THE WOMAN IN BLACK Lurks into Stageworks Theatre This October

Stageworks Theatre announces its second show of the 2017-2018 season, The Woman in Black, by Stephen Mallatratt & Susan Hill, directed by Lisa Garza. The show will run October 6 - 29, 2017 on Stageworks Theatre's Garza Mainstage.

The framework of this spine tingler is unusual: a lawyer hires an actor to tutor him in recounting to family and friends a story that has long troubled him concerning events that transpired when he attended the funeral of an elderly recluse. There he caught sight of the woman in black, the mere mention of whom terrifies the locals, for she is a specter who haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed. Anyone who sees her dies! The lawyer has invited some friends to watch as he and the actor recreate the events of that dark and stormy night. A classic of the genre.

Garza and the whole cast and crew are hard at work to create the most thrilling experience for every performance.

"The trick is to make everything look effortless. When I directed The 39 Steps, there was an insane amount of prep time back stage in order to make all the gags work perfectly every time AND also appear to be spontaneous. We spent weeks and weeks on them and ended up recruiting four additional assistants backstage instead of the usual one. It was hugely gratifying to hear audiences collapse with laughter night after night.

"The same thing applies to The Woman in Black. There are over a hundred sound cues and a like number of lighting cues, all designed to transport the theatre-goer to another place and time. If we simply plop the scary ghost on center stage and hit her with a spot light, her ability to frighten will be immediately lost because we'll see her for who she truly is. Creating the right atmosphere where the audience experiences the same haunting effects as the actors in the story is crucial. So we plan to spend a lot of time working on the technical aspects of this show.

"One of the biggest challenges so far is how to make the ghost move in a way that suggests the supernatural. Were still early in the game, but I think we may have hit upon a way that will really take the audience by surprise!"

The small, talented cast includes Adam Harkay (Kipps), Sam Martinez (Actor), and Lindsay Scovil (The Woman).

Behind the scenes, the production team includes, Lisa Garza (director), Michael Montgomery (artistic director), Tracy Clayton (sound design), and John Wind (lightning design).

Performances of The Woman in Black will take place at the Garza Mainstage, 10760 Grant Road, Houston, Texas 77070. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at stageworkstx.org or by phone at 281-587-6100. Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.

Performance Location:

Garza Mainstage

10760 Grant Road

Houston, Texas 77070

Performance Dates:

October 6 - 29, 2017

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 3 p.m.

Ticket Prices:

Adults: $25

Seniors (65+): $22

Students (3-18): $17

Pictured: Sam Martinez (Actor)

Photo Credit: Will LeBlanc

About Stageworks Theatre

Stageworks Theatre is a nonprofit organization offering exceptional community theatre productions on its main stage and outstanding education through its Acting Academy. This award-winning theatre was originally founded in 2005 where it has been dedicated to bringing the community together through the arts. The community is enhanced through Stageworks' drive to provide a creative outlet where thespians and theatre-goers alike can enjoy a fun, respectful environment focused on high-quality, affordable entertainment. For more, go to www.stageworkstx.org or call 281-587-6100.

Box Office:

Phone: 281-587-6100

Email address: info@stageworkstx.org

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