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Tonight, Frederick audiences will watch a vaudeville-style actor combine both fear and laughter into a performance filled with macabre tales and gruesome details.
"We all love exploring the dark side safely – that's why we love the roller coaster," said Joshua Kane, who has performed his trademark one-man shows across the country.
The award-winning Kane will present his "Tales of Terror – An Evening of Horror and Hilarity" tonight at The Weinberg. The show has been performed for 16 years, but is especially fitting now, not only as Halloween nears, but also to celebrate the 200th birthday of Edgar Allan Poe.
Throughout the two-hour performance, Kane will entertain with tales from Poe's broad repertoire, including such tales as "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Raven," and "The Masque of the Red Death," while also incorporating dark tales from Charles Dickens and Ambrose Bierce – all masterful storytellers who artfully twist the ghastly and comedic together.
"It's an important show – very American. These are the godfathers of modern horror," Kane said.
Classically trained in New York City, Kane has toured internationally and has performed in various area playhouses. Since 1991, the actor has operated his own theatrical production company focusing on his one-man shows.
"I was raised in an illegal boarding house and was obsessed from an early age with books, magic, spoken word, fire-eating and the theater," Kane said, adding that his love of storytelling came from his grandmother, who often put him to bed with record tables playing old stories.
On stage, the actor can change dialect, his accents and costumes to create characters that come to life. Kane's performances are full-blown, not simply "storytelling on stage."
In between Kane's many tales, the actor banters with the audience, hearkening back to the days of vaudeville and adding to the show's overall entertainment.
"Tales of Terror" is also being held as part of Frederick's involvement with "The Big Read," a National Endowment of the Arts initiative which has focused on Edgar Allan Poe-related events for the past month.
Kane's performance serves as the culmination of the monthlong celebration, note Weinberg staff. Earlier in the day, more than 800 students from Frederick County Public Schools will enjoy Kane's live performance.
Drawing from more than 100 hours of material, Kane has the first half of his evening performance mapped out, but will probably take suggestions from the audience for the second half.
"It's good for the whole family – those who enjoy Harry Potter or X-Men are used to this type of genre," he said.
Kane is hoping the seats are filled at the grand theater.
"I feel in this economy there is a culture of fear that we're living in," said Kane. "People need this kind of night out with their families to come out and laugh together and enjoy an old-fashioned Halloween."
Joshua Kane: ‘Tales of Terror'
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight
Where: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick
Tickets: $20-$30
For information:
301-600-2828
www.weinbergcenter.org
www.joshuakane.com
