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?

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The Meowing Nuns marked 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 offered a slight departure to the more humurous and adventuring nature of past Shackleton's works, this was a darker piece offering a deep reflection on the mentality of men and the factors that can cause their descent into violent attitudes to women. Park Lytle reflected 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.

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Joining Hunter and Park were long time collaborators. Karo Dzhgalian returned 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, also be returned to Shackleton. While actors Eva Hendricks and Christopher Martin had not yet acted with Shackleton Theatrics, but were 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 Zeusso and Josephine Nunez made their Shackleton debuts though they have been long time friends of Park Lytle and Hunter Abal.

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

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The Meowing Nuns opened March 6th at the Whitmore Theatre in North Hollywood, the sow proved to be a criticall success with each performance selling out.