Tell Tale: A Site Specific Play Based on the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Tell-Tale is a site-specific play centred around the works and life of Edgar Allan Poe. The story begins with a young English teacher, an eager fan of Poe’s works, who by a strange turn of events happens upon the man himself sitting in her very classroom. In order to dissuade her of her notion that his life was something to be admired, Poe agrees to act as guide to the teacher (and, of course, the audience) through the major events in his life – those events that inspired some of his most famous literary works. But as scenes from the young teacher’s life begin to intertwine with those from Poe’s, it brings into question exactly the nature of their meeting in that classroom – and what it means for them both.

Read an Excerpt From Tell Tale

Concept Art

Featuring Zach Kaufer, Jesse Pilchen, Jordan Merimee, Nicholas Slayton, Elly Glavich, Nicole Knudsen, and Annie Jankowski

The Cast

The Cast

Annabel Lee and her Lover

Poe

Poe

Poe and Death

Poe and his former selves

Old Poe and Young Poe

Young Poe

Old Poe And Young Poe

Poe and Virginia

Poe and Virginia

Poe and Virginia

Old Poe looks upon Virginia and his younger self

Virginia

Death and Poe’s Lovers

Poe, Virginia, and Annabel Lee

Poe and his Annabel Lee

Annabel Lee

Annabel Lee

Poe haunted by a former self

The Poes

The Poes

Poe and Annabel

Annabel and Poe

The First Production

Tell Tale first premiered in the spring of 2013 at The University of Southern California. The play was the first to utilise the university’s beautiful campus as the setting for a theatrical production. Audiences gathered in a classroom and then followed the cast around during sunset for a mysterious journey. The play was creatively cast (2 Poes and 3 Annabells) so each performance was a unique and different experience for both the cast and the audience. 

“This production started as a love letter to Edgar Allan Poe, but after our process began it morphed into something much more. Poe’s story is one that I believe every artist can relate to in their own right, and this telling of his life, alongside a modern writer’s life opens many conversations about what boundaries artists are willing to expunge for their craft. Doing this show on out own campus made it a truly “close to home” experience and I hope audience not only learn something new about Edgar, but also maybe learn something new about themselves. ” — Annie Jankowski, Director

CAST
Edgar Allan Poe- Trevor Adams/Miles du Mosch
Annabel Meyers- Nicole Knudsen/Elly Glavich/Grace Korkunis 
Young Poe- Michael Malconian 
Young Lover- Judd Yort 
Mrs. Poe- Michelle Clark
Mrs. Allan/Emma- Miriam Neigus
Ms. Dubourg/Mrs. Clemm- Molly Quinlan 
Virginia Clemm- Haley Kloess 
Annabel Lee- Kara Ludke
Johanna Meyers- Monet Hendricks
Arthur Gordon Richmond- Karan Lyons 
Annie Meyers- Bree Wernicke

CREW 
Director-Annie Jankowski
Assistant Director- Evan McGahey
Photographer- Graham Jenkins