The Big Broadcast of October 30th, 1938

Upcoming

Past

The Big Broadcast of October 30th, 1938
Live at the Somerville Theatre!

Visit the Official Website!

FEATURING

The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour: A lost classic from Boston's radio history! Travel back to the Golden Age of Radio, to the Rooftop Gardens Auditorium of the old Putnam-Moore Department Store in downtown Boston, and join Frank, Amelia Adams, Charley Kendall, Jenny Brennan, Lex Concord and the Minutemen and the Chowderhouse Gang for some great music, lots of Halloween fun, and a very special guest star!

Adapted and Directed by Rob Noyes. Featuring Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band!

The War of the Worlds: We all know about the horrific events which began on the night of October 30th, 1938. An invasion force from the planet Mars landed their rocket-cylinders around the world, starting in New Jersey. But what happened in Boston during the so-called “War of the Worlds?” Now, we are able to bring you the true story of the Martian Invasion of Boston, using news bulletins and field reports—as given by the actual announcers, historical figures and military personnel at the time—and dramatic recreations to depict the amazing story of how a North End mobster, an MIT scientist, and the Massachusetts National Guard allied themselves to carry out one final strike against the Martians and drive them from the city!

Adapted by license from Howard Koch's original documentary, written for Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air, and based on the historical accounts of H.G. Wells. "The Fall of Boston" research and script adaptation by Neil Marsh and Alicia E. Goranson.

PERFORMANCE DATES

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 @ 8:00pm
Friday, October 30th, 2009 @ 8:00pm
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 @ 2:00pm & 8:00pm

LOCATION

Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Square
Somerville, MA 02144

TICKETS

$15 in advance | $20 at the door

Available through Somerville Theatre Concerts and Events Page or at the box office

CAST & CREW

THE FRANK CYRANO BYFAR HOUR

The Byfar Hour Performers

Frank Cyrano

.....

Rob Noyes

Amelia Adams

.....

Juliet Bowler

Lex Concord

.....

Michael Simon

Jenny Brennan

.....

Marty Seeger

Charley Kendall

.....

Jacob Sommer

T. F. Guy

.....

Amy Sonnanstine

The Putnam Sisters

Polly

.....

Melanie Arzt

Penny

.....

Heidi Clark

Peggy

.....

Julia Lunetta

The Minutemen

Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band

The Chowder House Gang

Howard St. Cabot-Cabot III

.....

James Scheffler

Mayor Fitzcurley

.....

Andy Hicks

Miss Penelope Stamp

.....

Renni Boy
Jenny Gutbezahl (Understudy)

Wordsworth Willie

.....

Brad Smith

The Stage Crew

Del the Floor Manager

.....

Neal Leaheey

Stagehands

.....

Amy Lee Bennett-Zendzian
Carl Danielson
Lev Makhlis
Jessica Raine
Matthew Sachs

The Music Team

Composers

.....

Michael J. Veloso
Handsome Chuck

Lyrics

.....

Rob Noyes
Dylan Foley

The Production Crew

Director

.....

Rob Noyes

Rehearsal Assistant

.....

Julia Tenney

Scriptwriter

.....

Rob Noyes
(adapting from original material)

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS:
The Fall of Boston

The Leads

Professor Bradford

.....

Brian Edgar

Vera Caldwell

.....

Leslie Drescher

The Mobsters

Nicki Russon

.....

Matt Ringel

Louie Palermo

.....

Neal Leaheey

Vinny Vizzini

.....

Nick Zendzian

Sal LoPiccolo

.....

Michael Simon

Jimmy O'Toole

.....

Andy Hicks

Rich Clancy

.....

Michael Haddad

Connie O'Halloran

.....

Jenny Gutbezahl

The WPM Staff

Announcer

.....

James Scheffler

Music Announcer

.....

Michael Simon

Margaret Eames

.....

Katherine Bryant

Clarence Stafford

.....

Brad Smith

Edward Tattershall

.....

Thomas Champion

Sylvia van Warren

.....

Briavael O'Reilly

The Military

Captain Essex

.....

Joshua Nicholson

Corporal Mann

.....

Julia Tenney

Colonel Blackwood

.....

Michael Simon

Gunnery Officer

.....

Michael Haddad

Observervation Officer

.....

Michael McAfee

Lt. Nicholson

.....

Michael Simon

The Historical Figures

Professor Shapley

.....

John Olson

Governor Hurley

.....

"Special Guests"
Thomas Champion (Understudy)

Mayor Tobin

.....

"Special Guests"
Michael Haddad (Understudy)

The Extras

Voice in Observatory

.....

Julia Tenney

Soldier Voice #1

.....

Michael McAfee

Soldier Voice #2

.....

Michael Simon

Operator 1

.....

Michael McAfee

Operator 2

.....

Michael Haddad

Operator 3

.....

Katherine Bryant

Woman in Crowd

.....

Julia Tenney

Little Girl in Crowd

.....

Katherine Bryant

Preacher in Crowd

.....

Michael Simon

The Sound EffectsTeam

Foley/FX Team

.....

Mare Freed (Captain)
Laurie Brackett
Emily Mason
Jay Sekora
Jude Shabry

Electronic Martian FX

.....

"Professor" Mike Dewberry

Digital Audio Effects

.....

Neil Marsh

The Music Team

The PMRP Orchestra

.....

Emporer Norton's
Stationary Marching Band

The PMRP Chorus

.....

Melanie Arzt
Heidi Clark
Julia Lunetta
Jessica Raine

Composers

.....

Michael J. Veloso
Handsome Chuck

Vocal Director

.....

Jessica Raine

Piano Interludes

.....

Michael J. Veloso

The Production Crew

Director

.....

Neil Marsh

Assistant Director

.....

Jessica Viator

Scriptwriters

.....

Neil Marsh (Act I) &
Alicia E. Goranson (Act II)
(adapting from original material)

Script Editors

.....

Michael McAfee
Jessica Viator
Judy Yen

HOUSE CREW

Theater Manager	.....	Ian Judge
House Manager	.....	Chris DeKalb
Usherette/Cigarette Girl Manager	.....	Renée Johnson
Usherettes	.....	Marianne Bayard Emma Lathan Sylvine Raverdy Gilly Rosenthol Honey Suckle Duvet
Cigarette Girls	.....	Jennifer Cseh Elizabeth Leonard Shelley MacAskill Alyssa Osiecki Bobbi Woodward
Entertainment Reporter for The Weekly Advertiser	.....	Jenny Gutbezahl

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producers	.....	BK DeLong Briavael O'Reilly Sarah Richards
Tech Director	.....	Judy Yen
Stage Manager	.....	Jessica Viator
Lighting Advisor	.....	Giles Halls
Lighting Design & Tech	.....	Trevor Bates
Sound Designer	.....	Neil Marsh
Live Sound Advisor	.....	Peter Olszowka
Sound Tech	.....	Mycroft
Foley Sound Board Operator	.....	Sarah Richards
Foley Coordinator	.....	Sarah Richards
Foley Construction Team	.....	Brie Frame James Scheffler
Graphic Designers	.....	Alida Saxon Neil Marsh

Big Broadcast Poster Design by Alida Saxon www.alidasaxon.com

Costuming Team	.....	Arwen Miller Katherine Bryant Kathleen DiSimone Sylvine Raverdy
Make-up Team	.....	Robin Colleen Moore Kathleen DiSimone
Program Design	.....	Neil Marsh Julia Tenney
Web Content	.....	Alicia Goranson Neil Marsh Rob Noyes
National Guard Historical Consultant	.....	Brig. Gen. (MA) Leonid Kondratiuk