Department of Theatre to play with fire, continue infamous and haunting tale

Dr. Frankenstein examines a map with a skull on it

Oct. 30, 2019

Northern Arizona University’s Department of Theatre will bring to life a familiar, spooky and famous tale for its second production of the academic year. Come top off your autumn holiday season with a continuation of one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

“Playing with Fire: After Frankenstein,” written by Barbara Field, picks up exactly where Mary Shelley’s novel ends: in the North Pole. Victor Frankenstein, jaded and dying, has mustered up the remnants of his strength to track down his creation to the frozen north. The scientist is determined to clear his conscious by destroying his own creation but must first deal with his bubbling guilt. Upon finding each other, the two debate, at which point the past and present begin to converge into a singularity leading to the creature’s existential condition to culminate in one question: “Why did you make me?”

Evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 9 and 14-16. Afternoon performances will begin at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 17. All performances will take place in the Clifford E. White Theatre located in the Performing and Fine Arts Building (Bldg. 37). Preceding the performance season will be a free symposium, held 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Clifford E. White Theatre. This symposium will examine the cultural legacy and impact of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.”

Tickets are $14 for adults, $8 for students and youth and $12 for seniors, NAU faculty and staff.

Tickets are available at the Central Ticket Office (CTO) in the University Union (Bldg. 30) of the Flagstaff campus, over the phone at (928) 523-5661 and through the CTO online portal.

Complimentary parking is available from 4:30 p.m. Friday to 7:30 a.m. Monday in the Cline Library parking lot (P13). To obtain a community parking pass, visit University Transit Services and select “manage my parking.”

For more information about the events, contact Kathleen McGeever at (928) 523-4500 or by email. Visit the Department of Theatre online or on Facebook.