Feb 22—26, 2023
Frankenstein
Manual Cinema / Chicago, USA
Animation, puppetry, live music, and a gothic twist that electrifies Mary Shelley’s classic novel for a new generation.
Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this thrilling version of the classic Gothic tale, Frankenstein. Using more than 500 handmade puppets, old school projectors, as well as live actors and cinematic elements, Emmy-award winning troupe Manuel Cinema returns to ArtsEmerson (Ada/Ava, The End of TV) to share its explosive, layered interpretation of the classic horror novel, Frankenstein.
In this eye-popping visual feast, the Chicago-based performance collective imaginatively stitches together the classic tale of Frankenstein with the biography of its author, Mary Shelley, to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. The real-life and fictional narratives of Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s monster expose how family, community, and education shape personhood – or destroy it by their absence.
Info

Venue
Emerson Paramount Center
Robert J. Orchard Stage
559 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
Dates
Feb 22, 2023 - Feb 26, 2023
Season Package
Secure best seats today by purchasing a Season Package. 4-show Packages start as low as $99; Come to everything and save up to 40% on single ticket prices.
Groups of 10+
Orders of 10 or more tickets for any performance are available now.
Reserve Group Tickets
“…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.”
— Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“…an unforgettable experience that transports its audience to the dark realm of Mary Shelley’s tragic tale.”
— Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
“A piece of theatre that is full of boundless imagination, ingenious technique and beautiful storytelling that packs an emotional punch … simply outstanding.”
— Elspeth Chapman, Fringe Review UK
“…impossible to look away”
— David Freedlander, The Daily Beast
“…an experience like none other…ingenious”
— Loren Noveck, Exeunt NYC
“a complex visual treat…impressive in scope and execution, entertaining, and (especially if you’ve never seen Manual Cinema before) absolutely fascinating to watch.”
— Karen Topham, Chicago On Stage
“…an ingenious merger of live music and captivating visuals. No matter where you look, you’ll find beauty and intrigue.”
— Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
“ambitious…the epitome of what creative theater can be.”
— Michael Horn, Around the Town Chicago
“brimming with accomplished performances and imaginative images, colored with sights and sounds, light and shadow…a majestic accomplishment that boggles the mind.”
— Colin Douglas, Chicago Theater Review