It's by pure accident that Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe by Canada's Catalyst Theatre touched a huge nerve with teens, according to Jonathan Christenson, Catalyst's artistic director and the show's creator. "Kids were telling their families and friends and coming to see the show multiple times - without their parents! They talked about Nevermore on Facebook and YouTube. We never expected it, because we didn't create it for young people," Mr. Christenson said.
This accident is certainly a happy one for The New Victory Theater, which is presenting Nevermore from October 29 through November 7. What is it about Nevermore that resonates so much with teens? According to Mr. Christenson, it's because the show spends a lot of time on Poe's life as a child, his feelings of alienation and struggle with identity. "Kids identify with Poe's story," he said. "Nevermore takes a childlike openness to discussing Poe's intense life."Videos