BANGOR — The first session of Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy 2014-2015 culminates Halloween weekend with a production befitting the season: “Frankenstein,” based on the classic novel by Mary Shelley.
Directed by Benjamin Layman, a cast of 13 young actors will bring to life the chilling tale of science gone awry in a new adaptation by Amy Roeder, Penobscot Theatre Company’s director of education
“Frankenstein” is the story of young Victor Frankenstein, haunted by his mother’s death and driven to madness by his obsessive search for the spark of life. Roeder’s adaptation features Mary Shelley and her famous literary friends who devised the story-telling contest that spawned her novel.
“Theater is all about creation, creating complex characters and the worlds they occupy, and I wanted to explore that concept with our students,” said Roeder. “Before Dr. Frankenstein created his monster, someone created Dr. Frankenstein. Who was she and what was it like in her world? Mary Shelley is an amazing character in her own right, and some of the mores of her time were pretty monstrous!”
“We’ve had a lot of fun with this script,” Layman said, “and we are set to deliver thrills and chills.”
The cast includes Kobe Angel, Tala Bayless, Thea Bowden, Elisabeth Budd, Kaitlin Carreira, Isabella Gappa, Jaeda Grosjean, Kai Grosjean, Anna Kemble, Nathan Manaker, Evander Preston, Joseph Rutledge and Claire Thompson. Production design is by Elliott Wilcox, stage management by Catherine Darragh, assistant direction by Daniel Perkins, sound design by Brandie Rita, makeup by Ao Arts and Victoria White, and costume design by Kevin Koski.
“Frankenstein” performances 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31; 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1; and 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Bangor Opera House.
Tickets are $12, $8 children and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 942-3333. Children under 10 may find some aspects of the production frightening; parental discretion is advised.
Registration is now open for Penobscot Theatre Company’s next Dramatic Academy production, “Holes,” based on the novel by Louis Sachar, and the spring Dramatic Academy production of “James and the Giant Peach,” based on the Roald Dahl novel. In addition, Dramatic Academy offers master classes, vacation camps, a young adult conservatory and in-school residencies. For information, visit penobscottheatre.org and click on the Education tab.