YOUNGSTOWN — Hopewell Theatre finds nostalgic fun and a lot of ingenuity “In the Zone.”

The production “In the Zone with Rod Serling,” which runs for three more performances, turns five episodes of the beloved television series “The Twilight Zone” into an evening of theater.

The original series ran from 1959 to 1964, but the show never went away. I discovered it in syndication growing up in the ’70s. Younger generations might have watched “Twilight Zone” marathons on the Sci Fi Channel / SyFy, streamed it on Paramount+ or revisited the original series after the 1983 film or one of the television reboots.

Like all great genre writers, Serling used the conventions of science fiction, horror, crime stories, etc. to comment on the human condition, and while all of these stories were written more than 60 years ago, many of them still feel timely. The first act finale shows how quickly the veneer of civility can collapse in times of crisis, a story that rings as true in 2025 as it did in 1961.

Making these stories work on the stage provides its own set of challenges. Director Christopher Fidram makes smart choices at every turn, starting by selecting five scripts that both hint at the breadth of styles the show encompassed and that could be told on stage in front of a live audience. Hopewell received permission from the estate of “Twilight Zone” creator and host Serling to use any of the 92 episodes he wrote or co-wrote, so Fidram had plenty to pick from in theory, but many of those options would be impractical.

Most lists of the best “Twilight Zone” episodes include “Hitch-Hiker,” the story of a woman whose cross country trip is haunted by a hitchhiker who’s always ahead of her and asking, “Going my way?” That episode would be impossible to do effectively on a stage, but Fidram picks a lesser episode about a dream that could be a nightmare or a premonition that has a similar eerie vibe.

Hopewell Theatre decided not to publicize which five episodes it chose to dramatize to recreate the element of surprise that viewers would have turning on their television not knowing what to expect. I’m going to honor that choice and avoid titles and extensive plot synopses, but “Twilight Zone” fanatics probably will be able to figure out some of the selections.

There are some gender swaps — the cranky businessman stranded in a diner now is a woman as are one of the troopers and the bus driver — but otherwise Fidram stays true to the way these stories originally were told, including having the cast perform in a style that verges on melodrama at various points.

Jim Canacci’s set design is monochromatic in shades of grey and surprisingly functional. Elevator doors needed for the first story become the entryway to a bomb shelter for the first act finale, which is the standout of the production, and it’s the story that will keep viewers thinking long after they leave Hopewell.

Ellen Licitra’s lighting effects are just as important in creating the mood these stories need, and the sound cues picked by Fidram and Pecano (if they didn’t use some of the music from the original episodes, they found music that was every bit as effective) also help recreate that original television experience.

The second act finale probably is the most famous of the five “Twilight Zone” stories that Hopewell tells, and it requires a bit of stage magic that is executed cleverly.

Mario Ricciardi does a credible Serling impression delivering the intros and outros, and most of the cast members play multiple roles. The ensemble does impressive work, particularly Bill Rees and Stephanie Cambro as an elderly couple looking for a fountain of youth to stay together pain free, and everyone involved in the first and second act finales. Both stories demand and receive fine ensemble work.

As someone who grew up loving “The Twilight Zone,” I’m the target audience for a show like this, but the packed houses Hopewell had both nights of opening weekend indicate I’m not alone in that sentiment. Fidram’s production should please those longtime fans and send the newcomers in search of the originals.

If you go …

WHAT: “In the Zone with Rod Serling”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Hopewell Theatre, 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $22.50 adults and $17.30 for students and senior citizens and are available online at hopewelltheatre.org and by calling 330-746-5455.