Into the Shadows: A Midnight Dreary comes to Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

This fall, Washington audiences will once again descend into the shadowy imagination of Edgar Allan Poe when We Happy Few Productions brings A Midnight Dreary to the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Running October 29 through November 22, 2025, the production reimagines three of Poe’s most haunting tales—The Masque of the Red Death, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado—woven together by the author himself, who serves as narrator.

A Midnight Dreary presented by We Happy Few Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

Directed by Esteban Marmolejo-Suarez, the show plunges audiences into stories of obsession, revenge, and madness, offering a theatrical experience that is both chilling and immersive. Adapted by Kerry McGee, A Midnight Dreary uses only Poe’s words, layered with music, poetry, and movement to capture the gothic spirit that has kept his work alive for more than a century.

The cast features Rachel Dixon, Victor Salinas, Em German, Paige O’Malley, Andrew Quilpa, and Gillian Rydholm. Behind the scenes, Wendy Snow Walker leads production management, Mackenzie Wentela handles stage management, Jason Aufdem-Brinke designs the lighting, Jon Reynolds creates the scenic world, and Paige O’Malley provides costumes. The production also benefits from dramaturgy by Keith Hock and additional support from the We Happy Few creative team.

True to the company’s signature style, A Midnight Dreary is staged as a promenade performance, inviting audiences to move with the action and immerse themselves in the eerie atmosphere. Each ticket even comes with a drink for patrons 21 and over, ensuring that this hour-long journey into Poe’s mind is as spirited as it is unsettling.

Performances are scheduled Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with additional shows on opening night, Wednesday, October 29, and Monday, November 10. The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, located at 545 7th St SE, will once again serve as the venue, transforming its familiar space into a world of dread and dark beauty.

For those seeking an unforgettable night of gothic theatre, A Midnight Dreary offers a rare chance to encounter Poe’s tales in a way that is both faithful to his words and thrillingly alive on stage.