As Brat Productions prepares for the world premiere of their Edgar Allan Poe-based production Haunted Poe (October 1 – November 1, 2009), the company invites audiences to enter the world of the master of the macabre with a special doll crafting workshop and haunted cabaret on Thursday, June 25 at the Latvian Society, located at 531 North 7th St. (at Spring Garden St.) in Philadelphia.

The three-hour workshop will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will be led by Dame Darcy – artist, musician, creator of the comic book Meat Cake (published by Fantagraphics) and internationally-known performer. Workshop participants will craft dolls related to the women in Poe’s life and stories, such as Sarah Elmira Royster, Virginia Clemm, Lenore (from "The Raven") and Madeline Usher ("The Fall of the House of Usher"). Participants will also have the opportunity to have their work displayed in the production of Haunted Poe in October.

The cabaret, Murder Ballads, Shanties, and other Poe-etics, will feature performances by Dame Darcy with Ben Smiley; singer, songwriter and comedian Jessica Delfino; Drew Mills (of Blood Feathers); Helen McKenna-Uff – Poe impersonator and Poe House Ranger; Fern Night; Yellow Humphrey (members of National Eye); and previews of Brat’s Haunted Poe. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and performances begin at 9:00 p.m.

The workshop fee is $25, which includes materials, light snacks and admission to the cabaret. Workshop tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets here. Cabaret-only tickets are $5 and are available here. For tickets by phone, call 1-800-838-3006.

Just across the street, audiences can also visit the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, where Poe lived and penned some of his best-known works from 1838 – 1844. The house is open with free admission from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About Haunted Poe
In the world premiere of Haunted Poe, Brat Productions will unearth the images, characters and scenes from works by Poe, such as “The Tell-tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Black Cat,” and “The Masque of the Red Death.” This theatrical production uniting literature, history and theater with the haunted attraction genre coincides with the 200th anniversary year of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth. A 10,000 square foot warehouse will be transformed into an eerie maze of chambers into which audiences will be guided through short vignettes designed to surprise and shock in unexpected ways.

Haunted Poe is directed by award-winning director/actor/playwright and founder of Brat Productions, Madi Distefano, with a script by Bruce Walsh, production design by Brad Helm – former designer and technical director for Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls, and literary consultation by “Philly Poe Guy” Edward Pettit.

Haunted Poe will run October 1 – November 1, 2009 at 38 Jackson Street in Philadelphia. Timed tickets, ranging from $10 - $25, will be available at www.hauntedpoe.com beginning July 6.

Brat Production’s Haunted Poe has been funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative with additional support from the Marketing Innovation Program.

About Dame Darcy
Dame Darcy is an artist, illustrator, filmmaker, musician and performer. Her long standing comic book, Meat Cake (published by Fantagraphics), is presently on its 17th issue. Darcy has released several graphic novels, including Gasoline, Frightful Fairytales, The Illustrated Jane Eyre and Comic Book Tattoo – a comic compilation illustrating the songs of Tori Amos. In 2000, a play was produced based on Meat Cake which toured several cities on the East Coast. As a freelance illustrator and cartoonist, she has created work for the Village Voice, Jane Magazine, Paper Magazine, and The New York Press, among others. She has designed for Anna Sui, Courtney Love and others, and has created animation design for MTV, Cartoon Network and various commercials. As a musician, Darcy has released several solo music releases. Her band Death By Doll is the soundtrack for the film adaptation of her book Gasoline, and for the CD (Emperor Penguin Records) which is included with the novel. To date, her albums, short films/ animation, and comics have been released in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. Her books, fine art and hand crafted dolls, music, movies, fashion design, and current events can be acquired and seen on Dame Darcy and Etsy.com.

About Brat Productions
Founded in 1996, Brat Productions is a theatre company that produces both contemporary work and re-envisioned classics with emerging artists in non-traditional venues. Over the years, Brat has established itself as Philadelphia’s premier avant-garde theatre, and is known for using unusual performance venues to enhance original and noteworthy productions. Its mission is to generate new theatre-goers by creating theatre that is unpredictable, courageous, and compelling. Brat values risk, innovation, and fostering the growth of artists in the greater Philadelphia region. Its numerous productions have included Three Chord Fiction, winner of the Ted and Stevie Wolf Barrymore Award for New Approaches to Collaboration, A 24-Hour The Bald Soprano, and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant and Eye-95: Retarred.