Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein

A perfect “treat” for Halloween (no “tricks” involved!)—love, loss, and the unexpected consequences of creation merge in captivating ways in this gripping gothic tale conceived by Chicago’s Manual Cinema. 

Back by popular demand with a live production after its mesmerizing Frankenstein video adaptation premiered on Cal Performances at Home last fall, the acclaimed collective of musicians, composers, theater artists, and filmmakers creates charmingly handmade and marvelously imaginative works of live cinema. 

Frankenstein is co-commissioned by Cal Performances, and weaves the plot of Mary Shelley’s classic story with themes of desire, birth, and loss from the author’s own biography. Actors join puppeteers onstage, creating a silent animated film in real time, and featuring an immersive score performed live by four musicians. 

“An exquisitely stylized, self-contained reality that seems to belong both to the early 19th century, when Shelley’s novel was written, and to the dark corridors of its author’s imagination” (The New York Times). If you enjoyed Frankenstein on your home screen, you will be astonished to watch the live theater experience this season!

The run time for this performance is approximately 70 minutes without intermission.