The thumping of a heartbeat. The creek of a door. The howl of a bitter wind. The gong of a clock tower. The clang of alarm bells. The sound of beating wings getting closer and closer…

Specters, ghosts and ghouls come alive in this vivid theatrical adaptation of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s best-known works. Included are The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death.

Poe’s words rise from the page like corpses from the grave. Be careful. Do you hear that tap, tap, taping?

Multi-length versions of the script to fit every need.

Click here to read production tips for this play.

Awards and Accolades

Advanced to the All Ontario Showcase of the 2013 Sears Drama Festival
Clinton High School - Best Overall Costume at North Mississippi DramaFest; Best Overall Costume at Mississippi Theatre Association Festival
Laingsburg High School - Advanced to the State level of The 2018 Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association Theater Festival
Langley Fine Arts School - Outstanding performance in the Langley District Drama Festival, advanced to the 2019 British Columbia Provincial Festival
Cambridge-Isanti High School - 2019 - Mississippi 8 conference starred Performance, Minnesota Sub-Section 7AA Champions, Minnesota Section 7AA Champions and Minnesota State Festival Performers

Characters

34
4 Men, 5 Women, 25 Any Gender, Doubling Possible

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

The Tell-Tale Heart

The Old [M] 24 lines
The Young [M] 75 lines
Police One [A] 9 lines
Police Two [A] 10 lines
The Shudders [A] 54 lines: Ensemble

The Bells

Silver One [A] 6 lines
Silver Two [A] 5 lines
Silver Three [A] 2 lines
Gold One [A] 7 lines
Gold Two [A] 4 lines
Gold Three [A] 4 lines
Brass One [A] 9 lines
Brass Two [A] 8 lines
Brass Three [A] 8 lines
Iron One [A] 16 lines
Iron Two [A] 14 lines
Icon Three [A] 11 lines
The Shudders [A] 22 lines: Ensemble

The Oval Portrait

Painter [M] 0 lines: Extensive mime
Picture Lady [W] 0 lines: Extensive mime
Young Lady [W] 0 lines: Extensive mime
Soul Suckers (x2) [A] 0 lines: Extensive mime
The Shudders [A] 0 lines: Ensemble

The Raven

One [A] 38 lines
Two [A] 38 lines
Three [A] 38 lines
Four [A] 37 lines
Five [A] 36 lines
The Shudders [A] 12 lines: Ensemble; You can have many more Individual Speakers for this poem. Feel free to divide the lines among more speakers.

The Masque of the Red Death

Narrator One 17 lines
Narrator Two 17 lines
Narrator Three 16 lines
Guest One 21 lines
Guest Two 21 lines
Guest Three 16 lines
Prince 15 lines
The Spectre: Extensive mime
The Shudders [A] 25 lines: Ensemble

Lionizing

Robert Jones [M] 42 lines
Father [M] 15 lines
Mother [W] 1 line
The Artist [W] 9 lines
The Duchess [W] 11 lines
The Countess [W] 7 lines
The Marquis [M] 4 lines
The Prince [M] 15 lines
The Elector [W] 4 lines
The Shudders [A]: Ensemble

Subgenres: Mystery/Thriller Ghost Story Halloween Adaptation
Settings: 19th Century Victorian Abstract setting
Dress: Elaborate costumes Fantasy costumes Period costumes
Audience: Pre-teen Teen
Features: Mime Poetry Tableau Masks Opportunity for spectacle Dance Choral work Movement-based Music Variable length Sound & Lighting Design Variable Cast Size

Set: Simple set
Cautions: Adult themes Onstage murder Frank talk of death
Themes: Betrayal Death Illness/Health Love Memory Morality Revenge
Cross-Curricular Uses: English
Other uses: Competition Class work Scene work
Awards & Accolades: Plays with Awards & Accolades

Prop List

Blanket, Ribbons, Skull mask, 60 minute version - Book, 60 minute version - Hanky

Production Photos

Multimedia

Video

An elegant and inexpensive solution to the The Masque of the Red Death scene.

Related Titles

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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.