| TERROR IN THE WALLS | ||
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A Theatrical Descent Into Madness |
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The Black Cat & The Tell-Tale Heart Drawn from the haunted imagination of Edgar Allan Poe, where darkness and sorrow dwell— Two cursed souls lay bare their tale: One haunted by the eye of judgment, the other by the claws of conscience. And within these walls as guilt breathes and shadows whisper, the mind slowly unravels... until nothing remains but madness and memory. |
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| Directed by John DeSotelle | ||
| A Nuance Theatre Co. Production | ||
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There is no intermission. Please refrain from texting and turn off your cell phone, photographic and other electronic devices that can disturb fellow audience members. Thank you for your cooperation. |
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* Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production. |
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Director's Notes
There is a strange intimacy in horror—especially the kind that lives not in the world around us, but in our own minds. Edgar Allan Poe did not simply write ghost stories or tales of terror. He cracked open the fragile shell of the human psyche and let us peer inside. What we find there—guilt, madness, obsession, the struggle to suppress unbearable truths—is far more frightening than any external monster.
In The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat, Poe presents us with characters who do not ask for our sympathy. They ask for our understanding—our belief. They are confident in their sanity even as they recount unspeakable acts. Their voices are smooth, measured, rational… until they aren’t. And that’s the terror: how close they remain to us, even as they descend into madness.
As director, my goal was not only to bring Poe’s chilling imagery to life but to explore the fragile line between sanity and delusion; to discover if the voice we trust most—our own—is the one that leads us astray?
Our creative team has leaned into the Gothic traditions of atmosphere, moral decay, and creeping dread. Every element—from the lighting to the sound to the silence between words—is designed to immerse you in a world where guilt has texture, where memory distorts reality, and where nothing can be hidden for long.
As you watch, listen closely. You may hear your own thoughts echoing back. You may discover that madness is not a scream in the dark, but a whisper that begins quietly inside. Poe doesn’t offer happy endings. But he does offer truth—raw and unsettling.
Thank you for joining us and thank you for daring to look into the dark.
John DeSotelle
Cast
Creative Team
John DeSotelle
Emily Keller
Brian McManimon
Giovanni Villari
Judith Feingold
Janice Orlandi
Company Bios
Jake Lesh*
JAKE LESH* is a New York-based actor, director, fight choreographer, and period styles coach. Recently, Lesh won the award for Best Acting at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival for his performance in "Made of Stars." His film work is also featured on Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime, and AppleTV. Lesh also has a deep history in performing on stage. In 2020, he originated the role of Suit in "Crossroads of the World," a standout performance in TATCO'S off-Broadway production of "Altered Minds." His theatrical journey spans over various regional theatres, playing the titular role of Cyrano de Bergerac at The Texas Shakespeare Festival. Proud member of the Actors Equity Association!
Dan Yaiullo
DANIEL YAIULLO is an actor and writer living in NYC. So far this year, he has appeared in The Chemistry Test at the Chain Theatre, Now Circa Then with Morningside Theater Company, The Moby Dick Blues at La MaMa, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at The Rat NYC, Sacco & Vanzetti Are Dead with Good Crack Productions, and now, The Tell-Tale Heart.
He stars in the series "Events at Hemlock Manor" and co-wrote and stars in "Nightfish," a comedy pilot which had its NYC premiere last year with the acclaimed festival Dances With Films. Other highlights include the Off-Broadway premiere of Eric Bogosian's 1+1 at SoHo Playhouse, Kenneth Branagh's Macbeth at Park Avenue Armory, "Gothic Slayers" (Apple TV, Amazon), and "The Food That Built America" (History Channel), in which he teaches Ben & Jerry how to make ice cream.
John DeSotelle
JOHN DESOTELLE is an Actor, Director and Educator, Executive Director of John DeSotelle Acting Studio and Artistic Director of Nuance Theatre Co. John DeSotelle is considered by many artists in the film and theater community to be one of the clearest and most in-depth instructors of the Meisner technique, and an inventive and original director possessing a brilliant eye for the actor’s process. DeSotelle has been involved in all aspects of the performing arts for more than 25 years training actors in New York and as a private acting coach on both coasts. He has been guest faculty at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ and a Senior Lecturer of the BFA Meisner Studio at University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA.
Select directing credits: Tennessee Williams: Auto-da-Fe and Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen, Chamber Music, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Rabbit Hole, Proof, Hamlet, Condemned, Awake and Sing!, Waiting for Lefty, and Raft of the Medusa.
He would like to thank his wonderful family, especially his wife, Deborah, for helping this crazy Studio and Theatre roller-coaster ride stay on track.
Emily Keller
Emily is a graduate of the two-year professional actor training program at John DeSotelle Studio, where she has also acquired experience in directing, producing and makeup artistry and works both on stage and in film. She also works as a behavior technician with autistic children.
Brian McManimon
Brian McManimon is a multidisciplinary production designer, director, and educator. He is the Theater Production Specialist at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights, the producer/directing mentor for Packer’s student theater company, and a frequent collaborator with the award-winning theatre program at Westford Academy Theater Arts, Nuance Theatre Company, and Forge Theatre Company.
Selected design credits: Bonnie & Clyde • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Regional Premiere - Fall ‘24) • Bitch Boxer (North American Premiere) • Matilda • Mean Girls • Puffs • Urinetown • Museum • Newsies • Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame • Spring Awakening.
Selected directing credits: By The Water • Secondary Ed • Metamorphoses • Peace by Piece (Festival Finalist) • Given: A Way (Festival Finalist) • It’s Not the Same With Girls (Festival Finalist) • Love You, Too • Sense of Direction • Snug, The Joiner (Festival Finalist) • Molting
Pace University (B.A.), Central Washington University (M.A.). Special thanks to JDS, DS, AS, ER, MLT, and his endlessly supportive friends and family.
Giovanni Villari
Giovanni Villari is a lighting and sound designer; actor; director; fight and stunt choreographer; set and multimedia designer; prop master; stage manager; technical director; and drama teacher. His work has been seen all over NYC and around Europe. He is thrilled to be a part of this production.
Judith Feingold
Judith Feingold is a Meisner trained, SAG-AFTRA eligible AEA actor, based in New York. She trained at Shakespeare & Co., and at the John DeSotelle Studio, where she serves as faculty. Jude is a Regional Emmy recipient, and a member of Nuance Theatre Company.
Janice Orlandi
Janice Orlandi is a Period Style & Movement Specialist, with expertise in Michael Chekhov, Psychophysical Techniques, and Character Transformation. She is a certified teacher in the Williamson Technique, Period Styles, Movement, Dance and Physical Dramaturgy.
Nuance Theatre Company
At a Nuance play, you can expect to see old treasures and modern drama with new eyes...we create in every work a particular, unexpected element of innovation to surprise, delight, illuminate and ignite your mind and heart; creating a world in which the life of the play, in all its subtlety and truth, can emerge.
THE IMPACT
In today's world, we're often isolated by the same technology which claims to "connect" us...that's why we at Nuance believe that there is more than ever to be gained in live theatre, and all of its raw, unfiltered humanity, its immediacy and its beautiful imperfections. Our greatest treasure is our imagination, our sincerest connection is storytelling...and today, there is true bravery in simply stepping into a theatre and giving yourself over to whatever happens on its stage, heart and all!
Nuance Theatre Company believes in fostering and launching young, talented designers and technicians early in their careers, as well as creating a thriving hub for actors, (both new and veteran performers), directors, playwrights, and other artistic creators.
Your patronage will keep our door always open for those with a story to tell.
Thank You
Special Thanks
The entire Nuance Theatre Co. team
JDS Meisner Students
Joshua Crowder, Elliot Gagne
Gui Pimentel and Brennan Boyle (Orderlies and Crew)
Noah Lowenstein, Sharon Zhu (Asst. Scenic Designer/Artist)
Nuance Theatre Co. has an incredible community of artists not only within its ranks, but also within the John DeSotelle Acting Studio who have volunteered in all aspects of the production from creation, build and crew to marketing and front of house — all vital activities that help make the performance run smoothly. It is a blessing to find such dedicated artists and we are exceedingly grateful to each and every one of them.
Finally, we would like to extend our deep appreciation to you, our patrons. Great theatre can be done in small spaces and there is a lot happening on the intimate and independent stages of New York. On behalf of the Nuance Theatre Co. we hope you will enjoy these exciting performances and experience the powerful work and evocative atmosphere within this unique and remarkable theatre.
Enjoy the show!
Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org
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