Nicolet Players to present: ‘Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe’

The Nicolet Players’ spring performance of “Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe” will feature a macabre twist on classic American literature not to be missed. The theatrical adaptation of Poe’s best-known stories will take to the Nicolet College stage May 17–19 and May 23–26 at the Lakeside Center.

 The seven-member cast is an eclectic mix of Nicolet College students and Northwoods community members with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of acting experience, according to a press release detailing the production. In addition, Nicolet College faculty will support the technical side of the production, including stage and costume design.

 “We are thrilled to showcase our dedicated cast,” said Nicolet Players Director Dr. Colette Fikriye Kaya. “Through their performances, they overcome distinct personal challenges to convey their talents and embody their Poe-inspired roles on stage.”

Aside from her time managing theatre rehearsals, Kaya also teaches physics and math as a faculty member at Nicolet College. A recent transplant to the Northwoods, this is her first production directing the Nicolet Players. She brings to the stage dynamic acting and directing experience, having starred in several theatre performances as a graduate student at Tufts University and directed an independent film.

 The “Nightfall” cast includes Adrian Shrigley (as Poe), Isaiah Samuelson (Edgar), Tyler Clausen (Sante and The Old Man), Treniece Price (Roderick Usher), Jane Wilson (Madeline Usher, Judge 1, and Policeman 1), Cora VanEss (The Raven, Judge 2, and Policeman 2), and Adrian Poitra (The Soldier).

 "Nightfall” is Shrigley’s third appearance in a Players production, but the first time he has been cast for a lead role. A resident of Tomahawk, Shrigley will graduate from Nicolet College this summer with a university transfer and liberal arts – associate of arts degree, with the intent to transfer to UW-Stevens Point to major in musical theatre. On stage, Shrigley’s embodiment of Poe combines the role of both narrator and character, allowing the audience to watch the story unfold through the lens of Poe himself.

 “I want to encourage everyone to support the arts because it’s a way to connect,” Shrigley explained. “It’s also a chance to express yourself and to see how other people express themselves by trying to put yourself in another person's shoes.”

Samuelson of Eagle River also decided to audition for “Nightfall” because he wants to pursue acting as a professional career and is also a Nicolet College student in the associate of arts program. He said it’s been a wonderful experience working with a cast that brings a positive attitude and lots of laughs.

 “There’s a certain magic that comes with acting,” Samuelson added. “It makes people forget their troubles and enjoy themselves for a moment.”

 Prominent Romantic writer Edgar Allan Poe is famed for his poetry and short stories that have permeated the vernacular of American literature with some of his best-known works: “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of the Usher,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” 

Originally written by playwright Eric Coble as a theatrical adaptation, “Nightfall” is a one-act, four-scene play that intertwines these stories with a chilling mix of mystery and Gothic drama.

 Clausen, a Crandon resident who recently relocated to the Northwoods, said the story provides a mental roadmap of Poe’s mind as he navigates the intersection between creative genius and insanity. His character, Sante, narrates Poe’s off-the-wall thoughts as he writes his most distinguished stories; all the while, a prisoner of his own psyche.

 “I’ve always had a fascination with Poe,” Clausen said. “I’m drawn to understanding a person’s struggle and finding ways to help them cope with it. In theatre, you get a deeper sense of who your character is to understand who they are in order to really become them.”

Performances of “Nightfall” will take place May 17–19 and May 23–26 at 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays) at the Nicolet College Theatre. Beer, wine, and concessions will be available for purchase beginning at 6:30 p.m. Complimentary cookies and coffee will be provided during the Sunday matinees.

 General admission tickets are $12, K-12 students and senior ticket prices are $10, and admission is free for Nicolet College students. 

For more information about the Nicolet Players and to purchase tickets online, visit nicoletlive.com.