, a man whose profound passion for bringing introspective and cutting-edge theater to the East End is legendary.

"I know this sounds like a cliché, but I'm still learning from this experience," he said, of War of the Worlds. "Yes, from the material. Yes, from the process. Yes, hopefully, from its potential. The end result remains to be seen. Time will tell — it usually does."

War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, A Live Radio Play is sponsored in part by Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

General admission tickets cost $20 and SAC member admission is $15. All tickets are available at available here or by calling 631 283-0967. Tickets are also available at the door. Reservations are recommended.