West Windsor Arts Presents “Hysteria! Or, They Came Through the Air” During West Windsor’s Martian Weekend by Aylin Green

Article by Aylin Green.

The October 26 performance will be an interactive staged reading of an original play about the 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast by Orson Welles and the reported mass panic that Martians had landed in New Jersey. West Windsor Arts invites you to step back in time to the night Orson Welles’ 1938 “War of the Worlds”radio broadcast made West Windsor famous for something that never happened—Martians landing in Grover’s Mill. The broadcast, seen by some as a Halloween prank gone terribly wrong, comes to life in an original play called “Hysteria! Or, They Came Through the Air,” which will be read at West Windsor Arts on Sunday, October 26, from 4 to 6 pm, as part of the “Martian Weekend” celebration in West Windsor. Community groups and organizations all over town will be celebrating the anniversary of the broadcast with bike rides, reenactments, ham radios, and more. Visit https://martianweekend.weebly.com for more information. 

Written by Greg T. Nanni, directed by Kelly O’Donnell, and featuring a cast of local community actors, “Hysteria! Or, They Came Through the Air” reimagines the famed broadcast that allegedly sparked widespread panic. Or did it? “The play explores the making of the ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast and why it was so bold and daring at the time,” says Nanni. “It had all these moments of genius, but ultimately it had a bad effect—leaving many people believing that the story was true.” Nanni says he was always interested in how all the elements came together on that Mischief Night (the night before Halloween) in 1938—the original book by H.G. Wells, the convincing reading by Orson Welles, and the alleged media coverage. “I was looking at the newspaper angle and how it helped to create this insane mass hysteria,” he explains. “It was shocking how the news made it sound like everyone ran outside to panic, when in reality most people, perhaps with their hearts racing from Welles’ rendition, never even left their homes." His play asks the question: Was the broadcast so impactful because people wanted to believe the story, or did the truth get lost in the noise? Director Kelly O’Donnell adds that they are planning more than a staged reading that night, and are encouraging lots of audience participation. “We want to dramatize both the history and the myth,” she explains. “Greg’s play is a fun and fascinating way to celebrate West Windsor’s quirky claim to fame—a town famous for something that never happened.” 

Conceived by West Windsor Arts Executive Director, Aylin Green, and developed in collaboration with the Historical Society of West Windsor and historian A. Brad Schwartz, author of “Broadcast Hysteria,” the play draws parallels between the panic of 1938 and today’s digital world, where misinformation can spread at light speed. “This production is creative, community-driven and rooted in local history—but it also sparks a bigger conversation about truth, media and belief,” says Green, who also serves as Producer of the production at West Windsor Arts. “Above all else, it’s going to be a really fun way to celebrate this town’s unique history.” After the reading, the audience can stay for a talkback with the playwright, director and creative team—including members of the Historical Society of West Windsor. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.westwindsorarts.org/event/hysteria-or-they-came-through-the-air.

About West Windsor Arts West Windsor Arts offers art and cultural events, workshops and classes for all ages and in all disciplines atits art center and in the community. For more information, call 609.716.1931 or visit westwindsorarts.org.