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October 6, 2009 by

The Castle of Otranto

Adapted by David Rice, based on the novel by Horace Walpole
Directed by Alison C. Vesely

Performed September 30, 2009 ~ November 1, 2009

“Horror stalks the castle!”

From the playwright who brought us The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, the most popular play First Folio has ever produced!

View Press Release

The Story

One family curse, two murders and three ghosts combine to produce a macabre tale of adventure and romance.The Castle of Otranto marked the invention of the Gothic novel and provided inspiration for the greatest writers of horror stories in the English language, from Mary Shelley to Edgar Allan Poe to Bram Stoker. Join us for this World Premiere!

The Cast

  • David Girolmo* as Baron Manfred
  • Tony Dobrowolski* as Father Jerome
  • Dev Kennedy* as Mysterious Knight
  • Chris Amos as Theodore
  • Caitlin Chuckta as Princess Isabella
  • Hayley L. Rice+ as Lady Matilda
  • Rosalind Hurwitz as Baroness Hippolyta
  • Lindsay Leopold as Bianca
  • Eli Branson as Jacques
  • Jim Kozyra as Diego

The Artists

  • Stage Manager – Amber Johnson
  • Asst. Stage Manager – Sara Robinson
  • Angie Miller+ – Scenic Design
  • Nick Sandys*+ – Fight Director
  • Elsa Hiltner+ – Costume Design
  • Michael McNamara- Lighting Design
  • Christopher Kriz – Sound Design
  • Jesse Gaffney – Props Design

* = Member Actor’s Equity Association + = Artistic Associate of First Folio Theatre

The Photos

Click on the thumbnails below to view the full images from The Castle of Otranto.

Caitlin Chuckta (Princess Isabella)
David Girolmo (Baron Manfred) and Caitlin Chuckta (Princess Isabella)
Caitlin Chuckta (Princess Isabella)

All above photos by Melissa Carlson.

Find Other People

  • Artistic Associates
  • Staff
  • Alison C. Vesely
  • David Rice
  • Board of Trustees

Announcing the Retirement of Founding Executive Director David Rice & Ceasing Operations in 2023

Over two-and-a-half decades we have mounted over 80 productions, produced 14 world premieres, and 6 commissions. We have had more shows directed by women in the past 25 years than almost any other Equity theater in the Chicago area. We also led the way in opportunities for women designers, resulting in multiple Jeff Nominations and Awards for the many women who have worked here. Thank you all for your steadfast support through all these years. We will miss you!

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What the Critics Say…

"A perfect storm of theatre!”

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The 2021-22 Season is sponsored by Susan & Alan Becker and Daniel Nowaczynski & Nancy Ziegler.

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