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Welcome

Welcome to a Halloween haunting you will never forget! Superstition, ghosts, and secrets all feature heavily in Shakespeare’s plays which makes Paranormal Activity a perfect expression of the connection between the Bard and the contemporary works. Later in our season and written over 400 years ago, Hamlet sees the most famous dramatic ghost of them all take the stage. This makes it particularly exciting for us to welcome the partnership of Chicago’s Levi Holloway and immersive theater pioneer Felix Barrett as we bring a new ghost into the world of the living.

Real fear is always generated when you see one thing that suddenly becomes another and in Paranormal Activity all the things you believed about the physical universe are turned upside down. Cinema gives us surprise through mostly stunning and enormously impressive special effects, but you can never quite escape the power of live storytelling when you sit in a theater and try to process what seems to be happening for real in front of your eyes. This North American premiere celebrates the power of the live theatrical experience. Levi’s skill as a playwright combined with Felix’s appetite for theatrical innovation promises another transformative experience at CST.

Thank you for being here and hold onto your seats…

EDWARD HALL
Artistic Director

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Chair

KIMBERLY MOTES
Executive Director

by special arrangement with PARAMOUNT PICTURES and MELTING POT
In co-production with CENTER THEATRE GROUP,
 SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY and AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER

presents

Paranormal Activity

Written by LEVI HOLLOWAY
Directed by FELIX BARRETT
Restaged by LEVI HOLLOWAY

Based on the Paranormal Activity films, first written and directed by Oren Peli and brought to the screen by Blumhouse and Solana Films.
TM & © 2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Lead Production Sponsor

Audience Notice: RATED R for disturbing content and horror. Features loud noises, sudden darkness, and stage blood.

If we can help accommodate you during your visit, please speak with our House Manager.
For your safety, we ask that you keep aisles and doorways clear.
Please refrain from taking photos and videos during the performance.

Cast

Creative Team


Camille Etchart

UK Associate Scenic Designer

Frank McCullough

US Associate Scenic Designer

Stephen Carmody

US Assistant Scenic Designer

Lianne Arnold

US Associate Video Designer

Daniel Weissglass

Associate Illusions Designer

Skylar Fox

Illusions Consultant

Abby May

US Associate Lighting Designer

Will Pickens

US Associate Sound Designer

what IF we Productions | Luke Ricca, Jonathan Cottle

Co-Production Technical Supervisor

Emma W. Lipson

Production Assistant

RUN CREW*

Run Crew Kat Taylor

SCENERY*

Carpenter Danny Carraher
Carpenter Reese Sheldahl
Carpenter Nicholas Thomas
Carpenter Aubrey Pierce
Carpenter Anthony Doyle
Carpenter James Doolittle
Carpenter Kieran O’Connor
Carpenter Kendra Luedke
Carpenter Aaron Ford

COSTUMES*

Costume Crafts Madeline Felauer 

 LIGHTING*

Electrician Alex Branka
Electrician Emily Brown
Electrician Lea Davis
Electrician Garvin van Dernoot
Electrician Noah Elman
Electrician Elliot Hubiak
Electrician Avery Spellmeyer
Electrician Jonah White

SOUND*

A1 Sarah Ortiz
A2 Angela Baldasare

PROPERTIES*

Properties Artisan Michael George
Properties Artisan Sara Grose
Properties Artisan Katie Novak
Properties Artisan Claire Rockwell

HAIR & MAKEUP*

Hair & Makeup Attendant Anna Gorsuch Hair & Makeup Attendant Cover Cathryn Bulicek

 

* Denotes overhires for production. View our full staff listing on our Staff Page here. 

a video camera

THE MAKING OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: FROM LOW‑BUDGET INDIE FILM TO INTERNATIONAL SENSATION

Writer, producer, and director Oren Peli shot Paranormal Activity with a home video camera over the course of only seven days at his San Diego home in 2006.

When Paramount Pictures initially acquired the film, they wanted to entirely reproduce it with a much larger budget. Peli convinced them to test out the original movie with audiences first, and it got such great reactions that they decided against it. The movie’s marketing approach was unusual but highly effective—instead of sharing a trailer, they set up cameras in theaters and shared clips of how terrified audiences were while watching it.

Paranormal Activity is one of the most profitable movies ever made because of its low production cost, grossing $193.4 million on a reported $15,000 budget.

THE CREATIVE MINDS MAKING YOU JUMP OUT OF YOUR SEATS

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SPIRITS?

THE CREATIVE MINDS MAKING YOU JUMP OUT OF YOUR SEATS

“…the one thing that we talked about on that first conversation was, for me, certainly the potency of the film, it is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but the one thing it does extremely skillfully is restraint. It’s very domestic, it’s very plausible. It’s very real. It was made on an absolute shoestring. But the way that it really plays its hand slowly, escalates, escalates, and suddenly it saves itself for its last six seconds and then suddenly it deploys CGI. And, as a sort of structure, we just found that so fascinating and it felt like that was a really good thing to adhere to. How do you…it would be so easy to be schlocky and to be over the top, but we knew that we wanted to actually find the plausibility and the truth…what if that was actually really happening? What would that feel like?”

—Felix Barrett, in an artistic conversation with Levi Holloway

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SPIRITS?

Does the name Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sound familiar? You might recognize him as the famous author of the beloved Sherlock Holmes series, but did you know he also holds a prominent place in the history of the spiritualist movement? The Spiritualist movement emerged in the 19th century as a belief that—through mediums, seances, and Ouija boards—living humans could speak with the dead. After the death of his wife, son, and nephew, Doyle became obsessed with finding ways to communicate with the dead. He dedicated fourteen years of his life to researching and attending spiritualist conferences around the world, and even thought that it was “the most important thing in the world.” Before he died, he proclaimed that he would prove the existence of spirits by ringing a bell at his own funeral. On July 13, 1930, around six thousand people filled London’s Royal Albert Hall to attend Doyle’s funeral with one burning question: would his spirit appear? Although the bell did not ring, Doyle’s biggest impact on the world of spiritualism was ultimately his staunch belief in it.

Does the name Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sound familiar? You might recognize him as the famous author of the beloved Sherlock Holmes series, but did you know he also holds a prominent place in the history of the spiritualist movement?

The Spiritualist movement emerged in the 19th century as a belief that—through mediums, seances, and Ouija boards—living humans could speak with the dead. After the death of his wife, son, and nephew, Doyle became obsessed with finding ways to communicate with the dead. He dedicated fourteen years of his life to researching and attending spiritualist conferences around the world, and even thought that it was “the most important thing in the world.” Before he died, he proclaimed that he would prove the existence of spirits by ringing a bell at his own funeral. On July 13, 1930, around six thousand people filled London’s Royal Albert Hall to attend Doyle’s funeral with one burning question: would his spirit appear? Although the bell did not ring, Doyle’s biggest impact on the world of spiritualism was ultimately his staunch belief in it.

THE HAUNTING CONTINUES…

This North American premiere of Paranormal Activity is sweeping the nation with engagements at our co-producing partner theaters through March 2026. Spread the horror—if you dare.

CENTER THEATRE GROUP
Los Angeles, CA | Nov 13‑Dec 7, 2025

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY
Washington, DC | Jan 28‑Feb 7, 2026

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER
San Francisco, CA | Feb 19‑Mar 15, 2026

SEASON SPONSORS

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to recognize the sustaining partnership of our Season Sponsors,
whose visionary support ensures that we live out our artistic mission for audiences today and for generations to come.

SEASON SPONSORS

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to recognize the sustaining partnership of our Season Sponsors, whose visionary support ensures that we live out our artistic mission for audiences today and for generations to come.

The Grainger Foundation

The Jentes Family

Ray and Judy McCaskey

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

Burton X. and Sheli Z. Rosenberg

The Segal Family

Carl and Marilynn Thoma

Chicago Shakespeare productions are made possible in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 

Chicago Shakespeare is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization of non-profit theaters; Shakespeare Theatre Association; Arts Alliance Illinois; the League of Chicago Theatres; and Ingenuity, Inc.   

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 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   

This production is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

Pain In My Heart performed by Otis Redding
Written By Naomi Neville
Published by BMG Platinum Song US (BMI) obo Arc Music Corp (BMI)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

JUST performed by Radiohead
By PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE, Jonathan Greenwood, COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD and EDWARD JOHN O’BRIEN
WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC LTD (PRS)
All rights administered by WC Music Corp.

About Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST)

Our Mission

To create vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world.

Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare.

Our Vision

We deliver excellent, powerful, life-changing theater that challenges our preconceptions of everything. We are an open and inspiring destination to meet, talk, and share experience through community and live performance that is available to everyone. We build a better future with those who watch, work, create, and participate.

Our Story

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation’s largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient engages nearly a quarter of a million people through more than 12 productions each year. Shakespeare is at the heart of the artistic work, illuminating the playwright as a modern writer for our modern world. CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh artistic voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as a presenter of international theater and producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. For nearly four decades, CST has distinguished itself with a spirit of innovation, dynamism, and ambitious vision.

More About Us

Our Team

The thrilling work on our stages would not be possible without our visionary leadership, talented team of theater professionals, and dedicated Board of Directors.

Our Supporters

Chicago Shakespeare gratefully recognizes the gifts and partnerships provided by our hundreds of individual donors and institutions in our digital donor listing.

Our Education Programs

We are committed to providing access to high quality, culturally responsive arts education, and fostering a love for lifelong learning through innovative programming.