The Night America Panicked

Hole in the Wall Theater is thrilled to welcome you to a special IMAGINEX Productions presentation of The Night America Panicked!

IMAGINEX Productions presents a very special event to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of what has been called “The Greatest Hoax ever portrayed on American Radio”.
This original production based on actual events of the famous 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air, will combine live performances with lights, sounds, music, special effects, and multi-media projections including photography, artwork, and video.
IMAGINEX will recreate the original radio show using the actual script as it was broadcast that evening in October 1938 including costumes, sound effects and music from that period.
The cast and crew of 24 people will be portraying actual members of The Mercury Theatre on the Air company, showing how the play came together, and how it was presented on national radio.
And more than that, they will incorporate actual events that happened before, during, and immediately after the broadcast, to shed light on why the broadcast was thought by many to be real – and what the public did once panic set in.
From the time guests arrive, they will be transported back to 1938 with music from the era, and ushers and ticket-takers in period costume as well.
The Night America Panicked will be presented at Unity of Greater Hartford October 21st at 7 pm, and the 22nd at 3 pm; Hole in the Wall Theater October 28th at 8 pm, and the 29th at 3 pm; and at the Glastonbury Planetarium November 4th at 6 pm.