Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced the line-up for WICKED LIT 2015, the company's 7th annual immersive theatre event that will for the 6th year take place at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California.
The production will run from October 2-November 14, 2015 and feature world premiere adaptations of The Grove of Rashomon adapted by Josephson (2013 Humana Festival, WL14: Las Lloronas) from the short story "In A Grove" by Japanese author Rynosuke Akutagawa & directed by Darin Anthony (Artistic Director of Moving Arts, The Book of Liz at The Blank), and The Ebony Frame adapted by regular Unbound Productions performer Susannah Myrvold from the short story by Australian writer Edith Nesbit and directed by Jaime Robledo (Stoneface, Sacred Fools and Pasadena Playhouse, 2015 SciFest).
The final play of the evening will be a reimagining of Millet's (WL13: The Masque of the Red Death Experience, The Tell-Tale Heart) adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, directed by Rack (WL14: Dracula's Guest, WL13: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). The program is rounded out by the Wicked Lit 2015 Frame called The System, based on Edgar Allan Poe's The System of Dr. Tarr & Prof. Fether, conceived, written and directed by Debbie McMahon (WL14: The Monk). The Frame will be performed pre-show and during the evening's two intervals.
"We are also very proud of the fact that our shows continue to broaden in terms of theatrical diversity, both in terms of manner-of-storytelling, as well as the international impact of our source material and the makeup of our creative team," said Josephson. "Last year, one of our plays was inspired by a Mexican folktale, this year, one of our plays is inspired by a Japanese story and will feature an all Asian and Asian-American cast. Another one of our plays was adapted from a lauded female author from Australia by the wonderfully talented Susannah Myrvold. It is important to us that we bring a wide range of unique, creative voices to our productions."
WICKED LIT 2015 will run seven weeks and feature the popular behind-the-scenes "Backstage Experiences" that was introduced last year for an additional fee. This fundraising initiative allows a small number of guests to receive insight from the creators of the show while touring the Mausoleum.WICKED LIT audiences will experience three short plays as they are led through the grounds of the mausoleum and cemetery by Storyguides. WICKED LIT is a walking show - patrons must be able to comfortably walk a minimum of 2,000 steps and climb stairs in order to experience this production. WICKED LIT 2015 contains mature themes, theatrical violence, and sexual situations - the production is recommended for audiences ages 16+. The running time will be approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including two intervals.
The first WICKED LIT production was staged in 2009 on the grounds of Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Since that time, nearly 10,000 patrons have enjoyed full productions of adaptations of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Robert E. Howard, Washington Irving, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and many others at Greystone Mansion, Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery and numerous installation events throughout Southern California. The mission of Unbound Productions, the theatre company that produces WICKED LIT, is to reimagine timeless stories for new audiences by creating immersive, theatrical adaptations of literature. Visit wickedlit.org for complete pricing and scheduling details. WICKED LIT is also on Facebook.THE PLAYS:
The Grove of RashomonThe Fall of the House of Usher
By Paul Millet
Directed by Jeff G. Rack
Adapted from the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe
The Ebony Frame
By Susannah Myrvold
Directed by Jaime Robledo
Adapted from the short story of the same name by Edith Nesbit
Henry just inherited a lavish home from a relative he never met, and he is engaged to a woman who adores him beyond words - so things are good. But there is something about that painting that is just captivating - but what is it? Ah - nothing that can't be sorted out by a Satanic wedding.
Featuring Deborah Dominguez, Kevin Dulude, Joe Fria, Angie Hobin and Tina Van Berckelaer.The System (The Wicked Lit 2015 Frame)Come one, come all, and enjoy our merry play! Get well, heal fast - just avoid Nurse Racher.
Featuring Alan Abelew, Kevin Dulude, Kyle Fox and Mark Ostrander.PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
October 2 - November 14, 2015, Limited engagement!All performances will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets range from $35-75, see website for details. Backstage Experience passes will be available for an additional $25. For more information go to wickedlit.org or call (323) 332-2065. Performances play the Mountain View Mausoleum & Cemetery, located at 2300 N. Marengo Ave. Altadena CA 91001. AMPLE FREE PARKING ON THE GROUNDS. Please consult a map before driving to the Mausoleum.
DO NOT ENTER FROM FAIR OAKS AVE ~ YOU MAY GET LOST - PLEASE PLAN AHEADTHIS IS A WALKING PRODUCTION THAT TAKES PLACE AT NIGHT
PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE, SOFT-SOLED SHOES
SOME SCENES STAGED OUTSIDE ~ PLEASE DRESS ACCORDINGLY
THIS PRODUCTION IS MEANT FOR MATURE AUDIENCES AND WILL BE SCARY!
PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT TRIGGER WARNINGS -
SEATING IS LIMITED - THESE SHOWS WILL SELL OUT!
Founded in 2008 by Jonathan Josephson, Paul Millet and Jeff G. Rack, Unbound Productions is a nonprofit theatre company whose mission is to reimagine timeless stories for new audiences by creating immersive, theatrical adaptations of literature. Since our first full production of Wicked Lit in 2009, over 15,000 patrons have enjoyed our immersive theatre events at venues ranging from Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery, to Pasadena Museum of History, to Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood. Unbound has also presented staged readings at Long Beach Comic Con, Pasadena Art Walk, the West Hollywood Book Fair, NoHo Lit Crawl, The Chance Theatre, The Echo Theatre Company, and many other venues and events. Unbound has produced 26 world premiere plays throughout its history, some of which have gone on to be produced at venues across the country as well as Scotland, England and Cameroon.
The scope of Wicked Lit is to create dynamic new adaptations of classic horror literature. Over 10,000 patrons have enjoyed Wicked Lit productions and installations since Wicked Lit 2009 at the haunted Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. From 2010-2015, Wicked Lit has been staged at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena where audiences walk through the hallways of the mausoleum and among the headstones in the cemetery as our plays are staged all around. Unbound has also produced special installations of Mark Twain's A Ghost Story (Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel in conjunction with the 2011 Theatre Communications Group National Conference), Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart (LA Mart in conjunction with ScareLA), and The Doll (Strub Mansion at the historic Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena). Since 2008, Unbound has also mounted over 100 free staged readings of Wicked Lit plays at libraries, schools, festivals, and special events all over Southern California including the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, NoHo LitWalk, Pasadena ArtWalk, West Hollywood Book Fair, Long Beach Comic Con and theaters such as The Chance Theatre, The Antaeus Company, The Blank Theatre Company, High Street Performing Arts Center, and many others.
Pictured: McKenzie Eckels, Eric Keitel and Angie Hobin at Wicked Lit 2014. Photo by Daniel Kitayama.
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