In the season associated with scary stories and the return of the dead, Allentown Public Theatre (APT) offers POE: A Madman Knows Nothing.
Nine performances will be held at the Ice House on Sand Island in Bethlehem, October 11-12 and 17-19 at 8pm; and October 12-13 and 19-20 at 3pm.
The play is a celebration of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), whose fascination with death and extreme states of the human mind, coupled with his skills of description, resulted in stories that exquisitely craft horror and fear and poems that are full of melody and melancholy.
The production features some of the most iconic stories and poems “ "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amantillado," "The Raven" and more “ in a dramatic presentation by Joshua Neth, who channels Poe and his characters to bring the writings to life.
At the same time, by juxtaposing Poe's most passionate and revealing personal letters with the stories and poems, the show invites us to enter the mind and life of the man,
For variety, some of Poe's lesser known stories with comic and satirical overtones are interspersed, including "The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade" (of Arabian Nights fame) about Sinbad the sailor.
Joshua Neth (APT's Artistic Director) collaborated with director Andrea Cartagena in adapting the new production from selected writings of Poe.
They chose October to mount the show, Neth says, "because this is when Poe is often celebrated. October 7 is the anniversary of his death.
"And," he adds, "Poe's works tie in so well with the haunting season."
POE: A Madman Knows Nothing. At the Charles Brown Ice House on Sand Island, 56 River St., Bethlehem. October 11-12 and 17-19 at 8pm; October 12-13 and 19-20 at 3pm.
Tickets: $25, Adults; $20, Students and Seniors; $15, Groups.
For tickets and more information: www.AllentownPublicTheatre.com