‘War of the Worlds’ Radio Show Takes Audience Back in Time

I’ve seen posters displayed all around downtown Noblesville advertising Noblesville Preservation Alliance’s “War of the Worlds.”

Today’s production is “a recreation” of the famous 1938 Orson Welles radio broadcast that caused Americans to believe an actual alien invasion was happening.

“The whole idea is that you’re not sitting in a theater. You’re the live studio audience back in 1938. When you walk in here and sit down, in about seven minutes, we take you from 2022 to 1938,” said Noblesville’s Dennis Smith, the show’s director. Two performances, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, will be offered at NPA’s Preservation Hall — a former Lutheran Church, coincidentally built in 1938 — on Logan Street. (The 7 p.m. show is sold out with tickets still available for the matinee as of presstime.)

Smith — who moved from Nicholasville, Ky., to Noblesville a year ago to be closer to his daughter and son-in-law who are involved in NPA — invited this journalist to attend a rehearsal earlier this week to learn more about the production.

Just like our local community theaters, there was a callout for actors, on WEPB radio, posters downtown Noblesville and on social media. Auditions were conducted with the reading of lines.

Smith cast himself as well as four other men, who auditioned for the show, and began weekly rehearsals until this week, when rehearsals have become nightly.

“These guys have taken to it like ducks to water. I could not be more pleased with where we have come. It was a little rough when we started,” Smith said.

Being that the show is a recreation of a radio broadcast, lines do not need to be memorized. But actors must read their lines slowly and clearly in their best “radio” voice.

The cast includes Smith, Terry Cunningham, Chuck Kelly, Curtis Bittle and Malachi Bush, all of Noblesville. “These guys knew nothing about NPA before we started,” Smith said. Although, two of the cast members live within walking distance of the venue.

Cunningham, a history buff who comes with theater experience, including “Moon Over Buffalo” in 2002 at The Belfry Theatre, is accustomed to memorizing lines. “This is new for me, having the script right in front of you,” he said.

Each cast member portrays at least four characters each and will wear 1938 period costumes. Smith, for instance, will wear black pleated pants, white shirt, silver bow tie and silver vest.

Besides a small cast, the crew is even smaller. Mike Stewart, husband of NPA president Sandy Stewart, is sound technician for the show.

The script is in the public domain, so there were no licensing fees paid by NPA to put on the show or any licensing requirements for advertising.

“I am hoping that this is the first of many (radio shows),” said Smith, who comes from a radio background. “There are so many radio programs out there,” he said.

Guests at the performances will sit in pews in NPA’s Preservation Hall, an approximately 50-seat former church-turned arts venue when former mail carrier John Gilmore eight years ago bought the church, refurbished it and opened it as Logan Street Sanctuary entertainment and arts venue. NPA bought the building from Gilmore three years ago for NPA’s home and have since redone the facade.

NPA is known for its annual Historic Home Tour, the preservation of old homes and buildings in Noblesville, Lights Over Seminary Park and the Holiday Home Tour. NPA is also known for sweeping the People’s Choice Award at the annual Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville’s Darlington Bed Race on the streets of downtown Noblesville.

NPA adds theatrical productions to the list.

Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.