Do you ever wish you would have been beside the players of the Mercury Theatre when they first performed War of the Worlds live on air and spread panic to the listening audience? Although there is debate as to the level of panic that the radio drama caused, the performance raised outrage in the general public in the 1930s and also raised the profile of the Theatre's director, Orson Welles. Even to this day, the play still engaging audiences. But now, the Raconteurs will present The War of the Worlds: a Staged Radio Play. Set in Grover's Mills, N.J., the play is a loose adaptation of the classic H. G. Wells novel, and begins as a musical broadcast intermittently interrupted by news flashes about strange explosions on Mars and the landing of an alien spacecraft on Earth. The simulated 'news bulletins' of the original October broadcast suggested to many contemporaneous listeners that an actual alien invasion was currently in progress and, as a result, there were instances of panicked evacuation throughout the United States, especially in New Jersey! The Radio Play features real actors in front of a live audience. The actors wear period costumes, the stage features theatrical lighting, the show includes vintage commercials and even hundreds of sound effects! Registration is required on the library website, priority given to Mahwah residents with a Mahwah Library card. Mahwah residents may register starting 4 weeks prior to the event; non-Mahwah residents may register starting 2 weeks prior to the event.
We strongly recommending everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask or other face covering while in the Library, including attending events.
Registration is required for this event. Registration opens for Mahwah library cardholders four weeks before the date of the event. If you don't have a card, visit the Library to sign up today. Our neighbors are welcome to register two weeks before the event.