This Halloween season, Found Stages' Frankenstein's Funeral will take audiences on a physical journey through Mary Shelley's 200-year-old novel.
This intimate, immersive experience is designed for only 40 audiences members per performance and takes place Oct. 4-Nov. 3, 2019 at St. John's Lutheran Church-a historic Atlanta home once known as Stonehenge Mansion, converted into a church in 1959.
"The opportunity to present this classic work of horror in a space so perfectly designed for its Gothic aesthetic is a true thrill," says actor Jake Krakovsky, who plays scientist Victor Frankenstein. "The architecture of the church combined with the work of our designers is going to elevate the experience into something far beyond what you get in a traditional theater."
Found Stages approaches the literary classic in a unique way by creating a tangible world that audiences can explore with all their senses. Mary Shelley leads the audience back in time through her novel and throughout multiple rooms on the church campus. Audience members are invited to share an active role in the experience as they interact with the characters.
"Frankenstein's Funeral aims to keep all the lyrical, creative, and surprising moments of engagement you've come to expect with a show in the same vein as Sleep No More," says playwright Annie Harrison Elliott, who is one of four writers collaborating on the script. "But we're giving it a narrative structure that's unlike what you've seen in the past."
This spooky and sexy adventure is more sophisticated than most Halloween events. It examines the dangers of unchecked ambition and societal "othering." This story tells the timeless and timely tale of what happens when we paint someone who disagrees with us as a monster, rather than considering their humanity.
"Victor is an anti-hero," explains Krakovsky. "He is by turns arrogant, ambitious, cowardly, blinded by hubris - and yet we still tell his story. I hope his can be a cautionary tale."
The team of Atlanta artists, including writers, designers, actors, choreographers, and a director have spent more than a year creating the show. Frankenstein's Funeral is a companion piece to Found Stages' New Year's Eve Frankenstein's Ball. These two immersive experiences offer unique explorations of Mary Shelley's novel (Frankenstein's Funeral) and the real-life drama that influenced her writing (Frankenstein's Ball).
"We've known from the start that we wanted Mary Shelley to be a character in our adaptation. In digging into her life, we found enough material to create two shows, which is what we've done," says director and concept creator Nichole Palmietto, who is also a co-founder of Found Stages. "Now we can give audiences two totally different experiences and perspectives on her story, and we get to explore different styles of immersive theater."
The production of Frankenstein's Funeral includes an original score that combines live music layered over recorded sound, original dance and fight choreography, magical special effects, intricately detailed period costumes, and scenic designs that imaginatively enhance the architecture of the existing space.
"I haven't gotten the chance to wear such an extravagant period piece, let alone perform in a found space (as opposed to a proscenium stage) that reminds me of Downton Abbey!" gushes actor Michelle Pokopac, who plays Elizabeth Lavenza. "I'm usually not a fan of haunted houses, but this one is certainly incredible and elevated by an exciting script that you can't miss."
Tickets start at $45 and are available online at
foundstages.org/tickets.
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