FRI, 10/21
Christopher Smith
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In the age of slasher films, sometimes it's nice to reach back into the roots of horror and experience to something that is truly frightening and shakes the psyche. Edgar Allan Poe's works come to mind. He's considered the first master of horror because he penned works dripping with psychological creepiness, short stories such as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Pit and the Pendulum," as well as the classic poem "The Raven." The Hunger Artists Ensemble Theatre first staged a dramatic reading of Poe's vintage tales of terror four years ago. Although the actors weren't sure how Poe's sensibilities would stand up today, audiences were thrilled, and the following Halloween, thrill-seekers demanded more. A tradition began. Once again, starting tonight at 7:30 p.m., the troupe will feed the beast it helped create by tossing out An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe.
Dell Domnik, a Hunger Artist company member, says the appeal of Poe's nineteenth-century spookiness comes from the "timeless language which makes the stories so scary." Domnik also credits the venue, the historic 1883 Byers-Evans House, at 1310 Bannock Street, with creating an extra-spectral atmosphere for the show. Indeed, most of the company and staff aren't keen on being alone in the house; one stage manager, left behind to close up the mansion, reportedly heard something moving around upstairs. "It's just the perfect environment for these stories," Domnick says.
The program runs through November 6; call 303-893-5438 or visit www.hungerartists.org. -- Michelle Baldwin
Ground Floor
All the Fray you can handle.
THURS, 10/20
"The goal of Noise Floor is to be a positive force in local music," explains Jonah Hart, president of the local series, which airs on Comcast Entertainment Television (Channel 5). "We want to show the local music scene as a totally viable and great option that deserves our attention."
While the past few episodes have featured more broad portraits of certain genres of music -- rock and jazz -- the October slot will narrow the scope with an in-depth look at local-boys-done-good the Fray. The show promises to be more than your typical biography of how a band makes it, as Fray frontman Isaac Slade is also the executive producer of Noise Floor.
"He obviously has a less direct role now, as the band is out touring," Hart explains, "but his involvement allowed for a super-intimate look at the band that we would normally have never had access to."
And if cozying up to the band on the big screen doesn't do it for you, join members of the group for an all-ages acoustic performance at today's screening of the episode at 7:30 p.m. at the Mayan Theatre, 110 Broadway. Tickets, $7, are available at Twist & Shout, 300 East Alameda Avenue. For more information, call 303-241-9204. -- Adam Cayton-Holland
