Just in time for Halloween, MCC to stage new version of 'Frankenstein'

The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College is putting on a new adaptation of “Frankenstein” by Danielle Mohlman from Mary Shelley's novel.

Mohlman has created a unique version of this tale of gothic horror. When Mary Shelley sits down to write “Frankenstein” she's 18 years old with everything to prove. Her husband, the poet Percy Shelley, is too full of himself to notice his wife's phenomenal talent. She's grieving the death of her infant daughter, and in this era of gothic literature, no one wants to believe that the darkness on the page mirrors the storm in her own head.

That is, until her mother shows up. The only problem is, Mary Wollstonecraft died when Shelley was just 10 days old.

This adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel explores monsters and the women who create them. It's a play that asks the age-old question: How far would you go to outrun your ghosts?

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 20 to Nov. 5 (with no show on Oct. 27), in the Black Box Theatre, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Park in Lot C and enter Building E.

There also will be a special Halloween performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. And on Friday, Nov. 3, there will be a discussion of the themes of “Frankenstein” with two MCC professors emeriti, Jim Gould and Ted Hazelgrove, immediately after the performance.

Tickets are $15 or $10 for students, MCC employees, seniors, veterans, and MCC alumni. For reservations, call (815) 455-8746 or email jgeller@mchenry.edu. All tickets will be paid for at the door by cash or credit card.

The cast of “Frankenstein” includes Izzy Griffin of Hampshire; Trinity Anderson and Lucinda Nicholas, both of Cary; Taylor Runge and Nathan Bodecker, both McHenry; Addie Keller, Angel Zuhlke, and Jake Seelye, all of Harvard; Emily Roberts, Willow Broussard, Ethan Sherman, and Lucy Hagen, all of Woodstock; Wyatt Mizerk of Huntley; Rachel Loding, E.J. Svendson, and Asa Prittner, all of Crystal Lake; and Sheri Warren of Lake in the Hills.

“Frankenstein” is directed by Jay Geller (Kildeer), with assistant director and movement coordinator Maggie McCord (Crystal Lake), set design by Eric Luchen (Chicago), lighting design by Deb Holmen (Crystal Lake), costume design by Carol Foreman (Cary), technical direction by Chris Adkins (Woodstock), scenic painting by Holly Adkins (Woodstock), and stage management by Mailin Contreras (Woodstock).

“Frankenstein” contains violence and adult subject matter.

For more about the Black Box Theatre, visit www.mchenry.edu/blackbox/..