Night of the Macabre

Book excerpt: A hunt for horror finds four friends at the Museum of the Macabre…a wax museum displaying scenes from short stories by great authors of Gothic Horror like Poe, Hawthorne, and Irving. But as unnerving as the exhibits - and the stories behind them - are…the real terror for the fearless four comes when the exhibits start to come to life! This easy-to-stage play celebrates great short stories of Gothic Horror, including: “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne “The Hand” by Guy De Maupassant “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe “The Red Room” by H.G. Wells “The Velvet Ribbon” by Washington Irving “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Shadows on the Wall” by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman Perfect for Halloween, one-act competitions, or in collaboration with English Lit teachers, this flexible, large-cast play will delight audiences and actors alike. *** Length note: Any of the short stories may be cut to create a shorter play Horror Comedy/Drama Full-length, 90-100 minutes (but can be shortened - see description) 11-36 actors (suggested casting: 9M, 11F, 14 any gender)