Left to right: Abby Hanna, Amy West and Jess Martin.
Photo credit: Ben Barnhart
HOLYOKE — A unique perspective on the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Washington Irving, Emily Dickinson and others is coming to Holyoke through the marriage of original music, shadow puppetry and cinematography and special effects.
The group, known as Shadow, Sound, Spectacle, will be performing Literary Monsters on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St.
Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/yc56c8hw. T-shirts are also on sale.
The performance is a collaborative project of different pieces led by Northampton-based singer-songwriter Jess Martin, Boston puppeteer Amy West and musician/visual artist Abby Hanna, who is also Northampton-based.
The production seeks to reimagine iconic gothic figures like Frankenstein’s monster, Poe’s raven and the Headless Horseman, as symbols of resistance, transformation and queer identity.
It’s not only about monsters, but also about how local artists build momentum and bring new audiences into beloved Valley spaces, according to Martin.
Martin explained how the trio aims to bring different perspectives to the production with her songwriting and theatrical roots, West’s national puppetry work, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Hanna’s vibrant and emerging musical voice.
She stated, “The result is immersive storytelling that blends music, shadow puppetry and performance. I think we’re just really excited to weave the story of what is the monster in the song or this complicated sort of narrative that has a little bit of nuisance, and you know, who is the villain and maybe inspire the audience to question what does it mean to be the villain or to be the monster.”
The group will also be premiering its newest piece, “Headless.” Martin said she will also be presenting three new songs and the audience will have the chance to vote on which piece should be created into the next puppetry piece.
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle have gone from a little ensemble to a regional presence in just over a year. Since May, the trio have performed at breweries and libraries before upgrading to the Providence Fringe Festival, historic museums. They have gone from small showcases to a fall tour.
The fall tour will stop in Holyoke to showcase what the trio has been working on for months.
West talked about the journey so far and stated, “The past two years with Jess Martin and Abby Hanna have been a wonderful, inspiring, creative journey. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done to build Literary Monsters, and of how much each of us has grown in our artistic disciplines throughout this process. Wistariahurst Museum, especially at this time of year, is the perfect setting for our spooky shadow puppets and musical gothic tales.”
West also said she is excited for the special performance on Sept. 20, but also for their performances at the Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown on Sept. 13 and at the Indian Orchard Library on Oct. 15.
Hanna discussed how the museum space will enhance the trio’s performance and her visual aspects included in the pieces.
“I’m really grateful to have access to perform in a space like Wistariahurst,” Hanna said, “Our show is a really special blend of puppetry and music with a spooky theme, and the environment there is really fitting for that, especially in the fall. It’s been really fun to get to develop the show, which has been in development for over a year now, in spaces like this, and it’s one of the most unique performances I’ve been a part of.”
For future events and performances, readers can visit the calendar at jessmartin-music.com.
