GULF SHORES — As the first week of October comes to an end, how will you celebrate the upcoming spooky season? Consider venturing out to South Baldwin Community Theater as they begin performances of "Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe."

The show will take you on a journey through the shadowy depths of Poe's mind with a compilation of four of Poe's most famous works: "The Raven," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."
The theater will hold performances Oct. 5-7 and Oct. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Ashley Nowling, director, said the cast has been hard at work for over two months preparing for the unnerving show and is excited to share their hard work with the community.

"We have been hitting the ground running for the past few weeks," Nowling said. "We are going to have some terrifying and suspenseful moments. "The Pit and the Pendulum" is definitely going to be a shock for the audience. There are a lot of hidden gems throughout the show."

Nowling said the show does have some elements of horror and violence and an advisory for ages 16 and up.

"This is going to be a one of a kind show; live theater is becoming a dying art," Nowling said. "People need to come out and support their local actors and come enjoy a thrilling night."

About the show

According to the show's description, "The four short stories compiled by Eric Coble and adapted for stage are among the best known and most appreciated of Poe's narrations. The predominant theme that can be found in all of them is loss."

"The Raven" tells the story of the loss of love, while "The Fall of the House of Usher" explores the Usher family's experiences and the loss of their reputation. "The Pit and the Pendulum" describes the deprivation of liberty, and finally, "The Tell-Tale Heart" depicts the way to insanity and the loss of the mind.

Cast:
Poe: Matthew Davis-Brown
Edgar: Ian McConnell
Roderick Usher: John Koehler
Madeline Usher: Laurel Burcham

Crew:
Director: Ashley Nowling
Assistant Director: Rebecca Davis-Brown
Lights/Sound: John Broughton and Meg Beaman
Sound: Robert Gardner
Costumes: Nina Vines and costume committee
Props: Barbara Campbell
Set Builder: Jeff White