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“To muse for long unwearied hours, to become absorbed, for the better part of a summer's day, in a quaint shadow falling aslant upon the tapestry or upon the floor; to lose myself, for an entire night watching the steady flame of a lamp, to repeat, monotonously, some common word...Teeth, White, Teeth...Enamel...until the sound, by frequent repetition ceases to convey any particular meaning whatsoever. Teeth, teeth. White. My monomania has taken control of my entire existence.”
Egaeus, The POE Play
“They say you only really die if the person feels it's their time. I know this to be true. Friend, while I was in town today a ghostly sight saw I. My long, lost, love. There in front of me, plain as the day.”
The Old Man, The POE Play
The POE Play transports audiences into the mind of the master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, and is based on five of Poe’s darkest tales. This original Rogue production is brought to life in Hyper-theater using puppets, masks, stunning visual effects, and dance set in a dream world of video and sound. The POE Play combines elements from “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and the often overlooked “Berenice” to create a new story about one man’s journey into madness.
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“This concoction is nothing if not original, combining actors with masks, life-size puppets and video images that border on the surreal edges of fantasy fiction—a tantalizing concept when one considers the often-morbid nature of Poe’s work.”
The Orange County Register
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The POE Play was the first project developed by the Rogue Artists Ensemble and was workshopped from October to December 2001. The project was performed at the University of California, Irvine in January 2002 to an amazingly enthusiastic response of sell-out performances. This initial presentation was funded by the University of California, Irvine's Undergraduate Research Program Grant. Rogue Artists Ensemble revived the project in October 2004 with new production elements including three different video feeds, surround sound, and new puppet effects designed by then-guest-artist Joyce Hutter. The Insurgo remount of The POE Play in Anaheim, CA was a giant success and sold out the majority of its four-week run.
The POE Play was our first official Rogue project and we are looking into creating an updated staging of this exciting production within the next few years.
For updates on this and other Rogue projects, please make sure to sign up for our mailing list.
“He had the eye of a demon!"
Excerpt from The POE Play
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In the Press
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“The show hits its stride with "Amontillado," Poe’s acute tale of jealousy and revenge. Filled with hate for the boastful Fortunato (Talmadge), Montressor (Walters) lures him into catacombs, promising him a rare bottle of Spanish sherry. Instead, he drugs Fortunato, chains him to the cavern and seals him up behind a brick wall.”
The Orange County Register
The most recent incarnation of The POE Play was created by Rogue Artists Ensemble in association with the Insurgo Theater Movement.
This project was made possibly through the generosity of the Rogues' supporters.
Cast (2002):
(in alphabetical order)
Anne Brashier
Danny Chung
Kerry Hennessey
Lindsay Katai
Elisa Pope
Patrick Rubio
Joe Sousa
Tyler Stamets
Bonnie Walker
Alex Walters
Cast (2004):
(in alphabetical order)
Christina Aimerito
Lauren Brounley
Olivia Lim
Angela Lopez
Brian Lyman
Allan Sampson
Rob Schow
Miles Taber
Jonthan Talmidge
Alex Walters
Kim White
Directed by:
Sean T. Cawelti
Written for the Stage by:
Sean T. Cawelti, The Rogues
Puppet and Mask Design by:
Sean T. Cawelti
Additional Puppet Design by:
Joyce Hutter, Pat Rubio
Scenic Design by:
Lindsey Gassaway
Music Composition by:
Sean T. Cawelti
Sound Design by:
Sean T. Cawelti, Tyler Stamets
Video Design by:
Patrick Heyn
Lighting Design by:
Melissa Joy Domingo
Choreography by:
2002 - Nate Hodges
2004 - Ellen Ritter
Costume Design by:
Megan Owings, Jenny Owings
Conceptual Artwork Created by:
Sean T. Cawelti
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