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Reading Frankenstein / Annie Loui, Antoinette LaFarge, James Fallon
May 30 - June 1, 2002
In this workshop performance, a scientist named Mary Shelley discovers that one of her failed experiments is running amok in her laboratory; at the same time as the novel "Frankenstein" is haunting her imagination. Using layered digital projections, brain imaging and a virtual monster interacting with a live human actor, "Reading Frankenstein" examines the ethical repercussions of scientific research from the monster's point of view. The work-in-progress also investigates the physical and cultural dimensions of reading. The 30-minute performance will be followed by a 30-minute discussion led by the creators of the piece.
"Reading Frankenstein" is an innovative collaboration between Annie Loui, associate professor of drama, and Antoinette LaFarge, assistant professor of studio art, from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, and neurobiologist James Fallon, professor of anatomy and neurobiology at the UCI College of Medicine. This half-hour workshop performance represents an early stage in the development of the full piece and provides an uncommon inside glimpse into a cross- disciplinary creative process as it unfolds. The workshop performance is sponsored by the Beall Center for Art and Technology and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Additional support was provided by the UC Institute for Research in the Arts and by the UCI Council on Research, Computing, and Library Resources through a multi-investigator faculty research grant.
The Creative Team
- Annie Loui - Co-creator/Director
- Antoinette LaFarge - Co-creator/Projection Artist
- Dr. James Fallon - Scientific Consultant
- Lonnie Alcaraz - Production Manager/Lighting Designer
- Cat Hegdale - Associate Lighting Designer
- Ben Israel - Sound Designer
- Elizabeth Cox - Costume Consultant
- Dudley Knight - Vocal Coach
The Actors
- Ailene King - Mary Shelly
- Noel Iribe - The Monster
- Dudley Knight - Newscaster
- Dr. James Fallon - himself
Additional Visuals
- Scene 1: Text animation - Grant van Zevern
- Scene 3: Behavior, EEG recordings - Dr. Yi Jin, Dept Psychiatry and Human Behavior, UCI College of Medicine
- Scene 4: Storybook drawing- Jesslyn Lansanagan
- Scene 5: Video camerawork newscast- Jerome Thomas
- Scene 7: Pandora brain imaging- Cheryl A. Cotman, Jay B. Angevine, Kevin Head
- Scene 7: Spatiotemporal still- Cheryl A. Cotman, Linda Palmer, Laura Colgin, Gary Lynch, Ph.D.
Additional Technical Support
- Audio: Scott Collins, Sound Consultant and Installation
- Lighting: Ron Cargile, Electrics and Audio Supervisor
- Video: Jeff Baxter, System Consultant and Installation
- Project Manager: Indi McCarthy, Assistant Director of the Beall Center
Additional Sounds
- Interscene Soundscapes (rat brains): Cheryl A Cotman, Jean-Luc Cohen, Linda Palmer, Laura Colgin, Gary Lynch, Ph.D.
Crew
- Kellie Dunn: lighting board operator
- Lindsay Katai: slide operator
- AJ Libunao: real-time video rehearsal technician and switcher operator
- Joe Rojas: audio operator
- Heather Zeiden: assistant to the director, video
- Special thanks to Keith Bangs and his crew for installation and technical advice, and to Andrew Johnson for his fabrication skills.