Quoth the raven, and be prepared for the mystery, because Edgar Allan Poe is coming back to life this weekend.
Quoth the raven, and be prepared for the mystery, because Edgar Allan Poe is coming back to life this weekend.
Well sort of. Deanna Danger Productions and Gilded Lily Burlesque will put on “The Haunting of Poe: A Burlesque Masquerade”, a sultry and dramatic production of the poet that was emo before it was a thing at Gallery5.
The Haunting of Poe’s attendees are invited to maste of ceremonies Prince Prospero’s ball to immerse themselves in a variety of burlesque, belly dancing, and even fire, all centered around Poe’s life and works.
“The show itself is going to be more of a theatrical experience than typical burlesque shows,” said Deanna Danger, producer of the show. “There’s a lot of storytelling involved, we’ll basically be bringing Poe back from the dead and retelling his stories.”
Photo by Ken Penn.
Danger has been a dance, theater and burlesque instructor since January, 2010 and owns local burlesque studio Boom Boom Basics Burlesque & Performing Arts Studio and she said this will be the first Poe event they have held.
“It’s more like a burlesque play in a way,” Danger added.
She along with few other burlesque performers will tell the gloomy poet’s most famous stories, most obscure stories and through that process, “create a new Poe story by linking his works and life together.”
There will be a VIP pre-show hour with live entertainment, a vendor market and chance for guests guests to meet the cast.
“We’ve got performers coming down from DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City,” she said.
Besides, Danger, Poe-fanatics can expect other performances from Maria Bella
Count Scotchula, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Jendetta, Lilly von Grimm, Mourna Handful, Puppie Buffe
Zhora Nova and The Boomettes.
After the show, don your finest masquerade costume or Poe threads and check out the after party.
“We’ll have live DJs, masquerade attire, masks are definitely encouraged and we want everyone to stick around and dance the night away,” Danger said.
Friday night will feature “Skull-a-Day’s” DJ Reverend Noah and Saturday, Mr. Jennings from Party Liberation Front will be spinning the tunes.
Poe devotees will have the chance to win some cool raffle prizes during each show from a few businesses including Clockworks Collective, Nouveau Riche Soap, Brit Austin Art, Con Amor- With Love, Holly Sullivan Illustration Nanibugs and local taxidermy shop Rest in Pieces which has donated a few pieces for the raffle.
“They’ve created taxidermy for the show specifically,” said Danger.
Guests can also win items from The Cask, posters and prints, hair fascinators, pasties and gift certificates. Danger said the raffle prize we’ll be worth around $300 for each show.
If that isn’t enough for you, Deanna Danger Productions is also offering coupons to the Poe Museum for everyone that comes to the show.
And if that STILL doesn’t get you in the mood-RVA MAG is giving away tickets to the Saturday night show of The Haunting of Poe.
The pre-show is from 7 to 8 pm. Doors open at 8 and The Haunting of Poe at Gallery5 starts at 9 pm this Friday Oct. 23 and Saturday Oct. 24.
VIP is $30 and General Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Get your tickets here.
So go get your Poe on! Unhappily of course, in true Poe fashion. Perhaps you’ll even see him come back to haunt the streets of his old stomping grounds.
You can join, invite all your weird friends, and keep up with our #HalloweekRVA events at our Halloweek page here. And be sure to use the #HalloweekRVA tag on all your photos!
