THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE TRAGIC LIFE AND TRIUMPHANT DEATH OF JULIA PASTRANA, THE UGLIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD
Performed entirely in the dark, Shaun Prendergast’s haunting play tells the entirely true story of sideshow freak Julia Pastrana, often billed as “The Ugliest Woman in the World.” A cast of 6 transforms The Brick into a travelling carnival, providing the sounds and smells (but not the sights!) of this tragic tale of the misshapen Mexican woman who died at 26 and was mummified by her manager/husband who continued to tour her dead body around the world. This tragic tale made the news in February 2013 when, inspired by a Texas production of this very play, advocates arranged for her body to be put to rest, over 150 years after her death.
Definitely not a radio play, this production is directed by Gyda Arber (Red Cloud Rising, Theater of the Arcade, Suspicious Package) and features a retro low-fi original score by Steve Sabaugh.
