War of the Worlds:
The 1938 Broadcast
Adapted by Howard E. Koch
based on the novel by H.G. Wells
October 12, 2024 at 2pm & 5pm
October 13, 2024 at 2pm
at the Art Alliance of Central PA (Lemont, PA)
The original 1938 broadcast had many terrified listeners convinced that an actual alien invasion of Earth was taking place. Adapted by Howard E. Koch, this original script detailing the frightening tale of an extraterrestrial takeover will be brought to life onstage to thrill and chill audiences.
Produced by special arrangement with PLAYSCRIPTS, INC.
Cast
TARA CAIMI
LILLI FALCON-GUNTER
EVAN MARCINKEVAGE*
PAUL MARCINKEVAGE
KIM PLUMMER
JON VICKERS-JONES*
PHILLIP ZAPKIN
With CHIP TAYLOR as foley artist
*Sock & Buskin debut
Production Team
Director………………………...............................................................HENRY MORELLO
Stage Manager………………….............................................LILLI FALCON-GUNTER
Lighting Designer..........................................................................KAITLYN HUFF
Foley Artist/Sound Designer..........................................................CHIP TAYLOR
Marketing/Content Creator……………………………..……………………………….ANDI STOUT
Photographer...............................................................................GREG KIMMICH
Graphic Designer......................................................................CAITLIN MELESKI
Producer…..………………………………………………..…………….…..............STEFANIE AUSTIN
Meet The Cast
Headshots by Greg Kimmich
Tara Caimi
Tara is thrilled to be a part of Sock & Buskin's live radio play, The War of the Worlds. This is her fourth play with Sock & Buskin as a member of the cast and fifth overall. Many thanks to Sock & Buskin for offering such wonderful and welcoming community theatre opportunities. When she's not refueling with acting and singing, Tara is an author and personal growth and story coach.
Lilli Falcon-Gunter
i began acting with S&B back in 2022 with roles in Sin-ergy and Cutthroat Christmas. More recently, she played Mollie in The Mousetrap and Murphy in Suite Surrender. Lilli has also stage managed for Murder in the HOA, The Final Rose and now, The War of The Worlds. When she’s not doing theatre, you can find her working on her PhD in Educational Psychology at Penn State. She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support and hopes you all enjoy the show!
Evan Marcinkevage
Evan is a third-year student studying Electric Engineering at Penn State. Evan has participated in theater since elementary school and used those skills to become an esports commentator for Penn State and for online leagues. In his spare time, Evan enjoys playing games, going to the gym, and public speaking. He is now serving as the president of Esports at Penn State, and is excited for what this new year will bring.
Paul Marcinkevage
Paul is excited to be performing in this iconic show with Sock & Buskin, having enjoyed a previous role in Murder in the HOA. He’s had fun doing local theater the past few years, and some favorite shows include Go Wilder!, Fallout, Jekyll and Hyde, and his favorite role of Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing.
Kim Plummer
Kim is excited to be part of a show that had such an impact on the history of radio. She is employed as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Penn State Dickinson Law/School of International Affairs at Penn State University. She has appeared in many local theatre productions, most recently in Sock & Buskin’s Rehearsal for Murder. Other stage credits include: Much Ado About Nothing, Ma/Francesca in Go Wilder: Two One Act plays by Thornton Wilder, Mrs. Peacock in Clue: Onstage, Violet Newstead in 9 to 5: The Musical, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Belinda Blair in Noises Off, and Gabriella in Boeing, Boeing. She wishes to thank her family for always supporting her love of theatre.
Jon Vickers-Jones
Jon is a professional storyteller, scenic designer, director, and creativity instructor from Britain. He has acted and directed in community theater and summer stock, told stories and held workshops in schools, clubs, organizations, and festivals in the Mid-Atlantic states and in southern England. He has written and directed children’s plays and assisted students in learning acting techniques, making costumes, and designing and building stage sets for plays. He was the Technical Director for 10 years at the Barn Theater in Boalsburg Pennsylvania; has told stories for the Chambersburg Arts Festival, Arts Express, and the Chambersburg Area Council for the Arts; and was the children’s summer camp director at the Totem Pole Playhouse Theatre. He was a guest storyteller at the St. Neots Folk Festival in Cambridgeshire, England.
Phillip Zapkin
Phillip is known for his unique abilities to survive Martian attacks, and his excellent prose memoirs recounting his adventures. When not surviving alien invasions, he has been involved with a number of previous Sock & Buskin productions, including directing The Mousetrap and Suite Surrender, and most recently playing a supporting role in Rehearsal for Murder. Off the boards--as though life outside the theatre could even be called life--he teaches composition at Penn State and publishes scholarship primarily about contemporary drama.
Chip Taylor
Chip Taylor is a life-long musician and sound maker, and this is his 3rd adventure with Sock & Buskin (and ever) providing sound live effects in one form or another. He is overjoyed to have the opportunity to bring to life one of the most iconic audio adventures ever recorded!
Meet The Production Team
Henry Morello
Director
Henry is an actor, playwright, and director. He is excited to be directing his first radio play as it presents new challenges. After taking time away, he returned to acting in the 2021 award-winning short film “Sanitize This.” He has directed plays such as La agonia del difunto in Bogotá, Colombia and The Final Rose by Stefanie R. Austin in State College. Some of his favorite roles were Pale from Burn This, Barney in The Middle Ages, and Teach from American Buffalo. As a writer, he also won an award for his one-act, “The Killing Game,” and has a collection of short stories called Café Chronicles.
Kaitlyn Huff
Lighting Designer/Technician
Kaitlyn has been dabbling in community theater since 2010. She has assisted with lights and sound for multiple productions with Wilmington, NC comedy troupe, Pineapple Shaped Lamps, from 2011 to 2015. She returned to theater in 2022, assisting Altoona Community Theater with The Holiday Christmas Wonderthon and their 2023 spring production of Oliver!. This is her second production with Sock & Buskin; Kaitlyn is very grateful to assist with War of the Worlds.
Andi Stout
Marketing/Content Creator
Andi Stout is an Appalachian writer from West Virginia but lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. She earned her MFA at West Virginia University and holds multiple awards and publications in multiple genres. Andi enjoys using her writing skills to celebrate the accomplishments of her Sock & Buskin friends and family.
Thanks & Recognition
Business Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors ($500+)
Jared Ernico, REALTOR, ReMax Realty
Special Thanks
Melanie Rosenberger & the Art Alliance of Central PA
Hoag's Catering & Event Rentals
Nittany Mall
Seven Mountains Media
Front-of-house Volunteers
Stefanie Austin
Amy Shreckengast
Kari Williamson
Heidi Cole
Janejira Kalsmith