War of the Worlds by H.G. WellsWar of the Worlds was our first radio drama. We promoted Meals on Wheels in Central Connecticut to help feed people in need.
A regular radio broadcast is interrupted by news of a strange object landing in a field in New Jersey. The gathered crowd quickly transitions from curious to fearful as the nature of the object and the intentions of its creators are revealed. The entire nation enters a state of panic as they scramble to mobilize against a powerful and mysterious foe. The show aired originally aired on October 30th, 1938. Our production aired on Saturday, May 9th, 2020 at 3pm. |
Promo Video
Click here to read a review of the show by Jay Michaels from Medium.com
Directed & Edited by Bob Johnson
Associate Produced by Kate Greenberg
Associate Produced by Kate Greenberg
Cast
Announcer: Scott Faubel
Announcer 1: Rod Ross
Announcer 2: Rosie Garcia
Orson Wells: Harry Minot
Phillips: Nils Swanson
Pierson: Brady Amoon
Mrs. Wilmuth: Nova Hall
General Smith: Jack Boggan
McDonald: Jack Boggan
Captain Lansing: Elliott Mayer
Interior Secretary: Stephanie Taylor
Officer: Jono Hall
Gunner: Caroline Brody
Observer: Kate Greenberg
Commander: Terrence Christgau
Operator 1: Johnny Blaze Leavitt
Operator 2: Donna White
Operator 3: Erika Radin
Operator 4: Humza Mian
Operator 5: Monica Blaze Leavitt
Stranger: Jessica Puentevella
Musician: Jo Williamson
Announcer 1: Rod Ross
Announcer 2: Rosie Garcia
Orson Wells: Harry Minot
Phillips: Nils Swanson
Pierson: Brady Amoon
Mrs. Wilmuth: Nova Hall
General Smith: Jack Boggan
McDonald: Jack Boggan
Captain Lansing: Elliott Mayer
Interior Secretary: Stephanie Taylor
Officer: Jono Hall
Gunner: Caroline Brody
Observer: Kate Greenberg
Commander: Terrence Christgau
Operator 1: Johnny Blaze Leavitt
Operator 2: Donna White
Operator 3: Erika Radin
Operator 4: Humza Mian
Operator 5: Monica Blaze Leavitt
Stranger: Jessica Puentevella
Musician: Jo Williamson
Cast Biographies
Brady Amoon (Pierson) is glad to aid the relief effort by appearing as Pierson. Recent productions include directing Measure for Measure with Children’s Shakespeare Theatre, producing talent in honor of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial and appearing in Pancake Productions’ inaugural pantomime. Sending love and good wishes to my friends, family and all of those on the frontlines.
Johnny Blaze Leavitt (Operator 1) is an actor, playwright, and comedian. Recent credits: Zombie Dean Martin in The Rat Pack Undead (Cooper Jordan Entertainment), Jason/Male Swing in Friendly's Fire (Rising Sun Performance Company) and Henry in The Man Who Found Troy (American Theatre of Actors). Recent TV/Film: Armageddon Rising (a Tom Zanca Production), Creation, the Abbreviated Version (Solar Plexus Productions) and the Monster in Myth: A Short Movie (SPOV Productions). SAG/AFTRA, EMC
Monica Blaze Leavitt (Operator 5) is honored to be a part of War of the Worlds. Mrs. Leavitt is a proud Artistic Founding Member of the award winning theatre company, Transport Group. She has been seen Off Broadway in Transport Group’s productions of All the Way Home, Requiem for William, The Audience, cul-de-sac and Our Town. She has been studying the art of acting since the age of 11 and has created original roles for over 50 new plays in NYC. She has been seen in the Cherry Lane Theatre’s production of Maggie’s Porch, The McCarter’s Cymbeline directed by Mark Lamos, Safe – by and with Richard Vitere and over 100 other productions around NYC. She can be seen on Netflix in Remedy and The Pandora Machine as well as other numerous Independent Films and short films. TV credits include Law and Order, Sex in the City and The Guiding Light. Online – Preggers, Hot Mess and Chroniclers of Darkness by Uncle Yo. Monica is also a voice over artist, fight director, movement specialist and voice and diction teacher. www.monicablazeleavitt.com
Jack Boggan (General Smith, McDonald) is a senior and soon-to-be graduate of SUNY Purchase, with a double major in Theatre and History. Some of his favorite performances include Hotspur (King Henry IV, Part I), Macbeth (Macbeth), Longshoe (Short Eyes), and the short film Jacob, which can be found on Amazon Prime. While desperately trying to finish his senior project from home, Jack is just happy to take some time out of his uneventful day to perform again, and hopes that everyone is staying safe and washing their hands in these trying times.
Caroline Brody (Gunner) is a Westchester based actor who's worked on non-profit and community theater productions for the past 3 years. Favorite roles to date include playing the blind and resourceful Suzy Hendrix in Wait Until Dark with the Eastbound Theater Co. (Milford, CT) and gender-bending Banquo in Macbeth with Forall Theater (Peekskill, NY). Thank you to Bob, the production team, the team at WPKN and the entire cast for creating and joining in on this opportunity to entertain and perform during this surreal time. Sending thoughts and good health out to all.
Terrence Christgau (Commander), a native New Yorker is an actor, director, acting coach and father of five. His work includes acting, directing, lighting design and stage management internationally in Scotland, Russia, Poland, Georgia and Romania as well as around the continental U.S.
Scott Faubel (Brigadier General) This is Scott's debut in a radio play, though he's been performing on stage in New York and Connecticut for some 40 years. Recent roles include Juror #3 in Twelve Angry Men with YCP TheatreWorks and Beverly Weston in August, Osage County with Axial Theatre Co. His performance as most of the female characters in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged with M&M Productions was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, so he's happy to be working again.
Rosie Garcia (Announcer 2) is thrilled to be a part of her first voice over project! As a current student at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, she is no stranger to the stage, but telling stories with just the voice is a new experience that she loved tackling. Recent credits include Christmas on Uranus, a comedic musical in which she choreographed and performed. A big thanks to Bob and Kate for organizing this fun and important piece.
Kate Greenberg (Observer, Associate Producer) is excited to both perform a role and take on the job of associate producer for this production. Kate worked with Bob on the American premier of Lofty Larceny, for which she was an actor, the stage manager, and the script editor. She graduated from Skidmore College in 2019 with a major in Education Studies and a minor in Theater. She is excited to continue working on these radio plays.
Elliott Mayer (Captain Lansing) is a bi-coastal actor residing in Albuquerque, having done commercials, TV/Film, as well as many stage productions. Trained at AADA and Atlantic theater. Elliott has worked with Bob in the past and always enjoys collaborating with him. SAG-AFTRA, Equity. Website elliottmayer.net.
Humza Mian (Operator 4)
Harry Minot (Orson Wells) started out at WLAD Radio in Danbury CT at age 16. At 19 he began working as a Producer at Compton Advertising in NYC. At 25 he became General Manager of WPKN Radio in Bridgeport, CT, continuing for almost 30 years in a tenure which included that station’s transition to independence from its educational licensee. He has worked as a Customer Service Representative at a call center and as a Security Officer. He hosts a monthly WPKN program on the 4th Wednesdays from 4 to 6:50pm and also records voice acting projects from his soundproof announcer booth. https://www.voices.com/actors/HarryMinot/demos
Jessica Puentevella (Stranger) has an extensive background in dance and acting. She danced at the Edinburgh Festival with Cumberland Ballet, age 11; at City Centre with Ft. Worth Ballet in Cinderella. Dance Awards: Van Lier Grant at Martha Graham School of Dance, Dominique DiPaolo and Faculty recognition from University of the Arts; Acting: 3-time Jean Dalrymple award winner; Directing: a Princess Grace nomination and a Jean Dalrymple Award. She was a dance stand-in for Bryce Dallas Howard, and assisted in off-camera historical-dance coaching working with Sigourney Weaver, Cherry Jones, Bryce Dallas Howard and William Hurt for M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. She was the founding Board President of Ripple Effect Artists and holds the title of Development Director.
Erika Radin (Operator 3) co-wrote, co-directed and performs in a 3-woman musical comedy about motherhood called Mom’s The Word. She has a Master's degree in Educational Theatre from NYU and has been a drama teacher and director for over 20 years, working with adults and children. In addition, she is the lead singer of the local rock band, The Del Bocas, in Westchester. She is grateful to Bob and the whole War of the Worlds team for this terrific opportunity to turn quarantine lemons into artistically creative lemonade.
Nils Swanson (Phillips) is originally from Denver, CO but moved to Cortlandt Manor three years ago with his wife Amy. Nils has worked in Theater for the last 30 years and is the Creator and Artistic Director of the newest theater in Peekskill, NY - FORALL Theater (www.foralltheater.com). FORALL Theater, though closed temporarily, is planning to continue this fall with it's first full season.
Stephanie Taylor (Secretary) is a Texas transplant. After a childhood of musical theatre, she's gone on to work with regional theaters coast to coast. Internationally, she's performed and taught Shakespeare in Italy and is the Head of Drama at The Main Idea in Maine. She has her BFA from NYU under the thumb of Stella Adler. Pre-covid she was in tech for Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie at Teatro LaTea... Here's hoping we can open in the fall! She is thrilled to be a part of this project... ALL HAIL RADIO!
Donna L. White (Operator 2) is thrilled to join WOTW, her first radio play! Favorite stage roles include Lady Macbeth (Macbeth, ForAll Theatre, Peekskill, NY), Juror 9 (Twelve Angry Women, AlphaNYC), and Cindy Hammond (Diminished Capacity by Albi Gorn, YCP Theatreworks). Television: The Lies That Bind, The Deuce, Succession, Monsters Inside Me. EIEA
Jo Williamson (Musician) Based in New York, Jo Williamson makes music. Listen: jowilliamson.bandcamp.com.
Benefiting Meals on WheelsFeeding Connecticut's homebound senior citizens.
For more information about Meals on Wheels, including how to make a donation, click here. |