By News and Internal Communications

By Santana Peralez

EDINBURG, TEXAS – “It’s Alive!” and coming to UTRGV’s Albert L. Jeffers Theatre on Oct. 14-16.

The UTRGV Theatre Department has conjured up a truly ghoulish production of “Frankenstein,” adapted by UTRGV graduate student Joshua Kennedy, who is playing the titular role of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and directed by UTRGV associate professor Dr. Brian Warren.

“Frankenstein” will creep up to chill and thrill audiences on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus on:

• Friday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 15, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, October 16, 2 p.m.

According to Warren, this production was chosen, not only because of the department’s tradition of performing spooky plays in October, but also because it is a legendary story.

The cast and crew worked diligently on the sounds, storytelling, costumes, props and sets to bring this production to life. (Courtesy Photo: UTRGV Theatre Department)

“It's like a moving, poignant kind of story, and most people just think it's scary, but it's more than that. I'm excited for the audience to see that,” Warren said.

Kennedy, who adapted the play along with Marco Munoz, currently a professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said that by reading the story by Mary Shelley readers can see that a lot of what people associate with Frankenstein and his monster is not even really in the book.

“Finding out how the story was originally was very interesting for me, being a movie buff. It's not the square head with the bolts in the neck, there is no electricity and no laboratory,” said Kennedy.

Even though this isn’t the story audiences may be used to, Scot Johnson, who is playing the ghastly role of the “Creature,” said he is excited for the audience to see what the crew has in store.

“We play with the lights and sound and use not just the stage but the seats and the audience in this production,” said Johnson, a returning student who received his bachelor’s degree in biology and is now studying theatre. “I hope the audience laughs and screams in terror and just has a good time.”

Mateo Ramirez, a junior theatre design major, is stage managing the production and it has been a memorable experience.

“It's really cool because this is a really smart group of people,” Ramirez said. “I like working with designers, with the director. We have a couple of student designers working on this production, which is great to see them come into the creative team.”

NOTHING TO FEAR…JUST A FEW STITCHES

According to Anne Saxton, a junior theatre design major, she along with the other designers did their research to prepare for the production – studying wig making and learning how to create realistic wounds. 

“The makeup and effects are going to be insane,” Saxton said. “Especially for the Creature. I’m excited for everyone to see him.”

“It's like a moving, poignant kind of story, and most people just think it's scary, but it's more than that. I'm excited for the audience to see that,” said UTRGV associate professor Dr. Brian Warren. (Courtesy Photo: UTRGV Theatre Department)

Rumor has it that the Creature may have some “hanging meat” as part of its attire.

In addition to the gory makeup and visual effects, to terrify all the senses the production crew worked to craft the right sounds for this production.

Lina Ortiz, a senior film major who worked as the sound designer for the production, said being part of the production has been an amazing experience – from working with Judas Tanguma, a senior film major, who composed the score for the play, to developing the perfect sounds to replicate the sound of a swaying ship or adding claps of thunder at the right moment.

“I want to make sure the audience feels the environment the characters are in,” said Ortiz.

For more information on how to buy tickets and future shows contact the Theatre Box Office by phone 956-665-3581 or email at theatreboxoffice@utrgv.edu.

Mateo Ramirez, a junior theatre design major, is stage managing the production. “I like working with designers, with the director. We have a couple of student designers working on this production, which is great to see them come into the creative team," the student said. (Courtesy Photo: UTRGV Theatre Department)