Stories about uncertain futures from classic Science Fiction writers will take to the stage as part of The Oswego Players’ staged radio production “Foretold Tales: An Anthology of Terror”.
Probably the most unique offering of the season, Foretold Tales will present nine classic stories over its October 24th, 25th, 26th run, creating a truly anthology and repertory event. Director William Edward White compared the production to sitting down and turning on old-time radio.
“I grew up listening to the CBS Radio Mystery Theater and WRVO’s nightly ‘Theater of the Mind’. Every night there was something different, suspense, horror, science fiction. That’s what we’re looking to bring to the stage this October.”
The production will be on the stage of the Frances Marion Brown Theater at Fort Ontario, Oswego, NY. Curtain times are 7:30PM on Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th, with a 2PM matinee on Sunday, October 26th.
The anthology series will be broken into nightly themes or “episodes”: Mad Scientists, Future Tense, and Nine Lives.
Since each performance is an “episode” in this event, a special ticketing price is being offered. All seats will be $13 each per performance, with a three-day ticket for the entire event of just $26. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oswegoplayers.org , or by calling the theater box office at (315) 343-5138.
The Saturday October 25th entry, “Future Tense” features a trio of Science Fiction classics: “Zero Hour” and “There Will Come Soft Rains” based on stories by Ray Bradbury, and “The Obsolete Man” by Rod Serling. In each story, humanity’s outlook is somewhat uncertain.
“Zero Hour”, which aired as an episode of Suspense in 1955 begins as a simple tale of children playing an unusual game with an imaginary friend… Invasion. “Soft Rains”, which was part of a 1958 episode of X Minus One, foresees an afternoon in 2026, where an automated house bears witness to a particularly bad day on Earth.
“Bradbury gave us AI before the term was even coined, and the date of its application in the story comes even closer to home,” White observed.
In addition to the three episodes, nine story anthology, the Players will be offering a special “Foretold Taste” preview night on Wednesday, October 22 at 7PM. That evening will feature selections from the entire run, including “Little Old Lady”, along with “The Chicken Heart”, “There Will Come Soft Rains”, and “The Obsolete Man”. Admission that night will be just $5 at the door, with all proceeds for the preview night going to help fund the Lawrence E. Rose and Marion Green Scholarship Funds.
“The goal is to take our audiences back to the golden age of Radio Theater. Placing them in the middle of the sights and sounds of an old-time broadcast studio – one that will take them into an adventure through the theater of the mind,” White added.
This project is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.
“Mommy, Daddy… Where are you hiding?” The cast of “Zero Hour” – part of The Oswego Players radio anthology stage production “Foretold Tales: An Anthology of Terror”. From left: Michael Moss as Art, Wayne Mosher Jr. as Henry, Karla Chandler-McCord as Mary, and Tristan Mann as Mink, Mary and Henry’s daughter who along with playmate Art have discovered a fun new game… Invasion.