Kentucky Shakespeare presents Louisville Premiere
MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN by David Catlin
Continuing their Halloween production tradition, Kentucky Shakespeare presents Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by David Catlin this October inside their Headquarters. The Louisville premiere is a new spin on the gothic tale and a spine-tingling encounter with one of literature’s most iconic monsters.
The adaptation is written by Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago) Ensemble Member David Catlin, creator of Moby Dick and Lookingglass Alice. The play premiered at Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, May 2019. The production runs October 1-26 at 616 Myrtle Street inside Kentucky Shakespeare’s headquarters in Old Louisville.
About the Production: What’s buried comes back to life at Kentucky Shakespeare in a thrilling Louisville premiere. On a stormy night in the attic of an old villa, a group of friends challenge each other to tell the scariest story. As young Mary Shelley weaves her spine-tingling gothic tale of Victor Frankenstein and his unholy experiment, the story takes over and reveals dark secrets in her own tragic life. This captivating exploration of love, horror, vengeance, and the power to create life—and destroy it, awakens in this deeply human retelling of the classic novel. Who is the real monster, creature or creator?
The Creative and Production Team: The production is directed by Kentucky Shakespeare Producing Artistic Director Matt Wallace and features a five-member ensemble cast: Zachary Burrell, Sasha Cifuentes, Mollie Murk, Nick Wills, and Crystian Wiltshire. The award-winning* design team: Jesse AlFord is Lighting Designer, Karl Anderson is Scenic Designer, Laura Ellis is the Sound Designer, Donna Lawrence-Downs is Costume Designer, and Sam Powers is Properties Designer, with fight choreography by Justin Jackson, dialect coaching by Joy Lanceta Coronel, and intimacy choreography by Hannah Pruitt. Emily is Production Stage Manager and Rachel Meadors is Assistant Stage Manager, with Lindsay Krupski as Lighting Supervisor. (*Designers Jesse AlFord, Karl Anderson, Laura Ellis, and Donna Lawrence-Downs won Arts-Louisville Theatre Awards for their design work on the 2022 Kentucky Shakespeare production of Enter Ghost. an immersive haunted Hamlet experience.)
Event Details:
MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN by David Catlin
October 1-26, 2025
7:00PM Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2:00PM on Saturdays and Sundays (No matinees the first weekend in October, due to St. James Court Art Show; Special added evening performances Sunday, October 5 and Monday, October 13)
Tickets: $29, inclusive of fees
Kentucky Shakespeare Headquarters, 616 Myrtle Street, Louisville, KY 40208
Visit kyshakespeare.com for tickets and information.
Run-Time: Approximately two hours with one intermission
During the ticket checkout process, audience members will have option to make a donation to Kentucky Shakespeare. Donors $20 and above will receive a commemorative Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein t-shirt at the performance, with one t-shirt per each $20 donation.
Content Advisory: Contains discussions of sex, depression, death (including loss of children), and depictions of murder, death, and violence.
MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN is produced by special arrangement with BRET ADAMS, LTD., 261 W. 35th St, Suite 204, New York, NY 10001. www.bretadamsltd.net
This production is made possible through support from Louisville Metro, Fund for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council, Givaudan Sense Colour, and Don Stevens & Libby Marbury.
About the Playwright:
David Catlin has served as Director of Artistic Development, Lookingglass Studio teacher, Managing Director, and most recently served as Lookingglass’ Artistic Director (2003-2010). Lookingglass directing credits include Lookingglass Alice, Icarus, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, Her Name was Danger, The Idiot (Jeff Award Adaptation), and West. Lookingglass acting credits include The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, Hard Times, La Luna Muda, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. His film work includes Since You’ve Been Gone for Lookingglass/Miramax and Humanoid with Dark Harbor Stories. David teaches acting at Northwestern University and lives in Chicago with his wife Kerry and daughters Saylor and Emerson.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Matt Wallace, Producing Artistic Director, or learn more about Kentucky Shakespeare, please contact 502.574.9900 ext. 12 or at info@kyshakespeare.com.