Back by popular demand!
Summoners Ensemble Theatre, in association with the Merchant’s House Museum, announces the return of Killing an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe March 30 - April 18 at the Merchant’s House Museum (29 E. 4th Street, Manhattan), named the “#1 most haunted place in NYC” by Time Out New York.
Poe has even more to say this season! Killing an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe introduces two new tales of terror, “The Black Cat” and “The Devil in the Belfry.” The production will alternate these two stories with “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Angel of the Odd” expanding Poe’s dark and macabre world while retaining “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven” at all performances. The haunting one-man production featuring John Kevin Jones debuted to great acclaim in 2018 and has become a returning favorite of Summoners Ensemble audiences. Prior to each show at the Merchant’s House Museum "The Saw Lady" Natalia Paruz will enchant audiences with performances on the unique carpenter’s saw instrument (also known as the musical saw or singing saw). Paruz will also appear during the pre-show “Raise a Glass to Edgar” receptions held on select dates. In 1845, Edgar Allan Poe lived just blocks from the Merchant’s House, on Amity Street (now West 3rd Street). That same year, the publication of “The Raven” brought him instant fame and invitations to New York’s most fashionable literary salons. Join our séance as John Kevin Jones is inhabited by Edgar Allan Poe for an evening of irrational revenge, obsession, premeditated murder, dismemberment, and the very, very dark. See below for a complete schedule of performances & receptions. Tickets are priced $65-$75 and are now on sale HERE. Seating is strictly limited to 40 per performance. * A pre-show reception, “Raise a Glass to Edgar,” is offered at select performances only. Join actor John Kevin Jones in the Merchant’s House Museum’s 19th-century kitchen and raise a glass in honor of Poe’s legacy. Enjoy a glass of punch and even sample the infamous Amontillado. Jones will delve into the darker corners of Poe’s genius with haunting performances of “Annabel Lee,” and “Alone," accompanied by a performance from “Saw Lady” Natalia Paruz. The kitchen, family room, and garden (weather permitting) of the Merchant’s House Museum will be open to guests during the reception. Look for the “Raise a Glass to Edgar – reception” ticketing option. Strictly limited to 20 guests. $30 per person. Step back in time for some chilling poetry and a touch of mystery… if you dare. Running time - 70 minutes, no intermission
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PERFORMANCE & RECEPTION SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, March 30 @ 7pm (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) *Thursday, April 1 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) *Friday, April 2 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) Saturday, April 3 @ 6pm (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) *Saturday April 3 @ 8:30pm (reception 7:30PM) (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) Sunday April 4 @ 6pm (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) Tuesday, April 6 @ 7pm (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) *Thursday, April 8 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) *Friday, April 9 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) Saturday, April 10 @ 6pm (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) *Saturday April 10 @ 8:30pm (reception 7:30PM) (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) Sunday April 11 @ 6pm (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) Tuesday, April 13 @ 7pm (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) *Thursday, April 15 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) *Friday, April 16 @ 7pm (reception 6PM) (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) Saturday, April 17 @ 6pm (Cask of Amontillado & Angel of the Odd) *Saturday April 17 @ 8:30pm (reception 7:30PM) (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) Sunday April 18 @ 6pm (Black Cat & Devil in the Belfry) Ravin' Reviews!“Whatever the rising winds may be doing outside the Merchant's House, John Kevin Jones is bringing Edgar Allan Poe's works vibrantly alive in the candle-lit parlor within.”
– CurtainUp “You might be watching one man, but you’ll feel like you’re seeing each of Poe’s characters in vivid detail.” – This Week in New York 
Click image above for full review
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Click image above for the full review |
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Click the image for the full interview with John Kevin Jones
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Press contact: Michelle Farabaugh - [email protected]
JOHN KEVIN JONES (Actor, Adapter) Kevin is a member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and the Dramatists Guild of America. In New York Kevin has been seen in Nothing But Trash, Theater for the New City; The Winter’s Tale and The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hipgnosis Theatre. Regional credits include The Pavilion (American Stage), Othello (Arkansas Rep), The Rivals, All My Sons (Kentucky Rep), Angels in America, Gross Indecency (Playhouse on the Square).
RHONDA DODD (Director) An award winning actor, technician and director, Rhonda arrived in New York with over 150 shows under her belt. Once here she made her Off-Broadway acting debut with Terese Hayden and Jacqueline Brookes’ Workshop in Tennessee Williams’ Period of Adjustment, finished her Ph.D., and spent 10 years working at Circle in the Square Theatre School. Dr. Dodd is the Artistic Director of Summoners Ensemble Theatre, a member of Actors Equity, and a participant in The Playground Experiment – a forum for theatre artists to explore, test, and showcase new work while finding inspiration and support from the community it creates.
"Saw Lady" NATALIA PARUZ Natalia Paruz was one of the pioneers of the technique of 6-in-hand (ringing three bells in each hand), was featured on ABC World News, and can be heard ringing at different church services. She also created a dramatic style of ringing tabled bells for telling ghost stories. She participates in historical reenactment as a bell ringer at historic houses and cemeteries, such as at Historic Richmond Town, Greenwood cemetery, Maple Grove cemetery, the St George theater, and now is very happy to be part of the Summoners Ensemble at Merchant’s House. In 2017 she initiated a new way of teaching bell ringing, called 'Social Bell Ringing', without the need for sheet music, in a way that can be enjoyed by all as a form of socializing. Her students included the legally blind, people on the spectrum, and elderly folks with disabilities. Her students ranged from age 7 to 98.
EDGAR ALLAN POE remains one of literature’s most haunting figures—the master of the macabre, whose tales descend into madness, murder, premature burial, and the terrifying corners of the human mind. Born in 1809, Poe lived a life shadowed by poverty, loss, and mystery, experiences that found their way into his unforgettable stories and poems. From beating hearts beneath the floorboards to ravens tapping at midnight chamber doors, Poe created a world where the dead refuse to rest and sanity is always slipping away. His own mysterious death in 1849 only deepened the legend.
MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM The Merchant’s House Museum is New York City’s only family home preserved intact—inside and out—from the 19th century. Built in 1832, the House offers visitors an intimate and authentic glimpse of life in 19th century New York City and the struggle against slavery. It is the only intact site of the Underground Railroad open to the public in Manhattan. It has been under threat from proposed development next door for 14 years and is fighting for its survival!
The Merchant's House is a National Historic Landmark, a New York State landmark, and in New York City, one of only 124 buildings with both exterior and interior landmark status. www.merchantshouse.org
Follow www.merchantshouse.org on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @MerchantsHouse
SUMMONERS ENSEMBLE THEATRE Founded by a group of actors who studied together at Circle in the Square Theatre School’s Professional Acting Training program, Summoners Ensemble joined the ranks of New York nonprofit theatre companies in 1993. Created as a collaborative to allow the members to share in all of the functions needed in running a theatre company, Summoners remains a collective effort as we jointly produce theatrical events with other nonprofits or as we find ourselves acting and directing, writing and producing.
RHONDA DODD (Director) An award winning actor, technician and director, Rhonda arrived in New York with over 150 shows under her belt. Once here she made her Off-Broadway acting debut with Terese Hayden and Jacqueline Brookes’ Workshop in Tennessee Williams’ Period of Adjustment, finished her Ph.D., and spent 10 years working at Circle in the Square Theatre School. Dr. Dodd is the Artistic Director of Summoners Ensemble Theatre, a member of Actors Equity, and a participant in The Playground Experiment – a forum for theatre artists to explore, test, and showcase new work while finding inspiration and support from the community it creates.
"Saw Lady" NATALIA PARUZ Natalia Paruz was one of the pioneers of the technique of 6-in-hand (ringing three bells in each hand), was featured on ABC World News, and can be heard ringing at different church services. She also created a dramatic style of ringing tabled bells for telling ghost stories. She participates in historical reenactment as a bell ringer at historic houses and cemeteries, such as at Historic Richmond Town, Greenwood cemetery, Maple Grove cemetery, the St George theater, and now is very happy to be part of the Summoners Ensemble at Merchant’s House. In 2017 she initiated a new way of teaching bell ringing, called 'Social Bell Ringing', without the need for sheet music, in a way that can be enjoyed by all as a form of socializing. Her students included the legally blind, people on the spectrum, and elderly folks with disabilities. Her students ranged from age 7 to 98.
EDGAR ALLAN POE remains one of literature’s most haunting figures—the master of the macabre, whose tales descend into madness, murder, premature burial, and the terrifying corners of the human mind. Born in 1809, Poe lived a life shadowed by poverty, loss, and mystery, experiences that found their way into his unforgettable stories and poems. From beating hearts beneath the floorboards to ravens tapping at midnight chamber doors, Poe created a world where the dead refuse to rest and sanity is always slipping away. His own mysterious death in 1849 only deepened the legend.
MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM The Merchant’s House Museum is New York City’s only family home preserved intact—inside and out—from the 19th century. Built in 1832, the House offers visitors an intimate and authentic glimpse of life in 19th century New York City and the struggle against slavery. It is the only intact site of the Underground Railroad open to the public in Manhattan. It has been under threat from proposed development next door for 14 years and is fighting for its survival!
The Merchant's House is a National Historic Landmark, a New York State landmark, and in New York City, one of only 124 buildings with both exterior and interior landmark status. www.merchantshouse.org
Follow www.merchantshouse.org on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @MerchantsHouse
SUMMONERS ENSEMBLE THEATRE Founded by a group of actors who studied together at Circle in the Square Theatre School’s Professional Acting Training program, Summoners Ensemble joined the ranks of New York nonprofit theatre companies in 1993. Created as a collaborative to allow the members to share in all of the functions needed in running a theatre company, Summoners remains a collective effort as we jointly produce theatrical events with other nonprofits or as we find ourselves acting and directing, writing and producing.
