Puppet version of 'Frankenstein' hits Tucson stage Thursday

Chicago-based Manual Cinema‘s “Frankenstein” comes to Centennial Hall on Thursday, Oct. 26.

It’s a multimedia presentation that includes shadow puppetry, music, cinematic techniques and sound effects to tell a cautionary tale about how family, community and education can shape personhood.

It’s the third version of Mary Shelley’s 200-year-old novel to come to a Tucson stage this month.

Arts Express Theatre, Tucson’s leading musical theater youth training program, mounted the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ film “Young Frankenstein” from Sept. 29-0ct. 15 and Arizona Opera last weekend brought the world premiere of Gregg Kallor’s “Frankenstein” to the Temple of Music and Art.

Manual Cinema’s take on the gothic tale weaves together Shelley’s original story in a 65-minute performance that involves more than 400 puppets, overhead projection, live video and a “hauntingly beautiful score” performed live.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

“Frankenstein” was co-commissioned by Chicago’s Court Theatre and the University of California, Berkeley. It premiered in November 2018 and won the Jim Henson Workshop Grant that same year.

This is the second time we will see a Manual Cinema production. In December 2020, Arizona Arts Live was among a dozen presenters nationwide to host the streamed version of Manual Cinema’s pandemic-themed take on “A Christmas Tale.”

Arizona Arts Live is presenting “Frankenstein” at Centennial Hall, 2010 E. University Blvd. on the University of Arizona campus, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The show runs 65 minutes, and tickets are $10 for students and $39 for adults through arizonaartslive.com.