An artist friend introduced me to the Garret Theater Company, and after meeting Jack Dryden, (founder, actor, director extraordinaire) he shared Haley Schwartz’s work in progress script for Dead Things.

And I immediately knew I HAD to be a part of this project.

DEAD THINGS is a half-fictional account of the life of literary icon, MARY SHELLEY who, like every woman in the 19th century, wants a bright and beautiful and wild life. The play explores love, death, queerness, possession, and what it means to be a writer. DEAD THINGS asks, how do we love despite the omnipresence of death?

Written by Haley Schwartz

Directed by Jack Dryden 

Mary Shelley: Khali Sykes 

Percy Shelley (et al.): Hannah Adrian 

Production Stage Manager: Maysie Ocera

Sets and Costumes: Micki Watanabe Spiller 

Lighting Designer: Reagan Tankersley

Sound Design: Nic Neves

Composer: Mena Sachdev

Intimacy and Dance Choreographer: Willow Funkhouser

Composer: Mena Sachdev

Producer: Kasey O’Brien

Assistant Stage Manager: Annie Sheehey

Additional sound and score provided by Jules Bradley and Gunnar Manchester

Special thanks to: The Greek Cultural Center, Noreen Nelson, Athanasios Tzouvelis, Isto Barton, Dainique Jones, John and Emily Boyd, Diamond Dogs, Ellen Pierson

Photos: Ellie Gravitte