FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT:
CSC Marketing Directo
Brandon W. Vernon, 410-244-8571 x116
vernon@chesapeakeshakespeare.com

CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRESENTS
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Baltimore, MD (9.10.26) - Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC) announces its production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, adapted by David Catlin and directed by Founding Artistic Director Ian Gallanar. Ushering in CSC’s 2026-2027 season, the production opens Friday, October 9 and runs through Sunday, November 1.

Just in time for the chills of autumn, this spine-tingling new take on Mary Shelley’s iconic tale transports audiences to a stormy night at the Villa Diodati, where a horror story competition creates the nightmare creature of Frankenstein. Catlin’s adaptation plays with the boundaries between Shelley’s real world and the one she creates, encouraging audiences to consider creation, humanity, and the stories we tell. “He’s created a fascinating work of imagination, one that will please both English majors and horror lovers” writes Lesley Malin, CSC’s Producing Executive Director. Audiences are excited to see this story unfold with tickets selling at record pace.

As part of CSC’s 2026-2027 season, this production invites audiences to gather around for a haunting classic that has captivated generations, reflecting CSC’s commitment to creating theatre that sparks conversation, encourages connection, and brings people together through shared experiences. Gallanar is “astounded by Mary Shelley’s life and inspired by her ability to bring a story into the cultural ether that has lasted for centuries. We are in the business of telling stories and she gifted us with one of the great ones.” The production features an ensemble of longstanding company members, all familiar faces on CSC’s stage. Fabiolla Da Silva portrays Mary Shelley and Joshua Williams plays The Creature, both having recently appeared in The Tale of Cymbeline. Vince Eisenson plays Victor Frankenstein, following his appearance in last season’s The Tempest and as Hamlet in 2023.

Throughout the run, CSC will offer special community events that invite audiences to further engage with this story beyond the stage. New this season, Saturday performances will feature “Dress to Distress”, whether frightful, fantastical, or simply fun, all are welcome to embrace the Halloween spirit and experience Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in costume. There will also be opportunities to meet the cast, chat with the director, and hear UMBC Professor Orianne Smith, an expert in British Romanticism and Gothic literature, about Mary Shelley’s inspiration for Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is produced by special arrangement with Bret Adams, LTD. 261 W. 35” St, Suite 204, New York, NY 10001. www.bretadamsltd.net Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein premiered at Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, May 2019

PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by David Catlin
Directed by Ian Gallanar

LOCATION
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is located at 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, two blocks north of the Inner Harbor. Nearby parking is available at Propark. The theatre is accessible using the FREE Charm City Circulator and is located on the Purple Route. For more detailed information about directions, parking, and public transportation, click here.

TICKETS
Adult tickets start at $43, tickets for youth and under start at $35, and preview tickets are $35. Prices are subject to change. To get the best seat for the best prices, purchase tickets in advance at chesapeakeshakespeare.com or contact the Box Office directly by calling 410-244-8570 or visiting in person at 7 South Calvert Street. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more and active-duty military. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/frankenstein/.

DATES
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 8:00PM - PREVIEW
Thursday, October 8, 2026 8:00PM - PREVIEW
Friday, October 9, 2026 8:00PM - OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, October 10, 2026 2:00PM
Sunday, October 11, 2026 2:00PM
Friday, October 16, 2026 8:00PM
Saturday, October 17, 2026 8:00PM
Sunday, October 18, 2026 2:00PM
Thursday, October 22, 2026 7:30PM
Friday, October 23, 2026 8:00PM
Saturday, October 24, 2026 2:00PM
Sunday, October 25, 2026 2:00PM
Thursday, October 29, 2026 7:30PM
Friday, October 30, 2026 8:00PM
Saturday, October 31, 2026 2:00PM
Saturday, October 31, 2026 8:00PM
Sunday, November 1, 2026 2:00PM

CAST LIST
Vince Eisenson *+
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Victor Frankenstein

Fabiolla Da Silva*
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
Elizabeth Lavenza

Dawn Thomas Reidy*
Claire Clairmont
William

Joshua Williams*
Lord Byron
The Creature

Jose O. Guzman*
Dr. John Polidori
Walton

UNDERSTUDIES: Ali Hass* / Charlie Junkins / Ethan Larsen

CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Ian Gallanar*
Production Manager: Lauren Engler*
Production Stage Manager: Alexis E. Davis+*
Technical Director: Dan O’Brien*
Set Designer: Shartoya R. Jn. Baptiste
Lighting Designer: Katie McCreary*
Costume Designer: Kristina Lambdin*
Sound Designer: Adam Mendelson
Props Artisan: Mika Nakano
Assistant Director: Lizzi Albert*
Production Associate: Dawn Thomas Reidy*
Dramaturg: Molly Horton Booth*
Dialect Coach: David Norris
Hair, Wig & Makeup Design: Hannah Brill*
Fight and Intimacy Choreographer: Mel Gabel
Board Operator: Andi Pfluger
Wardrobe Supervisor: Hannah Brill*
Assistant Stage Manager: Bernard Johnson
Scenic Assistant: Faith Singletary
Graphic/Theatre Experience Designer: Brandon W. Vernon*
* CSC Company Member
+ Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

ABOUT CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Founded in 2002, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company brings great classic theatre to Baltimore, Howard County, the state of Maryland, and beyond. The company offers performances of Shakespeare and other plays of classic stature that are unforgettable, challenging, and innovative. In 2012, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company acquired the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company building in downtown Baltimore, renovating it into a modern Globe Theater for indoor performances. CSC produces outdoor Shakespeare every summer at the PFI Historic Park in Howard County and brings free Shakespeare performances directly into neighborhoods across Maryland with our innovative travelling Shakespeare Beyond Wagon. The organization regularly serves 32,000+ people annually through artistic projects and intentional community engagement. CSC’s vibrant education program includes an extensive matinee series, camps, classes, and in and out-of-school residencies. The company invites patrons, students, and neighbors to become part of the creative collaboration that generates powerful, magical theatre and a more purposeful, engaged, and connected community.