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Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

adapted by Lindsay Price from Edgar Allan Poe

The thumping of a heartbeat. The creak 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, tapping?

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

Drama Choral Work Classical Adaptation Movement-based Mystery Reader's Theatre

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 45 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
34 Characters
4 M5 F25 Any Gender, Doubling Possible
Set
Simple Set
Length
51 pages
Production Tips
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Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

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.

34 Characters
4 M, 5 F, 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 [F] 0 lines
Extensive mime
Young Lady [F] 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 [F] 1 line
The Artist [F] 9 lines
The Duchess [F] 11 lines
The Countess [F] 7 lines
The Marquis [M] 4 lines
The Prince [M] 15 lines
The Elector [F] 4 lines
The Shudders [A]
Ensemble

Praise for Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

Jessica Noel
Philly PACK
This play is a very unique adaptation of classic Poe stories using original text. The script uses unison text like a Greek chorus. I highly recommend this script for advanced theatre students who are interested in challenging material. This script is not for beginner acting students, but the text could be used beautifully on-book in a staged-reading for beginner/intermediate level. This show is an accomplishment!
Lindsay Mackie
ASU Prep Digital
I am very proud of this Middle School Drama Club and what they have accomplished in this virtual performance. Many of them are in 6th grade and have never been in a play before. We are a virtual school and this play was very flexible and easy to work with in Zoom. We received extremely positive feedback from our students, staff, and families!
Megan Randol
Williams High School
This play allowed for all of my students to have a chance to have bigger parts, especially those who might get over shadowed by a senior. It allowed everyone a moment to shine.

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