—For Immediate Release

—For Immediate Release—

Contact: Denise Dorman, WriteBrain Media

Phone 24/7: 630.845.4694

Chilling Horror Classic to Debut at Chicago's Athenaeum Theater:

World Premiere of 'The Great God Pan'

CHICAGO, IL—January 14, 2008— On Sunday, February 24, 2008, WildClaw Theatre will perform the world stage premiere of one of horror history's most influential stories--Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan-- at Chicago's Athenaeum Theater. Considered one of the Victorian era's most controversial tales, Arthur Machen's decadent mixture of dark sensuality and horror provoked controversy and outrage when it was first published. The story has been credited with inspiring horror writers such as H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King and Peter Straub.

Adapted by its British director Charley Sherman, The Great God Pan tells the tale of a horrific experiment performed upon an innocent young woman, resulting in a trail of sex and bloodletting spanning generations and crossing many countries. (Sherman is renowned for adapting complicated tales to the stage; years ago, he and acclaimed actor Steve Pickering successfully co-adapted Clive Barker's 'In the Flesh' and 'Son of Celluloid' for the stage, as well as William Gibson's 'Burning Chrome.')

Sherman decided the time was right for a Chicago theatre dedicated to the genre of horror, and WildClaw Theatre was born. Explained Sherman, 'The success of In the Flesh proved to us that horror theatre attracts an audience transcending traditional theater goers. If you can have horror fiction and horror movies, why not horror theatre? That is one of the primary missions of WildClaw Theatre.' Concurred member Brian Amidei, 'By concentrating on the world of horror and the supernatural, we plan on attracting a new audience to live theatre--an audience craving strange journeys of dread, suspense and wonder. This audience currently does attend the theatre, because, simply, the theatre doesn't offer them anything.'

The Great God Pan, featuring Brian Amidei, Peter Corey, Ryan Dolan, James Eldrenkamp, Steve Hersen, Tom Hickey, J.D. Moeller, Lily Mojekwu, Michaela Petro, and Molly Reynolds, opens in Studio One of The Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport (at Lincoln and Wellington) on Sunday, February 24th at 7 p.m., and runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. until March 30th. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Athenaeum Theater (773) 935.6860. General public price is $20. For more information, please visit www.wildclawtheatre.org.

About WildClaw Theatre Company:

The WildClaw Theatre Company includes Anne Adams, Brian Amidei, Charlie Athanas, Aaron Christensen, Catie Foster, Paul Foster, Allison Greaves and Charley Sherman. The name WildClaw pays homage to their friend, the late, great Chicago actor, writer, and raconteur – the much loved and missed Ray Wild, otherwise known as "The Claw."

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