Welcome to Season 39! Our first production begins with the psychological thriller Misery, based on the novel by Stephen King. Artistic Affiliate Halena Kays returns for another production to make you squirm. She’s a master of the genre, as audiences experienced during our production of On Clover Road which she directed. That production was critically-acclaimed, broke box-office records, and earned two (2) Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (production & director).
This adaptation for stage was written by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay. No matter the medium, humans love feeling scared by thrillers and the horror genre. There’s a science behind it – a series of chemical reactions that make you crave the adrenaline rush in a controlled and safe environment. And that’s the key – to be a voyeur without any fear of harm. It’s not just theaters, even workers at haunted houses are forbidden to touch attendees to ensure a safe environment.
But creating art is not safe. Stephen King was rejected by hundreds of publishing houses and agents. The very industry and taste makers he sought approval and wanted access refused his admittance. Naturally, his relationship to his fans grew more important. The fans had spoken, making him a living legend. Stephen King wrote Misery as a response to his own fans who seemingly disliked his other fiction genres. He felt boxed in, trapped, and worried about upsetting the very masses who made him one of the best-selling authors of all time. He needn’t worry about his legacy – his name surpasses Edgar Alan Poe in Google searches.
For the younger folks who are entrenched in influence, likability, and shares – you may not know this horrifying plot. The height of its popularity was decades ago in the 20th century. We’re excited to introduce this story to the next generation. Imagine if one of your IG followers came out from behind the anonymous confines of the digital screen to say – they are your #1 fan.
Oh, and silence your phones. She’s listening.
Gwendolyn Whiteside