October 9, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Isaac Walters
(801) 863-8434
(801) 349-8188
Just in time for Halloween, UVU’s Department of Theatrical Arts will stage the classic silent film "Nosferatu" at the Ragan Theater from Oct. 23 through Nov. 1. The original silent film was an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula." UVU’s stage play is an innovative recreation of the silent film incorporating title cards with clips from the original film, live video and live action. Tickets can be purchased at Campus Connection at (801) 863-8797.
The UVU Department of Theatrical Arts continues its tradition of excellence with an innovative stage adaptation of the classic silent vampire film, "Nosferatu." This stage play will be a faithful recreation of the original silent film. Dialogue will be replaced with title cards. Scenes that are too large to fit on the stage, such as a collection of coffins floating down a river, will be shown with clips from the original film. Clips from the film will seamlessly integrate with the action on the stage created by live actors. The multiple locations will be created through different camera angles on an adaptive set. All of these elements combine to create a truly unique theatrical experience. The director and production team are documenting their process at http://uvunosferatu.blogspot.com/.
The original film was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula" and was ultimately banned by the Stoker estate for copyright infringement. However, it was impossible to obtain all of the prints then in distribution and the film grew to become a cult classic. In the past century the film acheived almost legendary status. Today the film is in the public domain. There have been several film remakes including "Shadow of the Vampire" with John Malkovich as the filmmaker F.W. Murnau who hired the real vampire Max Schreck (played by Willem Dafoe) to bring greater realism to his film. The original film also introduced several important elements to the vampire mythology including the idea that vampires can be destroyed by sunlight.
UVU’s "Nosferatu" is directed by Christopher Clark who is known for his innovative adaptations of Shakespeare including "A Marrying Man," which details the relationship between Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway using only lines from Shakespeare’s own plays. "I love Halloween," Clark said, "and I love ‘Nosferatu.’ I like the idea of mixing our footage with the existing stock - I've never seen that done before."
Speaking of the challenges of this particular production, Clark said, "It's tricky working without a traditional script. Basically, our script consists of storyboards from the film. We follow them very closely so we can recreate the original shots and blocking."
The "Nosferatu" cast includes Tom Fernlund from Orem in the Max Schreck role as Count Orlock, Mark Oram of Kaysville as Knock, Jason Sullivan of Vernal as Hutter, and Heather Murdock of Riverton as the virtuous Ellen.
"It's a mind-bending enterprise, with multiple camera angles and multiple sets being utilized simultaneously to create (we hope) a seamless experience," Oram said.
"Nosferatu" plays Oct. 23 through Nov. 1 at the Ragan Theater in the UVU Sorenson Student Center. Tickets are $6 for UVU students, $8 for students and seniors, and $10 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased from Campus Connection at (801) 863-8797. For more information about the UVU Theatrical Arts program and video trailers for the production, please go to www.uvu.edu/theatre.
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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807
Written by:
Isaac Walters
(801) 863-8434
(801) 349-8188