Nevermore:
The Requiem of Edgar Allan Poe
In this new one-act play, the master of the macabre has died; and he finds himself trapped in some lonely realm of the afterlife.
However, Edgar Allan Poe awakens to discover he is not alone; a mysterious figure known only as The Shadow has come to guide him through the vally of unrest, in a final attempt to discover meaning in, what was, his life.
What begins as a tense confrontation slowly unfolds into a haunting, deeply personal reflection. The Shadow forces Poe to relive his greatest tragedies — the devastating losses of the women he loved, the crushing weight of poverty and addiction, and the relentless demons that both fueled and tormented his genius.Â
Poe must confront his unresolved despair, regrets, and his desperate desire for meaning, or be left to wander aimlessly for all eternity. This intimate two-actor gothic drama explores the human side of this legendary literary figure.
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Equal parts psychological thriller and poetic meditation, Nevermore: The Requiem of Edgar Allan Poe is a dark, atmospheric journey into one of America’s most brilliant and troubled minds. Through raw emotion, engaging performances, and Poe's immortal poetry, this play unmasks Poe, to reveal the human behind such chilling classics as "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart"; giving audiences new insight into the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe.
What to expect
Performances vary by the abilities of the venue, but generally, there are some dramatic lighting cues, (reds, blues, and whites). No strob lighting. The show does utilize fog machines when allowed. The show runs approximately 70 minutes, plus a 30-60 minute Q&A/Mingle with the cast/crew.
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There is some mild language, and dark themes including death, existentialism, reliving traumatic experiences, and brief discussions about addiction.
Technical Notes
The production is low impact, with minimal props/set (ideal for black box and intimate theaters. ) Simple lighting ques, with red, blue and white called for, but not required. No strobe effects or sound effects. Use of a fog machine is ideal, but not necessary, depending on venue.
THE PREVIEW(Coming Soon)
Writer/Director- Poe
Jacob McNeal is a writer, director, and actor based in Chicago, IL. He wrote and is directing Nevermore: The Requiem of Edgar Allan Poe, in which he also stars as Edgar Allan Poe.
He has appeared in Chicago Fire, Med, and P.D., national commercials, and an upcoming A24 film. Trained at The Barrow Group in NYC, he previously coached acting and assistant directed at Trine University. He's written screenplays, poetry collections, short horror stories, and is working on the novelization of this play.
The Shadow
Jan Thomas has appeared in numerous regional productions since 2016; her unique talents have lit up the stage in Shakespearean Tragedies, modern comedies, and improv theatre.Â
She plays the veiled SHADOW in The Requiem of Edgar Allan Poe.
