Home for the Hallo-Days:
Stage and Screen Arts streams “Mary Frankenstein”

October 21, 2021 - Despite a season without live performances, University of Wisconsin-River Falls theatre patrons can now enjoy a filmed production from last year’s performance calendar at home.

“Mary Frankenstein” is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic “Frankenstein,” written and directed by Stage and Screen Arts Instructor Kathy Welch. In this creative re-telling, Mary Frankenstein, an ambitious medical student, toils to answer the bold questions of science to heal her grieving heart. When her creation stirs to life, she runs away in terror, and Mary’s refusal to nurture the unfortunate creature ends in tragedy.

The UWRF production team used a variety of film and theatrical techniques including shadow work and puppetry to create this highly stylized and unique production. The film was shot in Syse Theatre in KFA on campus which was converted to a film studio for the purpose. Faculty and students learned interesting new ways of bringing theatre to audiences, while observing proper COVID-19 prevention measures.

Visit https://youtu.be/SOduHRu3pSA to view “Mary Frankenstein” on YouTube (length: approximately 45 minutes).

Student cast:

Meredith Bowermaster: doctor (White Bear Lake, Minn.)
Ryan Huling: monster (Farmington, Minn.)
Lizzy Bunnell: mother (Janesville)
Lexus Zeigler: betrothed (Osceola)
Ben Brannon: blind cottager (New Brighton, Minn.)
Sebastian Kulow: blind cottager's son and ensemble (River Falls)
Klara Fansler: blind cottager's daughter and ensemble (Osceola)

Ensemble:

Mitchell Engel (Jordan, Minn.)
Austin Albright (Roberts)
Becca Donley (Mounds View, Minn.)
Bailey Hudak (Medford)

For more information, email martha.donnelly@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-4788.