Encore Theatre Debuts Edgy Series with Musical About Poe

Fans of Edgar Allan Poe will get a rare glimpse into the poet’s life with the debut of the “Encore on the Edge” series.

The series opens Thursday with Nevermore, a spine-tingling, chilling new musical that uses the writings of the famous American poet to tell the story of his life and the women who crazed him.

Encore Theatre co-founder Dan Cooney, who originated the role of Poe during the show’s world premiere at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, will reprise the role as well as direct the show.

“This imaginative musical uses Poe's poetry and short stories as its base and his shifting obsession with the women in his life as its catalyst,” Cooney said. “With hauntingly beautiful melodies, Nevermore breathes new life into Poe's work and explores a twisted, true-life tale that is as bizarre as his classic stories of the macabre.”

To prepare for the role, Cooney said he spent a lot of time researching Poe’s life.

“I definitely didn’t read a lot of Poe's works before, so it’s been a great little history lesson,” he said. “Every song is taken from Poe’s actual works, so the show is about his addiction to women, sex, love and the drugs of the time.”

Cooney said he hopes audiences walk away from the show with a sense of excitement.

“We love doing the classic musicals, but we also want to offer something new and contemporary. I think audiences will be intrigued and interested in Poe. It’s such an engaging musical with some of the most beautiful music I’ve had the pleasure of singing in my 25 years as a professional actor,” he said.

Joining Cooney on stage is a cast of five women from Michigan: Erin Donevan, Elizabeth Jaffe, Marlene Inman-Reilly, Sonja Marquis and Thalia Schramm.

“Doing a smaller show is much easier, especially for the Encore,” Cooney said. “Finding a handful of really good, committed actors, versus a cast of 25, gives us a higher-caliber show.”

The “Encore on the Edge” series will feature modern musicals intended for adult audiences, focusing on edgier, darker subject matter. The series will continue with The Last Five Years in May and The Rocky Horror Show in October.

For more information or to purchase tickets for Nevermore, visit the Encore’s website. Tickets for the "Encore on the Edge" series are $22 for adults, $19 for the Encore 1o0 club, and $19 for seniors. The show starts at 7 p.m. March 10. Call  734-268-6200 to purchase tickets.