"The Masque of the Red Death” is an original music-drama based on Edgar Allen Poe’s infamous story.
The Delaware Valley Opera and the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop are co-producing this original work written and composed by Gladys Smuckler Moskowitz.
- Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 2 at the Rivoli Theatre, S. Fallsburg, NY - {phocamaps view=link|id=7|text=directions and map}
- Nov. 7,8,9 at the Tusten Theatre, Narrowsburg, NY - {phocamaps view=link|id=3|text=directions and map}
- Fri/Sat - 8pm, Sun 2pm
Purchase your tickets on-line and pick them up at the box office.
THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
An Original Music Drama in 2 Acts by Gladys Smucker Moskowitz
based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story
October 31, Nov 1, 2014, 8 p.m., November 2, 2014, 2 p.m., Rivoli Theatre
November 7, 8, 2014 8 p.m., November 9, 2014, 2 p.m., Tusten Theater
Dramatis Personae:
Narrator (Edgar Allan Poe)........... Oliver King
King Prospero................................. Kevin Hanek
Queen Ligeia................................. Kathy Geary
The Fool......................................... Michael Steup
Beauty………………………….... Melissa Mactague
The Red Death, Dancer, Buffoon. Valeria Henry
Ebony Clock, Buffoon, Lord……. Lynn Porter
The Cook, Peasant……………… Serena Gildersleeve
Lord Edgar, Flutist………………. Dan Desmond
Lord Richard, Peasant…………... Paul Peurschner
Lady Lucretia……………………. Naomi Frumess
Peasant, Lord Randall.………..... Donavan Nietzel
A Masque is a dramatic 16th -17th Century popular spectacle, usually on a mythological or allegorical theme and embodying pageantry, music and dancing. Poe’s short story was originally published as “The Mask of the Red Death” in 1842. The Red Death could refer to the Black Plague that swept Europe in 1343-53 resulting in the deaths of 75-200 million. Or, it could refer to several of Poe’s relatives who died of Tuberculosis. The story follows King Prospero’s attempts to avoid a dangerous plague, known as the Red Death by hiding in his abbey. He, along with many other wealthy nobles, have a masquerade ball within seven rooms of his abbey, each decorated with a different color. In the midst of their revelry, a mysterious figure disguised as Red Death enters. Prospero dies after confronting this stranger; the guests also die in turn. Smuckler-Moskowitz has turned the Mask into a Masque with her exquisite attention to detail in adapting this classic Poe short story for the stage and composing the score with dialogue by Sally Gladden.
If you'd like more information about the piece, you can contact the composer Gladys Moskowitz (composer and conductor) at (845) 434-3162 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Gladys Smuckler Moskowitz, composer, a resident of Woodbourne since 1960, taught music in the Fallsburg Elementary School and initiated the Music Dept. at SCCC. She holds a B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music from Brooklyn College. Under her professional name (Gladys Young), she toured the United States, Europe, and Israel as a folk singer, accompanying herself on guitar, auto-harp. 300-year old lyre, and Arab drum. Her compositions include Art songs and the Chamber Operas “Chicken Little” and “The Fountain of Youth”.
