The Longmont Museum Presents
:11 After Theatre Company's Production of
THE WAR OF
THE WORLDS
THE 1938 RADIO SCRIPT
By Howard E. Koch
Based on the novel by H.G. Wells
Directed by Chris McMurtry
Sound Design by Bob Boxer
Light Design by Bryan Stadtherr
Musical themes & selections from
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
The Longmont Museum's Stewart Auditorium
October 23, 2025
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, INC.
(www.playscripts.com)
Cast
Orson Wells, Wilmeth, Officer........Steve Rausch Announcer...............Carla McBride Professor Pierson, Operator 5........David Cervera Carla Phillips, Operator......Michelle Jeffres Vocalist, Gunner, Crowd, Stranger.........Johnny Woj Announcer, Vocalist, Crowd, Secretary of the Interior, Operator........Joan Harrold Commander, Crowd, Smith, Announcer, Operator.....Ethan Bowen-Armor Announcer, Policeman, Crowd, Captain, Operator......Cody Van Otterloo Announcer...............Heather Frost
Michelle Jeffres
Michelle has been performing across the Front Range for 12 years! You may have seen her recently in The Sound of Music as Frau Schmidt with Loveland Opera Theatre and/or in Anastasia as the Dowager Empress at The Arts Hub! Other credits include Little Women (Aunt March), Beauty and The Beast (Mrs. Potts), The Addams Family ( Grandma). Michelle is a retired Music Educator, previous Arabian Horse trainer and is looking forward to her first appearance with 11 After Theatre! She also has been busy as a background actor in commercials/film! Love to my family and friends!
Ethan Bowen-Armor
This is Ethan's second show with :11 After Theater. As someone who studied history in college, War of the Worlds is extremely fascinating to him and he's grateful for the chance to be a part of it. His previous credits involve Scratch in Witch with 11 After and a number of roles with Colorado State University such as Brad in The Rocky Horror Show and Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Thank you for coming to the show and Happy Halloween!
Steve Rausch
Steve is pleased to be making his debut with :11 After. He’s a familiar face on local stages, having appeared in over 35 productions across the northern Front Range over the last three decades. He most recently portrayed Mr. Kalenkhov in Longmont Theatre Company’s “You Can’t Take It With You” and Warnie Lewis in Coal Creek Theater of Louisville’s “Shadowlands”. He is currently CCTL’s Artistic Director and an audiobook narrator for Audible.
Carla McBride
Carla is excited to be here with :11 After Theatre for, ‘War of The Worlds’! This is her third staged radio play. On Colorado stages and in short films, she has portrayed an array of characters from a sassy cooking show host to a beauty contestant, a beloved historical figure from Aurora to an evil villainess and more. Carla considers it a privilege to help bring stories to life, and is so glad you’re here!
David Cervera
David Cervera is appearing in his third “radio play” in three years, having performed in radio productions of It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol - so, clearly born in the wrong decade. David has appeared with 11 After in Witch and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He has also been seen in productions around Denver such as Queen, The 39 Steps and The Addams Family.
Joan Harrold
Joan fell in love with theatre when she was cast as Tinker Bell in her first-grade production of "Peter Pan" and hasn't looked back. She performs widely across the Front Range and was recognized as Best Female Lead in a Musical at the Longmont Theatre Company for her portrayal of Amy in “Motherhood the Musical." Joan's favorite credits include Jeanie in "HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical," Mary Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," and Willow Rosenberg in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling."
Johnny Woj
Johnny Woj is delighted to return to an :11 After Theatre production! Earlier this year he debuted in Longmont with :11 After’s Almost Maine. Upcoming shows include Fever’s The Jury Experience at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver, and a free community show this Saturday with the Boulder Pop Choir. When not on stage, Johnny enjoys working in production on film sets—earlier this year he 1st ADed the CO-made indie Uck, and was overjoyed to work in Kansas City on Ted Lasso in July. Believe!
Heather Frost
Her favorite directing credits include Who’s Holiday and Spamalot (Vintage Theatre), I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, Love Letters, and Almost, Maine (:11 After); Pippin, and HAIR: the American Love Rock Musical (TCL). She also directed In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play which won an award for 2023 Best Comedy by OnstageColorado.com. A Huge thank you to Justin Veech and the Longmont Museum for a continued and meaningful partnership for our two companies. A thank you to Chris for finding a role for me, and my husband, Jeff, for holding down the fort so I can follow my passion and dream. Her next production is Who's Holiday presented at The Louisville Underground Nov 29, 30 and December 7.
Cody Van Otterloo
Cody is thrilled to be joining :11 After Theatre's War of the Worlds. He recently made his directorial debut with Witch by Jen Silverman. Recent roles include, Chad/Steve in Almost, Maine, Van Helsing in Dracula. Cody holds a BA in Theatre from Metro State University of Denver.
Bob Boxer
Bob is pleased to be working on :11 After Theater’s production of War of the Worlds. He recently was the Sound Designer for :11 After's Witch. Bob has worked with a number of theater companies, both here in Colorado and in Chicago on productions including First Date, Becky’s New Car, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Man of LaMancha, The Birds and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat. Bob sends his love to his wife Lori for her continuing support.
Chris McMurtry
Chris has directed and produced locally with :11 After Theatre & Longmont Theatre Company. Additional producing & directing credits with Shakespeare Dallas, Town of Addison, Risk Theatre Initiative, Plano Repertory Theatre, Rover Dramawerks, Brownwood’s Lyric Theatre. Love to Nannette, Story, Emrie & Caden, and thanks to the Longmont Museum & the cast and crew for bringing the invasion to life.
A NOTE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
I’ve loved The War of the Worlds for as long as I can remember. I grew up with the Great Illustrated Classics version of the book, was captivated years later by Spielberg’s blockbuster adaptation, and recently became hooked on how Jeff Wayne brought the story’s thrilling realism to life through music. Of all the versions I’ve encountered, the one that’s always fascinated me most is Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast - how it blurred the line between storytelling and reality so completely that listeners truly believed the invasion was real.
In tonight’s reading, we’re pulling the radio play out of the 1930s and bringing it into the present day - using modern sound and selections from Jeff Wayne’s music to recreate that same pulse and immediacy. And if we’ve done our job right, then maybe - just for a split second - you’ll find yourself wondering whether those lights in the eastern sky might actually be "globular invaders." If so, we’ll have captured at least a fraction of the magic that Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre created all those years ago.
--Chris--
A Special Thank You to:
Woodley's Fine Furniture of Longmont
for their donation of our living room set.
Longmont Theatre Company
for sharing some of their incredible costume and accent pieces to help heighten the feel of a few key moments in our show. It’s through shared values and the sense of community within the theatre world that we’re able to grow and celebrate such a wonderful relationship between our two companies.
Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley ReStore
for their donation of the news desk.
COMING SOON FROM :11 AFTER THEATRE COMPANY
Who's Holiday,
an Adult Comedy in Twisted Rhyme.
November 29th at 6 and 8 PM and November 30th and December 7 at 7 PM.
At the Louisville Underground.
Directed by Heather Frost.
