The War of the Worlds (2021)
Season 09, Episode 10
October 18, 2021
The Re-Imagined Radio Remake for 83rd anniversary
Re-Imagined Radio celebrates the 83rd anniversary of "The War of the Worlds" and World Audio Drama Day by re-imaginging this classic radio drama. We re-imagine the storyline. Add new content. Use local landmarks and characters. Introduce new plot twists and perspectives. Incorporate cinematic sound effects and ambiences. And, we introduce "The Voices," our new ensemble of amazing voice actors. It's cracking good use of words, music, sound effects, and imagination to create worlds at war and a way to be in the middle of the action.
Access the episode script
Background
The War of the Worlds was first broadcast 83 years ago. Re-Imagined Radio wanted to celebrate this anniversary properly. Rather than just dramatizing the same script that everyone else will be using, we want a new adaptation. New characters. New storylines. New contexts for the action, and new perspectives through which to see them. New voices. A new benchmark for future productions of this most (in)famous radio drama ever.
Production
Contents
A re-imagined adaptation of "The War of the Worlds," perhaps the most (in)famous radio broadcast ever. Adapted from the 1938 performance starring Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air. With changes to location, characters, action, and other elements to localize the story for our audience.
Cast
John F. Barber as Host
A helpful guide throughout the episode.
Marc Rose as The Martian
Provides a different perspective on the invasion of "The Blue Planet."
Bradley Richardson as Museum Director
Richardson is the real life Director of Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver, WA.
Patricia Blem as Professor Rowena Pierson
Noted scientist and astronomer. Retired from Princeton University, now living in Vancouver, WA.
Rod Hill as Weather Announcer
Hill is the real life meteorologist for KGW 8 TV, Portland, OR.
Laurence Overmire as Carl Phillips
Reporter for local radio station.
Jeff Pollard as Grover Wilmuth
Owner of farm in Battle Ground, WA, site of Martian capsule landing.
Bruce Miles as Captain Lance Lansing
Signal Corp, State Militia. Officious and arrogant.
Stephanie Crowley as Ham Radio operator
A lonely voice reaching out for connection.
News montage segments by Erin Buckley, Laura Duyn, Devin James, Billy Bryan, Jeff Pollard, and Stephanie Crowley.
Credits
Curated, Produced, and Hosted by John F. Barber
Sound Design, Music, and Post Production by Marc Rose of Fuse Audio Design
Social Media by Regina Carol Social Media Management
Promotional Graphics by Holly Slocum Design
Excerpts, Exhibitions
"The War of the Worlds Sample." Lights Out Listening Group, The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Scotland, 17
Nov. 2021.
Event Program
Producer's Notes
This year, this time, we really wanted to raise the bar. And we did. Re-Imagined Radio re-imagined the
storyline of The War of the Worlds. We created a new story concept. The aliens are now part
of the story. So, new content. We use local landmarks and characters. Introduce new plot twists and
perspectives. Turn Marc Rose loose to create cinematic sound effects and ambiences. And, we introduce
"The Voices," our new ensemble of amazing voice actors. We're proud of the results and hope you will
enjoy our radio story as well.
— John F. Barber
Responses
What a great end to my day and my week to have a discussion with you and Marc Rose about our passion to work in the audio dramatic field, and a personal joy for me to find more folks out there continuing the flame with such an incredible collection of professional and inventive work!
[And your adaptation of The War of the Worlds] . . . Wow! Simply Wow! This version has now risen to my top ten audio dramas of all time. I loved it! Thanks so much for the shout out at the end! And there's a part of me that felt a twinge in my heart knowing that Marc [Rose] had a key part in unravelling the mystery of the Alien's agenda!
Superb acting! Fun and inventive script! I could pick out the phrasing of both [Orson] Welles and [H.G.] Wells in various parts of it. That's awesome!
It's my pleasure to share Re-Imagined Radio on The Mutual
Audio Network and to feature you on The Sonic Society
with your [adaptation of] The War of the Worlds on October 31st! I'm so excited to get this
out [for] Halloween!
— Jack Ward
The Sonic Society
Mutual Audio Network
I just heard The War of the Worlds re-creation on X-ray radio. That was incredible!!! Great
production and local angles. Really well done. Better than the original.
— Dan Packard
PDXRadio.com
The episode was amazing! It scared the daylights out of me. With its different twist, I think Orson
Welles would have been proud of this performance.
— Gerald Gaule
Owner and manager, Community Growth Network Radio
I just got done listening to The War of the Worlds radio play. I have to say I really did
enjoy it. The War of the Worlds is one of my favorite books by H.G. Wells. I think that
Orson Welles would have enjoyed your production. I like the added commentary from the perspective of the
invading aliens. I always like it when people take a new spin on an old story to make it their own, and
it works great in telling this tale.
— JD Carpenter
Promotion
Press
Ward, Jack J. Sonic Society #704—Radio Images→. The Sonic Society, 31 Oct. 2021.
Interviews
"Voice Actors in Portland Resurrecting Radio
Classic 'War of the Worlds' in October"→
A television interview produced by Steve Redlin of KGW, Portland, Oregon, 22 Sep. 2021.
"Sonic Speaks 0602: Re-Imagined Radio," 7 Nov. 2021.
Interview featuring John F. Barber and Marc Rose of Re-Imagined Radio and Jack Ward, The Sonic Society
and
The Mutual Audio Network
Or, listen at these popular listening posts:
The Sonic Society
website→
iHeart
Radio→
Spotify→
Playlists
Sonic Society #704-Radio Images→, The Sonic Society and The Mutual Audio Drama Network, 31 Oct. 2021.
Both The Sonic Society→ and The Mutual Audio Drama Network→ included "The War of the Worlds" in their podcast playlist and archive as "Sonic Society #704-Radio Images" as not only an exemplary podcast but a fitting celebration of World Audio Drama Day→.
Graphics
