The Bushnell Celebrates Edgar Allan Poe with the NEA's Big Read Program
Events planned throughout October and early November
Don’t be afraid. The ghosts and goblins, vampires and ravens, poets and Poe himself are all part of The Bushnell’s celebration of Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th birthday as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ The Big Read program, highlighted by Boo! At The Bushnell, a free conference to explore the evolution of the horror genre in theater, literature and film on October 31.
The Bushnell has created a kaleidoscope of events to acknowledge Poe’s influence on the horror/suspense genre and to explore the evolution of the genre in theater, literature, and film.
The official kickoff will be held on the weekend of October 9 at the Trail of Terror in Wallingford. Voted the number one outdoor haunted attraction in the state by Connecticut Magazine, the Trail of Terror is one of The Big Read’s community sponsors. This year, the Trail includes Edgar Allan Poe and his “Tell-Tale Heart.” The journey begins at dusk…for the brave. Visit www.trailofterror.com for more information.
Our Bushnell Children’s Theatre series (sponsored by People’s United Community Foundation and Dominion) includes two performances of Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe on November 9 (10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.). Created by the Eckerd Theater in Florida, Nightfall shows how Poe’s troubled mind birthed three of his most famous tales: “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Nightfall is appropriate for grades 6 and up. Each school that attends will receive a package of material provided by the NEA, including a teacher’s guide, reader’s guide, a selection of Poe’s work on CD, and bookmarks.
PARTNERS master teaching artist and Pulitzer Prize nominee Pit Pinegar will lead a free “Poe and Poetry” workshop at the Manchester Public Library, our official The Big Read partner, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Monday, November 2.
On October 23, middle and high school students are invited to The Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall for a DEAD POET SLAM. Traditional slam rules will be waived to allow performers to wear costumes and read their Poe-themed creations. Cash prizes for the top three poets. Audience members are invited to come in costume, too! We have a limited number of slots. Poets who wish to perform must sign-up in person on the 23rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
In October, licensed wildlife rehabilitator Kasha Breau from the Glastonbury Audubon Society will give a free family-friendly talk about the raven, inspiration for one of Poe’s most famous poems, at the following libraries:
• October 5, Manchester Public Library, Manchester, 7-8 p.m.
• October 13, Guilford-Smith Public Library, South Windham, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
• October 14, Saxon B. Little Library, Columbia, 7-8 p.m.
• October 16, Wallingford Public Library, Wallingford, 7-8 p.m.
Other free library lectures will feature Lou Harmon, an actor from the Trail of Terror in Wallingford, in the costume and persona of Poe himself, talking about Poe’s life as a writer at the following libraries (lectures are appropriate for high school students and adults):
• October 6, Bentley Memorial Library, Bolton, 7-8 p.m.
• October 8, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, 7-8 p.m.
• October 20, Wethersfield Public Library, Rocky Hill, 7-8 p.m.
• October 21, Saxon B. Little Library, Columbia, 7-8 p.m.
• October 22, Wallingford Public Library, Wallingford, 7-8 p.m.
• October 26, Manchester Public Library, Manchester, 7-8 p.m.
• October 27, Wells-Turner Library, Glastonbury, 7-8 p.m.
• October 28, Prosser Public Library, Bloomfield, 7-8 p.m.
• October 29, Guilford-Smith Public Library, South Windham, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
BOO! At The Bushnell is a conference created to explore the evolution of the horror genre in theater, film, and literature. BOO! At The Bushnell will be held in the Belding Theater on Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first 200 attendees to come through the door will receive a free copy of Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, a 406-page paperback published by Simon and Schuster.
Conference presenters are:
• Tim Deal, publisher, Shroud Magazine
• Peter Fox, Hollywood screenwriting instructor with Tripeg Studios in Hamden
• Lou Harmon, from the Trail of Terror in Wallingford as Edgar Allan Poe
• Daniel Keohane, co-chair of New England Horror Writers
• Alisa Sheckley Kwitney, author of suspense novels and graphic novels, former editor of The Sandman comic book series at Vertigo, currently teaching the graphic novel at Fordham University
• Michael Wilson, artistic director at Hartford Stage
The conference will also include a screening of The Fall of the House of Usher with Vincent Price, with a post-show discussion led by Peter Fox. There is no charge to attend this conference. However, space is limited. To register, please call (860) 987-6096 or (860) 987-5959.
Want more? Halloween continues at the Manchester Parkade Cinemas, one of our community partners, with a night full of horror movies and a movie biography of Edgar Allan Poe on October 31. Peter Fox will give a pre-show talk on the evolution of the horror genre in film. Too scared to drive home? Hampton Inn & Suites in Manchester, another community partner, is offering a discount on the night of October 31. Use the code “BOO!” when making your reservation.
Last but not least, we’re CALLING ALL VAMPIRES. It’s time to give back! On Tuesday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the American Red Cross will be at the Bushnell for a very special blood drive. Dracula will be here to encourage donations. Edgar Allan Poe himself will entertain with a reading of “The Tell-Tale Heart.” To sign up to give blood, please visit www.givelife.org (sponsor code: Bushnell).
For more details on BOO! At The Bushnell or any of the other public offerings mentioned here, please visit www.bushnell.org or call Zita Christian, Assistant Manager of the Programs Department, at (860) 987-6092.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
The Bushnell is Connecticut’s premier performing arts center, hosting more than 350 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. The Bushnell is home to two theaters- the historic 2,800-seat Mortensen Hall, and the 907-seat Belding Theater, a state-of-the-art performance hall that opened in 2001. The Bushnell’s nationally recognized, award-winning, arts-in-education program, PARTNERS® (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), now in its 17th year, is a cross-community educational effort serving 21 schools and educational organizations in 8 districts across Connecticut. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a non-profit organization. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.
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With support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism