It’s being described as fun, crazy and insane and longtime Key Players producer and director Jonelle Kop would not have it any other way.
In early September, the Key Players will hold auditions for two different shows and everyone is invited to experience the bright lights of the stage.
The first production seeking actors is being billed as a sci-fi double-header. It’s a new take on an old classic. Act one is “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast. Set in 1938 in the Mercury Theatre and broadcast by Orson Welles on Halloween Eve, the realistic broadcast sent panic throughout the streets. Presented as a serious news bulletin, it reported that Martians were invading earth. Many listeners thought the invasion was all too real. Act two takes “War of the Worlds” and flips it on its head, with Earth invading Mars.
Written by former Keys resident and Key Players actor and director, “They Came From Earth” is a parody of “War of the Worlds.”
“This is a little more contemporary with the earthlings showing up in their moon suits and their Mars rovers and looking to colonize,” said Jeremy Wilken, the play’s author. Wilken, a metal sculpture artist, now lives in New York but keeps in touch with his theater buddy Jonelle Kop. When she asked him for ideas to create a new experience for the audience, he was more than happy to assist.
“I threw my own little sense of humor in there and funny references,” Wilken said.
“Actors will be in crazy Martian costumes and speaking with crazy Martian voices,” added Kop.
Also, for this show, all of the sound effects will be live.
“So the explosions and the screaming and the sound of the Martians landing and all of that is going to be produced and done on stage live by Susan Bazin, her team and our actors; it’s a huge amount of fun,” said Kop. Bazin is the band director at Key Largo School.
Wilken says he can’t wait to see what the actors do with his script.
“I wrote in the very first paragraph of the script, ‘For the love of God, have fun. If somebody’s got a good idea, run with it. If you can put a better joke right there, say it,’” Wilken said.
Auditions will be Tuesday, Sept. 2 and opening night for the double-header show will be Oct. 9.
Also on Sept. 2 and into Wednesday, Sept.3, the Key Players will be auditioning actors for a musical, “Monty Python’s Edukational Show.” It will be the first time the Key Players will tackle a Monty Python production.
“There are a lot of Monty Python fans out there and this is a chance to be in a Monty Python show,” Kop said. Michele Zofchak, the drama club teacher at Key Largo School, will direct the Monty Python show.
“Monty Python’s Edukational Show” will not open until Jan. 29, 2026.
Teenagers and up are encouraged to audition for one or both shows. In all, there are roles for 20 actors in each production. If need be, some actors can play more than one role.
Auditions for the “War of the Worlds” and “They Came from Earth” will be held on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. Auditions for “Monty Python’s Edukational Show” will be held on Sept. 2-3 starting at 6 p.m., also at the Murray Nelson Center.
More information is at thekeyplayers.org or from Kop at 305-942-4339.
