About Masque of the Red Death

 Launching on the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the Covid-19 shutdown, March 13, 2020, the Nordhoff Theatre Arts Department welcomes the audience back for a modern adaptation of the classic horror tale of a pandemic gone wrong. The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe. First, written in 1842, Poe told the story of a mad Prince Prospero attempting to hide from a dangerous plague known as the Red Death in a luxurious abbey with a select group of friends and threw a costume party while all around them, the world was dying.  The short story was adapted by George Lothar and has now been further adapted by John Hoj. This production stars Chiya Newman, Eric Georgopoulos, Sophie Massey, Mischa Brant, Lauren Tivy, and Evelyn Clerou.

The Nordhoff High School Theatre Arts Department is proud to present an original radio production (with visuals) of an adaption of The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe. In the interim, it was decided to focus our return on voice acting in the original distance learning entertainment platform which is a radio broadcast. We hope that you enjoy the first in a series of radio style broadcasts that merge modern technology with this most original of American art forms. 

"The word masque as you should know is spelled M-A-S-Q-U-E, as in masquerade.  And to begin this particular masquerade, I’m going to ask you to join me in a huge, modern house on the top of a hill that looks down upon a valley that sweeps out to the sea.  We’re in a vast living area, one wall of which is made of tempered glass, through which you can see miles and miles of the landscape far below. There are others in the living room with us. Including the billionaire owner of this luxurious estate. That tall man, over there, dressed in jeans and a hoodie."


Nordhoff Theatre Arts

The World Famous Nordhoff Theatre Arts performs in the intimate Nordhoff Black Box in Room B-4 on the Nordhoff High School Campus as well staging larger productions in the Nordhoff Cafe Stage and at the Matilija Auditorium at Matilija Junior High School. THIS YEAR OUR PRODUCTION SEASON WILL BE CENTERED ON STUDENT ADAPTATION TO REMOTE AND VIRTUAL THEATRICAL STAGINGS OF CLASSICAL AND ORIGINAL WORK. 

Nordhoff Theatre Arts plays full out and is totally committed to supporting and creating opportunities for students to participate in the world of theatre now and in the future. Nordhoff is dedicated to providing training and access to student productions, competitions, adjudications, plays, musicals, and showcases that expose students to a variety of disciplines in the performing arts. Our students have been accepted into the following universities to pursue theatrical training. UCSB, UCLA, UCSD, UC Berkeley, Cal State Long Beach, Cal Arts, Moorpark College, Santa Barbara City College, and Ventura College to name just a few.