Synopsis:

In 1871, a poor tramp from Prussia runs afoul of the authorities for whistling the French national anthem in the German-controlled region of Alsace-Lorraine.  Fleeing on a steamer across the Atlantic, he settles in Hamburg, NY, to encounter the art that his whole life has been preparing him for.

The Whistling Mortician was written and directed by Jon Froehlich, and is based on the true story of an unrelated fellow who happens to share the same last name. It is written for 8 performers to play multiple characters; and its only set and props consists of costumes, some sticks, and 12 vaguely coffin-shaped foam-core panels.

Performance History:

The Whistling Mortician premiered in July 2012 as the flagship production of IATI Theatre’s 5th annual Performing Arts Marathon in New York City. In April 2013 it toured to Concord, MA as part of the Shadow & Light Festival, and to the Baltimore Theatre Project in Baltimore MD in September of 2013.

Cast:

Music Hall Barker/American Sailor/Ensemble: Michael Buffer (NY, MA), Noah Schultz (MD)

Town Crier/Frog Chorus/Ensemble: Amanda Boekelheide (NY, MA, MD)

The Recurring Youth/Ensemble: Natalia Miranda Guzman (NY), Jensen Olaya (MA, MD)

Commanding Officer/Frog Chorus/Ensemble: Jenny Tibbels (NY), Liz Eckert (MA, MD)

Ellis Island Clerk/German Corpse/Ensemble: Casey Robinson (NY), Marty Keiser (MA, MD)

Mayor/French Corpse/Ensemble: Dan Levitt (NY), Raife Baker (MA), John Garrett Greer (MD)

Mr. Freeman/Ensemble: Eddie Ray Jackson (NY), Casey Robinson (MA, MD)

H.F., the Whistling Mortician: Jon Froehlich (NY, MA, MD)

Crew:

Directed by Jon Froehlich, in collaboration with the ensemble

NY: Kat Purcell (Stage Management, Light Design), Gil Sperling (Supertitles and Projections), Mariel Marelli (Assistant Stage Management, Production Assistance), Susan Hyon (Production Management)

MA: Kat Purcell (Stage Management, Light Design), Allene Riley Kussin (Festival Organizer), Susan Hyon (Production Management)

MD: Nathan Darrow (Light Design), Susan Hyon (Production Management)

And special thanks to our donors, who made each production possible.