THE LUMINOUS DEAD Stage Adaptation Will Present at The Voxel in Baltimore

The Luminous Dead, by Caitlin Starling and adapted for the stage by Andrew Hungerford, will run June 2–7, 2026 at The Voxel.

When Gyre Price lied her way into this caving expedition, she thought she'd be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the fat paycheck - enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother - meant she'd get a skilled surface team, monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane. Instead, she got Em.

THE LUMINOUS DEAD is adapted by Andrew Hungerford from the Bram Stoker Award nominated novel by Caitlin Starling. It's a piece of highly physical, science-fiction horror theatre that explores world building through projections, light and dark, audio immersion, and rough theatrical magic built by the ensemble.

Says Andrew, "I love finding ways to stage the seemingly impossible, to take advantage of the unique opportunities that exist in the nexus of performer, technology, and audience imagination. This Artist Residency at the Voxel is the perfect opportunity to bring Caitlin Starling's novel to the stage in a science-fiction theatrical experiment that pushes at the boundaries of what kind of stories can be made in a theatre."

The creative team has a core group of long time collaborators: Scenic Designer Sarah Beth Hall, Costume Designer Noelle Wedig-Johnston, Sound and Video Designer Douglas Borntrager, and Specialty Props Designer Brandon Johnston, who have made dozens of shows together, primarily at Know Theatre of Cincinnati.

A recent addition to the core group is Assistant Director Becca G Anderson, who previously worked with the team on the world premiere sci-fi musical The Light Chasers at Know Theatre in 2024.

Local actors take the lead roles in this production, with Adanya Koger-Hobson as Gyre, a young cave explorer trying to catch a big payday, and Ayika Tshimanga as Em, the operator of the expedition with her own agenda.

The ensemble is a mix of versatile local and out of town performers. David Armando, James Creque, Brandon W Jones, and Misaki Weddington shape the physical environment of the space, embodying the extraterrestrial cave.

Gyre is played by Adanya Koger-Hobson, and Em is played by Ayika Tshimanga. The ensemble includes David Armando, James Creque, Brandon Jones, and Misaki Weddington.