Greg T. Nanni has been selected to write a play about the War of the Worlds broadcast to be staged in the “invasion” site of Grovers Mill, New Jersey, this fall. The project is a collaboration of New Jersey’s West Windsor Arts, the Historical Society of West Windsor, and author A. Brad Schwartz (Broadcast Hysteria).
Organizers accepted pitches in late January and recently announced their choice.
Nanni is a playwright, comic book writer, dramaturge, educator, solo show performer and former Philadelphian now living in the New York City area, according to West Windsor Arts. His work spans the stages of Philadelphia and beyond, with solo shows like Fat and The Depression Show!, as well as full-length plays including Loneliness, The Beat Is Here and Rage.
A graduate of George Washington University and recipient of an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University (2022), Nanni has collaborated with artists like Kristina Wong, served as literary manager for the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, and taught with companies like Two River Theater and Horizon Theatre Company.
This project will engage audiences with humor, participatory elements, and explore the historical and cultural impact of Orson Welles’ 1938 broadcast and its local and national legacy, all while drawing connections to contemporary issues of media influence and “fake news,” according to organizers.
The play is set to have its premiere on October 26, 2025.
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