Worlds Elsewhere Theatre Company Presents:
Winter Spooky Chilling Tales Well Told

Check out the playlist! ✦ Premiered Mon, December 6th, 2021

Have you ever heard a noise on a winter’s night and wondered, is that the wind blowing, or a branch tapping against the window, or is it something else? Winter is a spooky time of year, and we want to lean into it, with a series of eleven scary stories read by some of your favorite Rep members. Click the banner above for the full playlist.

Company Artistic Statement

Theatre, given its nature as a medium made of people in space, has always been a first victim during times of plague.

When the COVID-19 pandemic spread through the world at the start of the year 2020, theatres closed, and millions were left unemployed.

Worlds Elsewhere Theatre Company was founded during this terrifying time. It is our mission to create theatre without a theatre - to create a space online that can serve as a theatrical one. Our company shall create an online space that serves the same function that theatre has served for millennia – as a place of catharsis and healing.

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Stories

“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” By Eric Kimmel, Read by Jacob Brode

• Originally posted: December 6th, 2021
• Folk hero Hershel of Ostropol arrives in town, expecting a warm, Hanukkah welcome, but the lights are out and there are no latkes to be found. It’s up to the prankster to challenge goblins and even their king to be able to light the lights once more. Read by Jacob Brode, “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” will have you laughing and reliving Hanukkah all over again for 5782, as the start of our Winter Spooky project (it gets much darker from here, folks).
• Content Warnings: none
• Credits:
  • story: “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” written by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
  • video editing: Kyle Kallgren
  • opening theme: “Klezmer” by Prime45
  • background noise: ambient noise by RelaxSleepASMR

“Patient Zero” By Tananarive Due, Read by Katherine Rose Turbes

• Originally posted: December 9th, 2021
• A young boy’s journal tells a gripping story of beginnings and endings, as a disease rampages through the outside world – reminding us of nothing in particular in 2021, of course. Written by Tananarive Due and performed by Katherine Rose Turbes, “Patient Zero” will have you donning your mask once more.
• Content Warnings: disease, child abuse, medical abuse, mass death, needles, language
• Credits:
  • story: “Patient Zero” written by Tananarive Due
  • video editing: David Kowarsky
  • opening theme: “Everything and More” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise: Hospital Room with oxygen system sound Nixeno (CC BY-NC 3.0)
  • images: Pixabay

“CUE: Change” By Chesya Burke, Read by One Single Rose

• Originally posted: December 13th, 2021
• Surviving a zombie apocalypse isn’t easy, especially when those zombies don’t behave the way you expect them to. Chesya Burke’s “CUE: Change”, read by One Single Rose
• Content Warnings: racism, references to drug abuse/sale, violence, suicide, murder, references to assault of children, references to police violence, language
• Credits:
  • story: Chesya Burke
  • video editing: Mike Fatum
  • opening theme: “The Truth” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise and foley effects: freesound.org
  • images: Pixabay

“The Yellow Wallpaper” By Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Read by Emily Clark

• Originally posted: December 17th, 2021
• A woman slowly goes mad during a so-called “rest cure”, or is there really something hiding behind the wallpaper of her room? Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, read by Emily Clark.
• Content Warnings: domestic abuse, mishandled mental illness, misogyny
• Credits:
  • story: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • video editing: Sam Marchiony
  • opening theme: “Demon’s Cage” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • images: Stephen Greenberg and Adrianne Greenberg-Sud

“The Cask of Amontillado” By E A Poe, Read by David Kowarsky & Justin Bailey

• Originally posted: December 17th, 2021
• Two men discuss wine and architecture. David Kowarsky and Justin Bailey, reading Edgar Allen Poe’s classic, “The Cask of Amontillado”.
• Content Warnings: alcohol, claustrophobia, murder
• Credits:
  • story: Edgar Allen Poe
  • video editing: David Kowarsky
  • opening theme: “Assassin Exit” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise and foley effects: cavern sounds by wjoojoo viafreesound.org; additional foley by Justin Bailey and licensed Adobe sound packs
  • images: Pixabay

“The Husband Stitch” By Carmen Maria Machado, Read by Sonakshi Kaaviya

• Originally posted: December 20th, 2021
• Stories and experiences are tied together into a chilling tale of the fraying at the boundaries of a good life in Carmen Maria Machado’s “The Husband Stitch”, read by Sonakshi Kaaviya.
• Content Warnings: descriptions of consensual sexual activity, sexual assault, misogyny, references to child abuse, NSFW
• Credits:
  • story: Carmen Maria Machado
  • video editing: Adrianne Greenberg-Sud
  • editing assistance: Henry Kathman
  • opening theme: “Adam” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise: “Dark Winds” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background video: Adrianne Greenberg-Sud

“The Faithful Ghost” By Jerome K Jerome, Read by Grady W Smithey III

• Originally posted: December 22nd, 2021
• What happens when a haunting goes from scary to annoying? Humorist Jerome K Jerome’s take on a ghost story, “The Faithful Ghost”, performed by Grady W Smithey III.
• Content Warnings: death (natural)
• Credits:
  • story: Jerome K Jerome
  • video editing: David Kowarsky
  • opening theme: “This House” Kevin MacLeod (CC-BY 4.0)
  • background noise: “Man Moaning” by pugaeme (CC-BY 3.0), others from freesound.org
  • images: Pixabay

“Nicholas Was…” By Neil Gaiman, Read by Jacob Brode

• Originally posted: December 19th, 2020
  • Reposted: February 5th, 2021
  • Reshared: December 24th, 2021
• A blast from the past, just in time for Christmas Eve, Jacob Brode sends shivers down our spines with the Neil Gaiman classic, “Nicholas Was…”.
• Content Warnings: none
• Credits:
  • story: Neil Gaiman
  • video editing: Jacob Brode

“The Cremation of Sam McGee” By Robert W. Service, Read by Conor Duffy

• Originally posted: December 27th, 2021
• A deathbed promise becomes a burden when a man must find a way to cremate a deceased friend. “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, written by Robert W. Service and read by Conor Duffy.
• Content Warnings: death (natural), cremation
• Credits:
  • story: Robert W. Service
  • video editing: Henry Kathman
  • opening theme: “Past Memories” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise: “Dog Howling” by Daniel Simon, “Fire Burning” by JaBa, “Wind” by Mark DiAngelo, “Old Door Creaking” from public domain
  • images: snow video by Beachfront B-Roll, fire video by Free Stock Footage 4k

“We Can Get Them for You Wholesale” By Neil Gaiman, Read by Alexandra Vernon

• Originally posted: December 29th, 2021
• Who knew bargain-hunting could lead to the end of the world? Neil Gaiman’s “We Can Get Them for You Wholesale”, read by Alexandra Vernon.
• Content Warnings: misogyny, discussion of murder, apocalypse (implied mass death)
• Credits:
  • story: Neil Gaiman
  • video editing: David Kowarksy
  • opening theme: “Evening of Chaos” by Kevin MacLeod (CC-BY 4.0)
  • background noise: “Haunted House” by Greg McMahan and other public domain/CC.0 effects via freesound.org
  • images: Pixabay

“The Masque of the Red Death” By Edgar Allen Poe, Read by Jasmine Garcia

• Originally posted: December 31st, 2021
• Be careful who you party with, especially during a plague. Jasmine Garcia brings a warning, with Edgar Allen Poe’s classic “The Masque of the Red Death”. Happy New Year’s, everyone!
• Content Warnings: disease, mass death, classism
• Credits:
  • story: Edgar Allen Poe
  • video editing: Henry Kathman
  • opening theme: “Demon’s Cage” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise: “Panicking Crowd” and “Decadent Noble Party” by Michaël Ghelfi Studios; rain, castle door, and clock effects from Sound Effect Database
  • images: storm video by ForFilm Creation, skull video by Royalty Video, other images from Pixabay

“Snow, Glass, Apples” By Neil Gaiman, Read by Ilana Greenberg-Sud

• Originally posted: January 10th, 2021
• A bonus treat while we all yearn for spring: a horrifying twist on a classic fairytale, Neil Gaiman’s “Snow, Glass, Apples”, read by Winter Spooky director Ilana Greenberg-Sud.
• Content Warnings: violence, racism, ableism, implied incest, referenced underage sex, descriptions of consensual sex, necrophilia, murder, blood, g*psy slur, NSFW
• Credits:
  • story: Neil Gaiman
  • video editing: Adrianne Greenberg-Sud
  • opening theme: “Aged Tree” by Dark Fantasy Studio
  • background noise: “Rumble Bass 2.wav” by DanielsonIII, “fire in fireplace close1.flac” by kyles, “Fireplace.wav” by inchadney, “heartbeats.aif” by patobottos, “Beating on the door and Knocking on the door” by exorsten, all via freesound.org (CC-0)
  • images: “Red and Black Hanging Ornament” by Ariana Jade, “Candles with burning flame in darkness” by Chris John, “Shadow casted by bars in Orthodox Church” by Ron Lach, “Black and White Photography of Trees on a Foggy Day” by Michał Osiński, all via Pexels (CC-0); all others by Adrianne & Ilana Greenberg-Sud

Cast and Crew

Voice Actors

Alexandra Vernon (“We Can Get Them for You Wholesale”; she/her)
Conor Duffy (“The Cremation of Sam McGee”; he/him)
David Kowarsky (“The Cask of Amontillado”; he/him)
Emily Clark (“The Yellow Wallpaper”; she/her)
Grady W Smithey III (“The Faithful Ghost”; he/him)
Ilana Greenberg-Sud (“Snow, Glass, Apples”; she/her/they/them)
Jacob Brode (“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins”, “Nicholas Was…”; he/him)
Jasmine Garcia (“The Masque of the Red Death”; she/her/fae/faer)
Justin Bailey (“The Cask of Amontillado”; he/him)
Katherine Rose Turbes (“Patient Zero”; they/them)
One Single Rose (“CUE: Change”; she/her)
Sonakshi Kaaviya (“The Husband Stitch”; she/her)

Production Crew

Director/Producer: Ilana Greenberg-Sud (she/her/they/them)
Assistant Director/Producer: David Neubauer (he/him/they/them)
Technical Advisors: David Kowarsky (he/him) and Kyle Kallgren (he/him)
Editors: Adrianne Greenberg-Sud (she/her), David Kowarsky (he/him), Henry Kathman (he/him), Kyle Kallgren (he/him), Mike Fatum (he/him), Sam Marchiony (she/her/they/them)

About WETC

Executive Director - David Kowarsky
Director of Theatre - Ilana Greenberg-Sud
Director of Digital - Kyle Kallgren
Company Technical Director & Web/IT Manager - Adrianne Greenberg-Sud
Special Projects Manager - Nicole Lopez-Hagan

Worlds Elsewhere Theatre Company is based in New York City and Seattle, on lands home to the Munsee Lenape, Duwamish, and Coast Salish peoples.

Cast and crew members of Winter Spooky 2021 are located on Native Lands including:

Canarsie
Coast Salish
Duwamish
Haudenosaunee
Jumanos
Kaskaskia
Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo)
Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett)
Mohican
Munsee Lenape
Muwekma
Myaamia
O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa)
Ohlone
Pawtucket
Pennacook
Pentucket
Peoria
Ramaytush
Seminole
Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee)
Tawakoni
Wichita
Wabanaki
Wappinger
Yokuts
𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^ (Osage)

We acknowledge that this land came into government possession through acts of genocide, as part of our commitment to work towards addressing the impacts of those acts in our pursuit of social justice, and to foster a world where such injustices are truly consigned to the past.

Tribe names provided by Native Lands Digital

For more information, consult #HonorNativeLand — US Department of Arts and Culture

Project Attributions

Banner/Card design by Ilana Greenberg-Sud

Phantom Fingers Font by Chad Savage (used with permission)

Jolly Lodger Font by Font Diner (Open Font License)

WETC logo by Anna Stacy

closing theme: “Winterheart” by Dark Fantasy Studio