November 14, 2001
Contact: UCSC Ticket Office: 831.459.2159

UCSC Arts & Lectures presents New York's SITI Company in War of the Worlds Plus: A panel discussion after Monday night's performance around the power of the media in times of crisis.

Details:
- Monday and Tuesday, December 3 and 4, 2001 / 8:00pm
- Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
- Tickets may be purchased through the UCSC Ticket Office: 831-459-2159,
or on the web at events.ucsc.edu/artslecs: Adults $23; Seniors or Students $19; UCSC Students $13 / Unreserved seating

UC Santa Cruz Arts & Lectures presents a riveting reenactment of the ground breaking original radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds on Monday and Tuesday, December 3 and 4, at 8:00pm at Santa Cruz’s classic Rio Theater (1205 Soquel Avenue). Performed as though on-air, New York’s SITI Company recreates the frenzied in-studio interactions of the multi-talented genius Orson Welles and the cast of the Mercury Theater as they sent radio listeners into a terrified panic and illustrated indelibly the powerful influence of the media on the American psyche.
SPECIAL ADDITION: In response to the increased importance of media coverage since the attacks of September 11, Arts & Lectures will host a panel including local press and broadcast journalists who will join the actors after the Monday performance in a discussion with the audience about the power of the media in times of crisis. Moderated by Eric Schoeck, the panel will include media representatives from KUSP, KZSC, Metro Santa Cruz, The Good Times, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and the San Jose Mercury News.

Performance
On a foggy evening in 1938, tens of thousands of radio listeners became convinced that America had gone to war with Mars! Normal programming appeared to have been interrupted with the startling news that "a huge flaming object" had fallen to earth in a field near Grover’s Mills, New Jersey. Even with several station and program identification breaks, citizens on the East Coast swarmed the streets in fear of a real space battle. Statements from the police as well as WABC radio quelled the panic spreading across the nation, but the hysteria created by this hour-long radio program was so traumatic it spurred legislation banning the "news" format from radio drama for years.

Now, six decades later, The SITI Company conjures the vitality of Orson Welles–magician of the screen and airwaves–and his co-stars from the Mercury Theater of the Air to recreate this stunning evening of dramatic illusion. Hailed for its "invention, precision and elegance" by The Glasgow Herald, The SITI Company not only entertains with this classic radio play, but also explores the life and genius of Orson Welles and the birth of mass media manipulation in this country.

To request an interview with The SITI Company contact:
Megan Wanlass, Managing Director
Phone: 212-727-2962
Cell: 917-679-3557
E-mail: TheSITICo@aol.com

Color and black & white images are available electronically by contacting
Moon Rinaldo: moonr@cats.ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4058
____________________________________________

TICKETS
UCSC Ticket Office: 831.459.2159 (v/tdd)

CONTACT
Moon Rinaldo
UCSC Arts & Lectures
Publicity and Production Coordinator
831.459.4058
moonr@cats.ucsc.edu
or
Michelle Witt
UCSC Arts & Lectures Director
831.459.3861

UCSC Arts & Lectures office:
Fax: 831.459.4521
E-mail: artslecs@cats.ucsc.edu
Web: events.ucsc.edu/artslecs

UC Santa Cruz Arts & Lectures is committed to presenting artists of
national and international reputation to Santa Cruz County and beyond.

The 2001-2002 Arts & Lectures Season presented in partnership with
the Santa Cruz Sentinel, KUSP 88.9FM, New Leaf Community Markets and
Continental/seaway inns

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