The Gainesville Theatre Alliance proudly presents A Monster Calls, based on the critically acclaimed novel by Patrick Ness, as the second installment of its 2024-25 Monster of a Season.
The production runs Nov. 8-16 at University of North Georgia-Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre. GTA is a collaborative ensemble, uniting the theatre departments of Brenau University and the University of North Georgia.
Brenau students Kendall Ashe, Landon Trae and Aiden Andulzua are performing in the show. Ashe, a senior will portray Mum; freshman Trae will portray Harry and senior Andulzua will portray Anton in the ensemble. All three are in the bachelor of fine arts acting program.
“You hear about a show about cancer and you can obviously expect some very sad and raw moments, but our cast has also worked really hard to find the funny, happy, and beautiful moments too,” Ashe said. “Stories are rarely all happy or all sad; the most realistic stories land somewhere in between.”
Ashe is also a member of Brenau’s Delta Delta Delta chapter, and sisters will set up a table during the show’s run to raise awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides care and support for children battling cancer.. GTA also hosts representatives from Camp Braveheart, a grief support program provided by the Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Representatives from Camp Braveheart will be available in the lobby during performances to share information about their work and resources for families in need.
“Working on a show that is rooted in truth with such a deep meaning and heavy subject matter helped me to recognize the reality of many families who go through similar experiences, whether that is a sick family member, a single parent, or a child who is being bullied at school” Ashe said. “At the end of the day, I am playing pretend, but for many mothers this is a real experience.”
Directed by UNG Professor of Theatre Elisa Carlson, who will retire at the end of the season after 15 years of teaching, A Monster Calls promises a powerful and visually stunning experience. Carlson, a professional voice and dialect coach who has worked on films such as Selma, First Man, and Baby Driver, and on the hit series Stranger Things, is joined by GTA Guest Artists Jen MacQueen, who choreographs the production, and Johnny Pickett, who is the Flying Director for the show. MacQueen is the owner of Akrosphere Circus Arts in Alpharetta, Georgia, and Pickett brings over two decades of experience in theatrical flying direction, including Spamalot on Broadway, Wicked in Japan, and flying the musical group the Black Eyed Peas at the 2011 Super Bowl.
Set in a world where reality blends with fantasy, A Monster Calls tells the poignant story of 13-year-old Conor, who struggles to cope with his mother’s terminal illness. As he navigates his emotions, he encounters a monstrous yew tree that comes to life, forcing him to confront his deepest fears and truths.
“While the book is a favorite in England, it is not as well known in the US,” Carlson said. “This gives our production the added amount of surprise for many audience members.”
The original production was created at the Old Vic Theatre in London using devised theatre, a collaborative approach where the script is shaped by the ensemble rather than a single playwright. GTA’s ensemble builds on the original script from the Old Vic production.
“Our ensemble is fortunate enough to have the pre-devised script that was developed originally at the Old Vic, which they then built on using our circus apparatus and choreography,” GTA Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce said. “It’s an important thing to learn, as a student of theatre, as it allows actors and creatives to explore storytelling from a more physically dynamic and collaborative process.”
One of the standout elements of GTA’s staging is the addition of aerial silks. While the original production used ropes to signify the tree’s presence and movement, GTA’s production will blend the ropes with aerial silks, allowing actors to climb, hang, and fly, while bringing the fantastical elements of the story to life. This creative staging emphasizes the fluidity and emotional intensity of Conor’s journey, while staying true to the original production’s inventive use of physical storytelling.
Tickets for A Monster Calls can be purchased at GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or by calling the GTA Box Office at 678-717-3624.
