The Paul V. Moore High School Drama Club is set to continue its fall theater tradition with a student-directed production of War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast by Joe Landry, presented with special permission from Playscripts. Performances will take place in the high school auditorium on Thursday, November 6, at 4 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, November 7 and 8, at 7 p.m.

This imaginative production transports audiences back to the golden age of radio, blending the original 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds with a dramatized look at its infamous aftermath through the lens of a 1948 rebroadcast. The play explores the themes of fear, technology, and mass hysteria, and how they ripple through individuals, families, and entire communities.

The production is a true student-driven collaboration, featuring a cast of more than 50 students and multiple student directors leading different aspects of the show. Senior Eli Conner serves as musical director, composing original music and arranging pieces performed by an eight-member student orchestra and vocal ensemble, assisted by senior Paul Newton IV. Junior Cee Gibbs directs the Foley Arts team, a group of seven students crafting inventive live sound effects. Senior Brianna Hales and her student crew have created original school-themed commercials that will air throughout the performance. Overseeing the production as student director is senior Avery Ford.

“This production captures not only the excitement of the original broadcast, but also the creativity and teamwork of our student body,” said co-director James Burton. “It’s a perfect blend of history, performance, and innovation.”

Faculty co-directors James Burton and Heather Gullo have guided the students throughout the process, with set design by Greg Moskal and sound engineering by Kirsten King.

Audience members are invited to enjoy this family-friendly, seasonally spooky performance that celebrates music, drama, and the joy of live theater. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.