Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre presents:
Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
In this atmospheric-horror reimagining of “Doctor Faustus”, Christopher Marlowe’s tale of ambition and damnation is thrust into the heart of the American Great Depression. Set against a backdrop of economic despair, Faustus, a brilliant yet disillusioned academic, is lured by demonic Mephistopheles, who takes on the role of a “puppet master,” guiding him into deeper moral corruption.
With every sin, Faustus becomes more entangled in Mephistopheles’ sinister puppet show, his every movement dictated by the decaying world around him. As Faustus descends further, the line between reality and nightmare blurs, and the Seven Deadly Sins—sinister marionettes who were once human, now acting as the devil’s “hand”—emerge from the shadows, their twisted forms locked in eternal torment.
This immersive production blends Marlowe’s original text with chilling visuals, occult traditions, puppetry, sound, and movement to evoke a world on the brink. Through the lens of Depression-era America, where survival is a ruthless game, the struggle between Faust and Mephistopheles takes on a terrifying new resonance, exploring psychological horror and existential dread.
Performances will take place in the Staten Island Playhouse at Empire Outlets on the following dates:
Friday, May 9 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 10 – 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 11 – 2:00 pm
Friday, May 16 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 17 – 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 18 – 2:00 pm
