Sunday, Sept 9 ONLY: 3pm performance followed by post-show discussion moderated by Walter Bilderback, dramaturg and literary manager, The Wilma Theater.

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"If I venture to displace the microscopic speck of dust, which lies now upon the point of my finger, what is the character of that act upon which I have ventured? I have done a deed which shakes the Moon in her path, which causes the Sun to be no longer the Sun, and which alters forever the destiny of the multitudinous myriads of stars."  E.A. Poe, Eureka

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On September 27, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe set out on a lecture tour from Virginia to New York. Days later a train conductor saw Poe in Havre de Grace, Maryland, wearing a stranger’s clothing and heading south to Baltimore where he died on October 7. Innovative stage director Thaddeus Phillips teams up with the Minneapolis-based musical duo Wilhelm Bros. & Co. to create an action-opera that follows the odd details surrounding Poe’s mysterious last days. Informed by 19th century train routes, historical accounts, and Poe’s letters to his mother-in-law Muddy, RED-EYE to HAVRE de GRACE comments on the nature of being an artist in America and casts Poe in a new light by exploring his writings on the gold rush, fools, furniture, and the universe.

This visually striking production exploits the full capabilities of a traditional fly-house proscenium theater by experimenting with curtains, borders, trap doors, mirrors, slight-of-hand, and illusions. Poe’s letters and selected writings become song lyrics and the live musical scoring uses prepared and bowed pianos, clarinet, bassoon, harmonica, and flamenco guitar. Simple set pieces—door, table, bed frame—transform into trains, hotel rooms, bars, hospitals, lecture halls, and even the Philadelphia Waterworks. And through it all, Virginia, Poe's deceased wife (and cousin), haunts Poe with her silent yet stunning movement.

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Direction and Stage Design Thaddeus Phillips Collaborators Thaddeus Phillips, Jeremy Wilhelm, Geoff Sobelle, David Wilhelm, Sophie Bortolussi Music Wilhelm Bros. & Co. Choreography Sophie Bortolussi  Lights Drew Billiau Sound Rob Kalpowitz Costumes Rosemarie Mckelvey Dramaturgy Tatiana Mallarino Magic Consultation Teller Performers Sophie Bortolussi, Ean Sheeny, Jeremy Wilhelm, David Wilhelm

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Directed and designed by Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental's artistic director Thaddeus Phillips, an abridged RED-EYE was presented in the 2005 Live Arts Festival; this year's remount is its first fully-staged production. Co-created with Geoff Sobelle (all wear bowlers, The Elephant Room) and Sophie Bortolussi (Lady M in Sleep No More) with lights by Drew Billiau (Opera Company of Philadelphia), sound design by Rob Kalpowitz (Tony Award winner for Fela!), and magic consultation by Teller. Previous Live Arts shows include: WHaLE OPTICS (2011), ¡EL CONQUISTADOR! (2010), FLAMINGO/WINNEBAGO (2007).

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RED-EYE to HAVRE de GRACE has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage though the Philadelphia Theater Initiative. Additional support has been provided by the Wyncote Foundation at the recommendation of Leonard C. Haas.

Festival Co-Producers

Theodora Wheeler Ashmead

Christie Hartwell

Festival Honorary Producer

David Lipson

For show creation & development information visit http://redeyetohavredegrace.tumblr.com/