PICT to Channel Edgar Allan Poe with TWO TALES OF TERROR

Though still suppressing any telltale clues to its upcoming season, PICT Classic Theatre is pleased to announce the world-premiere of TWO TALES OF TERROR by Edgar Allan Poe, adapted by PICT's Artistic & Executive Director, Alan Stanford. The production will run May 5 through 20 at the Henry Heymann Theatre, and it will feature two short stories by Poe-The Tell-tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher.

"Our mainstage season will begin in September at a soon-to-be-announced venue, so we are grateful that the University of Pittsburgh has given us one further opportunity to perform in the Stephen Foster Memorial," says Stanford, who describes TWO TALES OF TERROR as a "one-off" production, not to be associated with the upcoming season of plays.

Despite that, 2015 season ticket holders will find that their expired subscriptions earn them special perks for TWO TALES OF TERROR, including two weeks of priority booking before the seats are opened to the public, the ability to exchange unused 2015 vouchers for the production and $10 off for any 2015 subscriber looking to purchase regular adult-priced tickets.

"The special discount for 2015 season ticket holders is our way of saying 'thank you'," says Stanford. "We are deeply grateful to all those who supported us last year through our difficult days. We wanted to take this early opportunity to thank our loyal supporters, and we hope, during the late spring and summer, to stage some more special events before our season begins in the fall."

TWO TALES OF TERROR was chosen as the first such special event. "Following our principle of presenting classic themes and classic plays, it seems a natural choice to present, in theatrical form, the vivid and graphic imagination of one of the great American storytellers," says Stanford. "Edgar Allan Poe invented some of the greatest horror stories ever penned."

Act one of the production will depict The Tell-Tale Heart, presented by one actor and using Poe's exact text. Stanford then adapted The Fall of the House of Usher for the second act so that three actors can perform Poe's first-person prose.

"Poe used the form of the short story and compacted his tales of terror into concise and evocative prose. Many have been filmed, but the process has often distorted the original tale. PICT will present two of these tales of terror as close to the original storyline as possible by using the power of theater and the imagination," says Stanford, who describes acting, movement and light as the principle storytelling devices to be used in this production.

Ticket sales will be open to the public on March 11, leaving audiences with only eight weeks to purchase tickets to this world premiere featuring the work of a legendary American writer. TWO TALES OF TERROR is undoubtedly exciting news for PICT fans, but there's still more news to come- stay tuned for details on PICT's annual UnCommon Pleas event scheduled for Thursday, April 7, as well as the announcement for PICT's 2016-2017 Season.

TWO TALES OF TERROR by Edgar Allan Poe (The Tell-tale Heart and The Fall of The House of Usher), adapted for the stage by Alan Stanford, will play The Henry Heymann Theatre inside the Stephen Foster Memorial, running May 5 - 20, 2016. Visit picttheatre.org or call 412-561-6000 to purchase tickets. Email tickethelp@picttheatre.org for assistance.

Special Events:

Opening Night reception following the May 7 performance at The Porch (Free to ticketholders for the May 7 performance.)

Post-Show Talkback: Discussion and Q&A will follow the May 8 performance

Pre-show lecture from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. before the May 11 performance. (Free and open to the public.)

Student matinees at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6 and Thursday, May 19

Special weekday matinee at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18

PICT Classic Theatre is committed to the creation of high-quality, professional thought-provoking theater of substance. We accomplish this mission by investing in and promoting the community and region, and by producing and presenting classics and the "modern" classics of Irish and world theater. We continue to explore innovative ideas that showcase the emotional power of a play and its ability to stir the soul in unimaginable ways.