The Meowing Nuns

In 14th Century France, a convent has begun to erupt in a strange bellowing meow every night. With growing pressure from the superstitious neighbors, the ruling Count is forced to send two priests to investigate for Satanic influence. The hardened Father Raoul seeks only to punish the nuns for their strangeness, while Brother Thomas hopes a rational answer will spare the nuns from divine fury. It will not be so simple for either priest, deeper concepts have been unearthed by the inhabiting nuns while the lingering presence of the deceased Mother Vivienne begins to drive Thomas to sin. In a house where the fundamental aspects of living have been challenged, Thomas must try to look through the madness and find the answer to his investigation. Why have the nuns begun to meow?

​​

The Meowing Nuns will mark the third Shackleton Theatrics production written by its Lead Producer Park Lytle, as well as the third collaboration between Park Lytle and Hunter Mahmoud Abal under the Shackleton Theatrics Umbrella. The Meowing Nuns will offer a slight departure to the more humurous and adventuring nature of past Shackleton works, this is a darker piece offers a deep reflection on the mentality of men and the factors that can cause their descent into violent attitudes to women. Park Lytle reflects on his own past and struggles with masculinity in his life, creating a fable that mirrors the descent of his own life and our current society.

​

Joining Hunter and Park are long time collaborators. Karo Dzhgalian will be returning as Brother Thomas, his first role with Shackleton Theatrics since his debut in The Dictator. Alexandra Tejada and Savannah Coyne, who made their Shackleton debuts in Emily Sombra in the Land of Phobos, will also be returning to Shackleton. While actors Eva Hendricks and Christopher Martin have not yet acted with Shackleton Theatrics, they are long time collaborators with Park Lytle and Hunter Abal, having both performed in Hunter's CalArts productions of Herakles and Danton's Death, both of which were produced by Park Lytle. Actors David Blindauer and Josephine Nunez will both be making their Shackleton debuts though they have been long time friends.

​

On the creative end, The Meowing Nuns has assembled perhaps the strongest design team to date. Long time collaborators Jonathan Flikkie and Ashley Kae Snyder will be returning to create the inspiring soundscape and period accurate costumes, while former Shackleton video designer Grace Hlavacek will be making her debut as a scenic designer for Shackleton Theatrics. Alejandro Melendez, another long time collaborator of Park and Hunter's will be making his Shackleton debut after having to unfortunately leave the production of Lands due to scheduling conflicts.

​

The Meowing Nuns will open March 6th at the Whitmore Theatre in North Hollywood, tickets are already on sale and can be accessed on the ticketing page of the Shackleton Theatrics website. Be sure to get your ticket soon, and remember, nothing is born sinful...