Creating a Monster
Photo by Mikki Schaffner
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Through Nov. 2
Tickets and info at cincyshakes.com.
On a dark and stormy night, a group of friends challenged each other to tell a frightful tale and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was born.
As the novel unfolds, Victor Frankenstein’s rejected creature is cast away by his creator, thrust into a world that recoils in terror. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company offers a new spin on the gothic tale from the mother of science fiction. Find a spine-tingling encounter with one of literature's most iconic monsters, ideal for the Halloween season, as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein asks the question: who is the real monster, creature or creator?
This version of Frankenstein was adapted by David Catlin in 2019 and originally produced by the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein takes place on the night Mary Shelley conceived the story of Frankenstein. Actors portray the historical figures present at the story’s creation, including Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley herself, as they gather to tell each other grim tales of the macabre. They begin to recount the story of Frankenstein, using props and costumes from the set to embody the characters of the gothic tale, bringing the story to life! Director Brian Isaac Phillips remarks, “It’s full of thrills and chills, but it also has this really fantastic heart to it… specifically with Mary Shelley’s journey and who she is and how she creates the story.” Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to bring this over 200 year old classic to life this Halloween season!
This production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will have a life following this run in Cincinnati. Produced in partnership with Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, Mass., the production will travel and perform at the partner organization from November 8th- 24th. Designers from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Merrimack Repertory Theatre will work together to bring Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to life at both cities. Producing productions in partnership like this is cost-effective, helping theaters streamline operations, maximize budgets, and deliver high-quality performances to a wider audience.
Audiences can join Cincy Shakes Halloween night at “Frankenstein’s Monster Bash.” Audiences are invited to see Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while dressed in their spookiest duds and costumes. Featured cocktails, thrilling performances, and monstrous surprises await ticket holders Oct. 31 at 7:30 PM.
This adaptation is directed by CSC’s Producing Artistic Director and CEO, Brian Isaac Phillips and features an ensemble of five actors comprised of Jasimine Bouldin. Alexis Bronkovic, Billy Chace, John Patrick Hayden, and Jay Wade. This production’s design is generously sponsored by Rance and Marilyn Duke.