In the fall of 2016 Aurora University welcomed Sean Graney, artistic director of the Chicago theatre company The Hypocrites, to campus to workshop a play for 2 weeks with AU students. The play became Fuller (and Edgar) in the House of Usher. In the February following the fall workshop, we staged a fully produced production in our black box studio.
Directors Note:
This is a fictional tale of how Edgar Allan Poe was inspired to write his stories and poems. While Poe and Margaret Fuller are real, this journey is completely made up. While you will meet characters from various Poe stories and poems, not one of them follow the storyline originally dictated by Poe. Our playwright instead used Poe’s history, friendships and stories as a springboard to dive into his own imagination.
Poe’s work wasn’t designed to be funny, but you may laugh. Poe’s work wasn’t written to reflect and explore our contemporary understanding of depression and anxiety, but here it might. The depth of the real relationship between Poe and Fuller is unknown, but you may be moved by it anyway.
There are no rules here in The House of Usher (cat screech). Only inspiration.
And possibility. Welcome.
I believe good theatre should make us laugh, make us think and make us just a little uncomfortable.
I believe this play does all of those things.
I hope you enjoy it as much I do.
-spj
Directors Note:
This is a fictional tale of how Edgar Allan Poe was inspired to write his stories and poems. While Poe and Margaret Fuller are real, this journey is completely made up. While you will meet characters from various Poe stories and poems, not one of them follow the storyline originally dictated by Poe. Our playwright instead used Poe’s history, friendships and stories as a springboard to dive into his own imagination.
Poe’s work wasn’t designed to be funny, but you may laugh. Poe’s work wasn’t written to reflect and explore our contemporary understanding of depression and anxiety, but here it might. The depth of the real relationship between Poe and Fuller is unknown, but you may be moved by it anyway.
There are no rules here in The House of Usher (cat screech). Only inspiration.
And possibility. Welcome.
I believe good theatre should make us laugh, make us think and make us just a little uncomfortable.
I believe this play does all of those things.
I hope you enjoy it as much I do.
-spj
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Fuller (and Edgar) in the House of Usher
Adapted by Sean Graney From Many Edgar Allan Poe Stories Directed by Stacy Parker Joyce Set Design & Lighting by John Curran, Jr. Costume & Make-up Design by Amanda Lifvendahl Property Design by Tavia DeFelice Edgar: Ben Donahue Margaret Fuller: Liza Scheidler The Butcher of the Ushers: Nigel Bennett Lady Morella Usher: Eunice Ayodele Little Eleanor: Jasmine Moore |
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