April 12 – 13
BHS Drama’s world premiere of this new spin on the old tale promises surprises at every turn. Mary Shelley’s shocking real life bleeds into the most famous ghost story contest in history: the stormy weekend her famous novel Frankenstein was invented. Now, the famous tale, re-written so that it more closely resembles Mary’s real life, begins with a grief stricken Victor Frankenstein willing to work with a controversial scientist named Igor, whose true identity can never be known. Pressure from the scientific community leads to the creation of the famous monster–but there is a twist about this monster–one that you’ll have to see to believe. This is a play about a society, any society, that seeks to purge from its midst anyone or anything that it fears and about a man who will plummet to the depths of darkness to stem the tide of his pain. Mania, mobs, and murder cascade from the choices made by Frankenstein, himself, leading us to question: who is the real monster?
Director’s Notes
Facts about Frankenstein
- Our Frankenstein story is very different from author Mary Shelley’s novel, but the core ideas and themes are actually closer to the real-life experiences with which she dealt.
- Any gossip revealed in this play about these historical figures is true. All of the European characters in the parlor at Villa Deodati are real people and their lives were like soap operas. The information about their real lives has been collected by biographers from their diaries.
- Mary Shelley was just 18 years old when she had the idea for the story (coincidentally, co-playwright Hailey Casburn was only 18 when the writing of this script began).
- Percy Shelley met Mary Godwin while he was married to another woman. Mary was 16 and Percy was about 21 when they ran away together. Harriet Shelley, Percy’s first wife, drowned herself the same year that Mary wrote Frankenstein.
- Mary Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, is still considered today as one of the most important feminist writers of all time. Her mother wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” in 1792. Wollstonecraft died due to complications after giving birth to Mary. A close study of Mary’s life and work reveals that she felt both haunted and inspired by the death of her mother.
- Mary’s father was William Godwin, a famous writer in his own time. He was both cold and distant to Mary, though she faithfully supported him emotionally and financially. Despite his official stance which affirmed the “abolition” of marriage itself, he often refused to communicate with Mary and Percy when they became a couple, demanding that he would not unless Percy financially supported him.
- The “year without a summer” mentioned in the play was a real thing! Mt. Tambora, an active volcano in Indonesia, erupted in 1815. This was the deadliest volcano eruption in history. The ash would take almost a year to spread over most of the globe, disrupting weather patterns and, in Europe, nearly blocking out the sun for the entire summer of 1816. It was this terrible, dark weather that led to Byron’s idea of the ghost story contest among his literary guests.
- During this ghost story contest, young John Polidori came up with the idea for a novel he eventually wrote called Vampyr. This book heavily influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Thus, this frightful collection of days would (eventually) result in the two most famous monsters of all time: Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula!
- George Gordon, known as Lord Byron, was the “rock star” of the Romantic Poetry period, living a mythical life and running from scandal to scandal. He was a huge celebrity at the time, and his work is still celebrated and studied today in literature classes, especially his most enduring poem, “She Walks in Beauty.” When he rented out the Villa Deodati in Switzerland and invited the Shelleys, local spectators checked out rooms on the opposite side of Lake Geneva and spied on him with telescopes! Byron, a supporter of liberal causes, demonstrated this with his actions as he died fighting in the Greek war for independence when he was 36 years old.
- Byron’s only legitimate child, Ada Lovelace (he had an illegitimate daughter as well–she is mentioned in this play), would grow up to be a scientist, incredibly rare for a female in that time. She would actually help invent the machine that would become the modern day computer! The character Ada in this play is named for her.
- Despite her work being filled with religious references, Mary and Percy Shelley created a scandal by openly being atheists.
- Thanks to Mary’s tireless work, Percy, despite his early death, would be considered one of the most important poets and thinkers of the Romantic Literary period. Mary would collect those scribbled poems on the backs of napkins and the margins of textbooks and have them published, reshaping Percy’s image and cementing his massive poetic reputation. His most famous poem is probably “Ozymandias,” a major inspiration for themes in this play.
Crew
Crew
Crew
Stage Manager
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager/Props Master
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Crew Leader
This is Lily’s 9th and final show at Batavia High School. Since moving here in sophomore year, she has been an active member of BHS’s Drama Program. She would like to thank all of the people who work behind the scenes to help bring the show to stage, as well as the cast. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Crew
Crew/Props Team
Tatj is a senior and is glad to be involved in her 11th and final show her at BHS. She would like to thank Mr Casburn, Mr Cattero, Joe, Mike, Heather, and Adam for all they’ve taught her. She would also like to thank her friends, family, and all those involved with the shows for the constant support they’ve shown to her and this program. She hopes you enjoy the show with its amazing set and talented cast and hopes you continue to come see the amazing productions that BHS theater creates. Good luck next year guys!
Crew
Claire is a junior and a crew member in this year’s spring play. This is her third show as a stage crew member and she is very excited to be a part of it! She had been interested to learn the behind the scenes work that goes into shows backstage and loved her time in stage crew for Pride and Prejudice, Mean Girls and Frankenstein! She plans to continue to be a part of the stage crew in future productions whenever she can. She wishes everyone the best of luck and hopes you enjoy the show!
Crew
Crew
Michael is a freshman at BHS and this is his first production ever! He is excited to be part of the crew and hopes you enjoy the show.
Crew
Crew
Crew and Props Master
Sarrinah Iqbal is thrilled to be working behind the scenes for this year’s spring play, A Wrinkle in Time! She is a sophomore in high school with this being her third show as Props Master. She has previously worked with crew on shows such as Mean Girls and Songs for a New World. She can’t wait for you to come and see the show!
Crew
Crew
Julia Daugherty is a sophomore and this is her first time working in crew at BHS. She is having so much fun working with crew and hopes to do more shows with crew in the future. Enjoy the show!
Crew
Alia Khan is a sophomore at BHS, and this is her fourth production with the Batavia Drama Program. She is very overjoyed for everyone to see the play, as well as for everyone preforming.
Crew
Cast
Cast
Victor Frankenstein
Drew is thrilled to be ending his senior year with the self-proclaimed highlight of his career! He hopes you enjoy the insanity, and thanks everyone involved for the opportunity, including his director!
Cast
Mary Shelley
Kate Streepey is a senior at Batavia High School. This is her 11th, and final, show at BHS. She would like to thank everyone who has supported her throughout the past 4 years, and hopes everyone enjoys the show.
Cast
M
After four years of high school theater at BHS, Matthew is clocking out. He thanks you all for being apart of his theater journey.
Cast
Elisabeth
Erin is senior performing in her seventh show here at BHS. She is thrilled to be playing Elizabeth Frankenstein and can’t wait for everyone to see this show come to life! Erin would like to thank her family for their endless support as well as the amazing cast and crew who have worked so hard on this show!
Cast
Percy Shelley/Felix de Lacey
Cast
Henry
Cast
Sampson Bendis
Cast
Ethel Bendis
Cast
Safie de Lacey/Midwife/Gravedigger
Cast
Grandmother De Lacy
Beth is thrilled to be a part of her fifth and final show at BHS! Beth is a senior and has been dancing for eleven years. She is so happy to be a part of The Monster: A Frankenstein Tale and has made so many great memories along the way. She would like to thank her family and friends who have encouraged her along the way. She hopes you enjoy Frankenstein!
Cast
Father/Old Man with Cane
Lane Is a Junior and Is glad to be a part of “A Wrinkle In Time”. His past shows include Songs For A New World, The Monster: A Frankenstein Tale, And Mean Girls. This is his Sixth show with the BHS Drama Program, and is happy to make an Impact on Drama Program and BHS. he’d like to dedicate his performance to his supporters and hope you enjoy the show!
Cast
Justine
Cast
Nun
Cast
Lord Byron/Sheriff
TJ Cleckner is a Sophomore at Batavia High School and has done multiple shows here. Including Mean Girls and Frankinestien. He is also a part of the school improv team But Seriously, Folks. He is very exited to be in the Odd Couple and can not wait for everyone to see it. He is very grateful for this opportunity and the support he has been given along the way.
Cast
Sheriff's Wife
Joy Mamminga is a Sophomore at BHS, and this is her fourth high school school production! She is also apart of But Seriously Folks Improv troupe, and Swingsingers. She would like to thank her amazing family for supporting her through everything, her fabulous directors for all the dedication they have put into the show, her amazing friends for always having her back, and her wonderful cast mates for making the show awesome! She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!
Cast
Jealous Scientist/Woodcutter/Doctor
Jayden is very excited about his last show at the high school. He is very proud to be an ensemble member, as the ensemble is what makes this show what it is. He thanks his friends and family and hopes the show changes you in a good way!
Cast
John Polidori/Scientist
Peter Angelini (Billy/Ensemble) – Peter is a sophomore. This is his 4th show at Batavia High School. Peter has been in theater since he was 8. He has been in Pan Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, Mean Girls, Kodachrome, and Frankenstein. He is very excited to be able to, once again, have fun performing on the big stage. He is very grateful to have such a great theater program And is very excited to see what it brings in the future.
Cast
Bride of Frankenstein/Villager
Lia Woods (aunt beast) Lia is a sophomore at Batavia High School and is very excited to part of this year’s play. Her favorite past show has been Heathers (Heather McNamara). She is also a member of the drama club, Swingsingers and Chromatics. Her other hobbies include drawing, reading, and hanging out with her friends. She would like to thank her family for coming to every show and always supporting her, as well as the amazing directors and cast of A Wrinkle in Time.
Cast
Madame Bawr
This is Julia’s 10th and final production at Batavia High School! While she is sad to see it come to an end, she’s so grateful to be ending with A Wrinkle In Time. She would like to thank Mr. Casburn, STAGE, and the stage managers for making this production come to life, as well as her family and friends for their continued support.
Cast
Bloodthirsty Old Lady
Mac Leathers is a senior in high school and is very excited to be in this show! This is Mac’s last show with BHS and they are so grateful to have had this chance to perform. They would like to thank their friends, director, and family for making these last four years a great experience. Finally, they would like to thank the audience for coming to see the show and hope that you enjoy it!
Assistant Director
Clarice
Mimi is a junior at BHS and is very excited for this year’s winter production. She’s been in 42nd Street and Mean Girls as a crew member and Pride and Prejudice (Kitty), Kodachrome (EMT), and Frankenstein (Clarice) as an actor. This is her first production as an assistant director and she is very proud of all the work that went into this show on and off stage and it has been a wonderful experience! In her third year with the BHS Drama Program, she hopes to keep making great memories with her fellow students. She would also like to thank all the adults that are part of the production taking time out their day to help the students make a great show!
Cast
Ada
This is Charlotte’s ninth show here at BHS and she is so excited to share this unique and magical show with you! She’d like to thank the cast, crew, STAGE, and the many other wonderful people who helped make this show amazing. She hopes you love watching A Wrinkle In Time just as much as she’s loved being in it!!!!
Cast
Claire Clairmont
Cast
Artist Daughter/Villager
Sophia Jech is a senior at Batavia High School. She is so excited to play Meg and act in her 10th show at the high school. Sophia has loved getting to perform with the other actors and help from crew and wants to thank all of the wonderful students , parents, and other people who make these shows happen. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Cast
Hettie/Scared Lady
Cast
Tough Lady
Sydney Mowen is seizing her 4th production opportunity and couldn’t be more thrilled. She has been a crew member twice and is ecstatic to be a cast member for “A Wrinkle In Time”. She hopes you enjoy the production as much as she enjoys being part of this incredible cast!
Cast
Intense Lady
Milo Heath – Milo has been in theatre and productions since 2021. From Paulette in Legally Blonde Jr, Shane Grey in Camp Rock to Santa in Elf Jr. This will be her first production with BHS and she is really excited. She wants to thank her family for always supporting her and her friends and teachers.
Cast
Villager
Gwen Elftmann(Ensemble): Gwen is a freshman at BHS and is so excited to be in A Wrinkle in Time! She has been in shows such as Songs for A New World, Shrek Jr., The Lightning Thief Jr., A Little Mermaid Jr., A Wizard of Oz Jr., Aladdin Jr., and more! She is so thankful to the directors and BHS for making this show possible! She is also thankful to her friends and family for supporting her along the way!
Cast
Villager
Cast
Villager
Cast
Villager
Cast
Villager
Artistic Team
Joshua Casburn is honored to be the director of such an amazing cast. Joshua attended Wheaton College and earned a BA in Communications: Theater, and a BA in English. At Wheaton, he was proud to be part of the“Workout” theatre troupe, as it had a profound influence on him artistically. After college, he and other “Workout” alums developed their own theater, Spendrift Theater Company, based out of Glen Ellyn, IL. Mr. Casburn has directed many plays at BHS. Some of his recent directing credits at BHS include productions of Animal Farm, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Casburn also has experience producing films. He won “Best Picture” and “Best Screenplay” at the Wheaton College Class Film Festival. He spent some time in Hollywood at the Act One Screenwriting program and has also studied screenwriting in Chicago. He also has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University, and teaches Creative Writing, Theater Arts, and Film as Literature at BHS. His teaching and artistic endeavors are extensions of his most important, most fulfilling job: being a husband to his AMAZING wife Heidi, and a father to four wonderful kids: Hailey, Logan, Elise, and Brendan. “I’m so proud and blessed to have worked with all of these talented young students.
Assistant Director
Assistant Director & Helga
Hailey Adams cannot believe this is her last show! After joining the program in her junior year, she has been overjoyed with all the opportunities given to her. She has loved not only being a part of Frankenstein as cast, but has loved assistant directing her second show. She has loved being a part of the process of the show and can not wait to perform it. Hailey wants to give a big thank you to everyone that is a part of the show, and especially a big thank you to Casburn for allowing her to be his assistant director for two shows!
Joseph Andersen
Technical Director
Mike Baglieri
Lighting Designer
Heather Johnson
Audio Engineer
Sponsors
