Wicked Lit announces Halloween production

Unbound Productions, the producers of Wicked Lit, have announced their schedule for the 2014 Halloween season.

The annual production, which takes place at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum,  offers theatergoers three classic horror tales in an immersive experience, as audience members follow the characters around the grounds as the story unfolds.

The three plays for 2014 include: a telling of the Mexican legend, La Llorana (adapted by Jonathan Josephson, directed by Paul Millet); Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest (adapted by John Leslie, directed by Jeff G. Rack); and Matthew Gregory Lewis’ The Monk (adapted by Douglas Clayton, directd by Debbie McMahon).

This year, Wicked Lit, which has traditionally sold out, will extend the season to include weekday performances from Oct. 2 to Nov. 8, 2014.  Last year, it drew nearly 2,200 theatergoers and was named “Best Halloween Attraction of 2013” by Hollywood Gothique (ahead of Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary). Broadwayworld exclaimed “I see why the shows sell out every year!”

As last year, the production will also include a pre-show and interstitial “frame” inspired by the German Wulpurgisnacht festival of the dead, conceived and directed by Charlie Mount (Against the Wall, 2014 LA Times Critic’s Pick) and Aurora Long (On the Edge Theatre Productions).

“For our 6^th Wicked Production, we have assembled the biggest creative team that we have ever had,” said Rack, who also oversees the production design and special effects for the event. “Last year’s show had a total of four playwrights and directors building the event, this year we have eight creative minds breathing life into Wicked Lit.”

Said Millet, “Every year, we push ourselves to instill  Wicked Lit with more surprises and more creative ways to tell great classic stories. We have become known as a Halloween event but we take great pride in our commitment to playwrights and our theatrical work.” La Llorona, Dracula’s Guest, and The Monk are the 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd play to receive their world premiere from Unbound.

Behind-the-scenes “Insider Tours” will be led after every performance, for an additional fee, allowing a small number of guests to get insight from the creators of the show while touring the Mausoleum.

“The audience and critical response to our show has been astounding, said Josephson. “Our Insider Tours will give our patrons unprecedented access to our creative process. We have also made other customer service improvements to the show, such as enhanced restrooms and a more interactive lobby experience.”

Wicked Lit is a walking show – patrons must be able to comfortably walk a minimum of 2,000 paces and climb stairs in order to experience this production. Wicked Lit 2014 contains mature themes, theatrical violence, and adult situations – the production is recommended for audiences ages 13+. The running time will be approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with two intervals.

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

La Llorona
Adapted by Jonathan Josephson
Directed by Paul Millet

The Mexican folk legend La Llorona (“The Weeping Woman”) tells the story of a desperate mother who murders her children by drowning them in a river. But what compels her to commit such an atrocious act? Fear? Insanity? Spite? Conveyed through dialogue, storytelling, dance, song, and music, this new adaptation will plunge audiences into five different perspectives of this haunting cautionary tale. Beginning with the legend’s historical origins in 16^th Century Mexico and ending in modern day Los Angeles with a story that was inspired by actual events, this senses-blasting theatrical event is unlike anything ever produced by Unbound Productions. 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest
Adapted by John Leslie
Directed by Jeff G. Rack

Determined Brit, Jonathan Harker has travelled to Romania to meet with a mysterious Count about selling him property in London – but he can’t get a coach. He is only a few miles from his destination in the Transylvania mountains, but on Walpurgisnacht, only one man is willing to make the sacrifice to get him up the hill. What are the villagers so afraid of? Originally written to be the first chapter of the groundbreaking horror novel Dracula. This chilling short story was published posthumously by Stoker’s wife in 1914.

The Monk, inspired by the novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis
Adapted by Douglas Clayton
Directed by Debbie McMahon

Evil can take many forms – especially in Inquisition-era Spain. Matilda has journeyed to Madrid to seek the help of a clergyman who is known not only for his skills as an orator but for his ability to help those oppressed by the church. To what lengths will she go to secure her future – and at whose expense? This stylized, lyrical production examines the faces of sin in all of its many forms.

PERFORMANCES AND TICKETS:

October 3 – November 8, 2014, Limited engagement!
Thursday, October 2 (preview)
Friday-Sunday, Oct 3-5;
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct 8-12;
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct 15-19;
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct 22-26;
Wednesday-Sunday, Oct 29-Nov 2
Wednesday-Saturday, Nov 5-8

All performances will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $39-70, see website for details.
Insider Tours will be available for an additional $25.
For more information go to wickedlit.org or call (323) 332-2065.

Mountain View Mausoleum & Cemetery
2300 N. Marengo Ave. Altadena CA 91001
AMPLE FREE PARKING ON THE GROUNDS