The Haunting Hour

Photo: Ryan Lugo/The Rider

The UTRGV Theater Department will open its season with a production of Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre on the Edinburg campus.

The story follows seven characters in a parapsychological experiment that takes place in a house, a character in and of itself. 

“This is a classic novel,” said Brian Warren, department of theater professor and director. “I realized that people in the Valley love Halloween. They’re always looking for … the scary, spooky feeling. … So, I just thought, ‘Let’s give them a taste of a haunted house.’”

Warren describes the house as an entity who is more alive than anything. 

“It’s a house that preys on the weak,” said Gerard Scot Johnson who portrays the character “Luke Sanderson.” “It’s this weird, absorbing force that wants to take you in and keep you forever.”

Johnson’s acting career at UTRGV has consisted of 10 productions, both main stage and student directed. Johnson graduated with a biology degree last spring, but is now a senior pursuing his post-baccalaureate in theater performance. 

“I was applying to medical school,” Johnson said. “I was on a specific route, but acting was something that had always interested me. [First], there were auditions for ‘Coriolanus.’ … I got a role. Then, right after that was ‘Red’ the same semester, which was just a two-man play–really intense. I called it my baptism by fire. After that, there was just no choice. This is just what I was going to do.”

“Luke Sanderson” is described as a comedic relief character. Johnson said he particularly identified with his character’s goofy nature. As the experiment progresses and the house begins to take effect on Luke, he finds himself becoming more serious. This intensity begins to take over the full cast as well. 

Ashley Cantu, a theater performance sophomore with a film studies minor, plays the protagonist “Eleanor Vance.” This is Cantu’s first role in a main stage production.

“‘Eleanor Vance’ has granted me an experience like no other,” Cantu said. “She has allowed me to be the lead in my first play at UTRGV. She took me through a journey I will never forget, especially with the many days and nights I spent reading the book and the play to understand her psyche. She is a fascinating and intense character. Trying to understand why she did certain things was challenging as we are incredibly different. Nevertheless, I thank her for the lesson she’s taught me: vulnerability is not a weakness and resilience is not a strength.”

“Eleanor Vance” is described as timid and mysterious. Despite their contrast from one another, Cantu found herself identifying most with the solitude of Eleanor.

Stage manager Karina Molina, theater performance senior, said she identified with the lead character’s isolated nature as well.

“I feel like everybody can resonate with [Eleanor] because she feels alone sometimes,” Molina said. “It’s very, ‘Who am I?’ During a rehearsal, I asked [my assistant stage managers], ‘What character do you all identify the most with?’ and we all said Eleanor.”

Molina said her role as the lead stage manager consists primarily of communication: speaking with actors and the production team, calling light cues, sound cues and actors’ entrances and exits. She said it is a demanding but rewarding job. 

“I really appreciate my role because actors are more comfortable talking to stage managers,” Molina said. “I really enjoy that my actors can trust me and can address anything to me. It makes me feel like I’m providing a safe enough space.”

She said she is proud of what has been accomplished with this production. Her goals are to put on a good show, do the department justice and to tell “Eleanor Vance’s” story. 

“I hope they see how hard everybody works,” Molina said. “ … You come to watch a show, and you see the finished product, and it seems seamless, but a lot of people go behind everything. It’s beautiful how these little different areas all come together and create this art. I hope people really appreciate the art.”

Emiliano Tamez, a theater senior with a concentration in film production, is the assistant stage manager. Tamez joined the department in Fall 2021 on a whim but quickly fell in love with the craft. 

A few of Tamez’s duties include being on book and calling out lines to actors, and noting light and sound cues. He said it is a job filled with multitasking.

“I’ve certainly learned a whole lot over these last two years,” Tamez said. “I’ve learned patience. Everything has a process.”

As far as the production process, Warren said the casting occurred last spring. Actors received scripts in the summer and rehearsals began at the start of the fall with table readings, character discussions and blocking.

“I want people to have a successful experience doing this, so that they feel like theater has this power and weight and they’ve been a part of it,” Warren said. “You feel that satisfaction of having created this art. There’s a lot to it–more than the acting–of course.”

Warren joined the department in 2002 and has directed over 40 plays since. His hope for the department is to have more people come to witness the new and seasoned talent.

“I want to thank Dr. Brian Warren for believing in me and allowing me to play such an incredible character,” Cantu said. “I’d also like to thank stage manager Karina Molina and assistant stage managers Juan Manuel Mendiola Jr. and Emiliano Tamez for keeping me afloat through this journey. Without them, I truly would not be able to do it. I’m unsure what the future holds for me, but I hope it’s just as enthralling as the time I spent working on ‘The Haunting of Hill House.’”

“The Haunting of Hill House” will run until Oct. 29. General Admission tickets are $17. Tickets for UTRGV students, faculty and staff are $7 with a valid ID.