ABC Players Present "Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe"

The ABC Players return to Stuart’s Opera House this weekend with Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe, featuring four of Poe’s most famous works: The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell Tale Heart.

"Poe tells each of these stories as a progression of his memories, and by the end of the play it’s up to the audience to decide if Poe is mad...or not," said director Miranda Miller.

The play's cast is made up of theater veterans and newcomers. Braden Baker is a new addition to the ABC Players.

"I’m the 'less' mad one," joked Baker about his role as "Edgar," the boyhood version of Poe.

The adult version of Poe is played by Terrence Smith, a longtime member of the ABC Players who first performed with the troupe back in 1997 for Funny Girl.

"Basically I’m developing the character just by looking over Poe’s works," he said. "And it's interesting. You may think that a person gets bored going over the lines over and over again, but it’s amazing how the more you go over the lines, every so often something catches you and you get a little more insight. So each rehearsal I try to add a little something, or just fine-tune."

The narrator (Gary Hillyer) helps to tell a story that brings to life such well-known characters as Roderick (Levi Hays) and Madeline Usher (Kym Henry); The Raven (Jessica Osborn); and the Old Man of “The Tell-Tale Heart” (Lee Carter).

Rounding out the cast are Braden Baker, Katie Hukill, David Potts, Gene Jacobs, Marissa Dienstag, Jason Miller and Andrew Weed.

Visit www.stuartsoperahouse.org for tickets and information.