Tales of Terror to be read by renowned actors

HACKETTSTOWN — Halloween is just around the corner and it is time to celebrate the Great Authors Out Loud Series with a ghostly collection of stories and poems. Renowned actors and directors Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso continue this free reading series at the Centenary Stage Company with Tales of Terror on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. in The Kutz Black Box Theatre.

This reading will include such classics as Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Tell-Tale Heart" and excerpts from Williams Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" and Bram Stoker’s "Dracula." Kim and Occhiogrosso will also feature a couple of eerie poems including "Dead Man's Hate" by Robert E. Howard — about a hanged man seeking revenge — and "The Elf King by Goethe" — about a young child assailed by the supernatural King of the Elves who lures him to his death — along with a few spooky surprises.

The Great Authors Series of free staged readings covers classics from some of the world’s greatest writers and will continue with Three French Farces on Feb. 9, and The Merchant of Venice on April 6. Each presentation is followed by a lively discussion with the audience and artists.

Together with Charles Bright, theatre luminaries Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso founded the classical American Players Theatre (APT) in Spring Green, Wisconsin in 1981, and have worked together for more than 35 years. Winner of the OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence, Kim began his early career with the legendary Joe Papp and the New York Public Theatre’s Shakespeare Festival, and continued to perform leading roles at some of America’s finest regional theatres. He has been seen on Broadway in "Flower Drum Song," "Golden Child" and "The King and I," but perhaps is most recognized as The Keymaker in the film "Matrix Reloaded," and the voice of Oogway in the DreamWorks’ animated film "Kung Fu Panda." Kim’s TV and film work includes the BBC Special "Prisoner in Time," "Anna and the King," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Ninja Assassin" and more.

Director Anne Occhiogrosso has received national recognition an acclaimed director, dramaturge, acting coach and actor, whose primary focus has been classical theatre with a special emphasis on the works of William Shakespeare. She has also taught at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the New York Shakespeare Festival and currently works with Classical Productions, Inc. where she coaches individuals in audition preparation, character development and script analysis for film, television and theater.

The Tales of Terror reading, sponsored by Fulton Bank, will be held Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Kutz Black Box Theatre in The Lackland Center at 715 Grand Avenue in Hackettstown. Admission is free, but reservations are requested by calling the CSC box office at 908-979-0900 or visit the website at centenarystageco.org.