Photo caption: Pictured left to right: Reese Uecker (El Coco), Cody Brouwer (Mattos), Loretta Simon (Cardinal Armitano), and Madisen Radabaugh (Veronique).
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Theatre Program will present "Frankenstein in Love" in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Black Box Theater.
Performances will run at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 18 and 19 as well as at 3 p.m. Feb. 20.
"Frankenstein in Love," written by renowned horror master Clive Barker, reimagines the immortal tale of a monster stitched together from human parts by the maniacal Dr. Frankenstein. Amid a coup in a South American banana republic, the patchwork man known as “El Coco” (the Bogeyman) has led an uprising against a corrupt regime that allowed the mad scientist to carry out his twisted experiments. When El Coco meets the disfigured survivor Veronique, romantic flames ignite as these creations swear deadly vengeance for Frankenstein’s unnatural crimes against their flesh.
Director Kane Anderson was drawn to the script for its unique challenge. “Theatre is an art of limitless possibilities. As a genre, horror looms large on the big screen, but seldom gets the chance to frighten and titillate live audiences. With ‘Frankenstein in Love,’ we wade fearlessly into the dark and the grotesque.” Anderson teases: “I suspect you haven’t seen anything like this on stage in Aberdeen before.”
While the show includes many actors recognizable to Northern Theatre audiences, newer faces appear as well. Madisen Radabaugh, a freshman from New London, Minn., majoring in Theatre, plays Veronique, the love interest to El Coco. She appeared in the last semester’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and is thrilled to be digging into a juicy role like Veronique, saying, “Working on (the show) has been a great experience. It has challenged me to grow and strengthen my acting skills with exciting material and a great cast.”
“Frankenstein in Love” also features a community member joining the cast as a guest artist. Jason Honerman, a former Northern student and current artist at Shrunken Head Tattoos, plays Cockatoo, a revolutionary and follower of El Coco. Regarding joining the cast, Honerman says, “Returning to Northern theatre has been a blast and a very different experience. The facilities and staff have changed yet it feels incredibly nostalgic. I'm so excited for this opportunity and to help bring a show like this to both NSU and the Aberdeen area.”
“Frankenstein in Love” is a mature-audiences production with strong language, explicit violence, and sexual situations. Please use discretion with bringing younger patrons or those with weaker constitutions.
Northern Theatre’s artistic staff includes Dr. Kane Anderson, Assistant Professor of Acting and Directing; Noah J. Files, Assistant Professor of Theatre Design; and Brian Omland, Production Manager for the School of Fine Arts. Omland’s lighting design for “Frankenstein in Love” serves as his senior project.
Ticket Information
All tickets to “Frankenstein in Love” are general admission and will be available at the door. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and NSU faculty/staff. Students will be admitted for free. Payment will be cash or check only; debit or credit cards will not be accepted. There will be no advance or online ticket sales.
For more information, contact the NSU School of Fine Arts at 605-626-2497.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.