Moorpark College student and seasoned actor Austin Miller excitedly waits to move his role in the upcoming production “Dark Heart of Poe” from the Elite Theater in Oxnard to the Simi Valley Cultural Art Center as the Halloween season begins.
Miller is reprising his role of the brooding Edgar Allan Poe for the third year in this production, which tells the story of Poe from his early age to the end of his life. The production tells the life of the famous literary figure through his journal entries from 1824 to 1849.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the show as a whole. Edgar Allen Poe is my favorite poet and so I’m just excited to see a show about him, his poems, and stories,” said Moorpark College student Sarah Cherney.
Director Andrew David James has been involved with over 17 theater productions including “A Christmas Carol,” “Of Mice and Men,” and “Guys and Dolls.” James has collected and intertwined Poe’s stories for this play, including “The Tell Tale Heart,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” and “The Raven.” Travis Winterstein, who plays a variation of Poe, works alongside Miller to create a spooky and spectacular production.
“This show has been one of the most complicated and rewarding shows I’ve done,” said Miller. “I’m most excited to move it to the Simi Cultural Arts Center, which is a less intimate space than the Elite and we’ll be getting a different audience.”
In addition to Miller’s countless roles such as Barry in “The Boys Next Door,” Jamie in “The Last Five Years,” and most recently Judas in “Godspell,” he is a regular on the Here! show, “From Here on Out.” Miller has been acting since the young age of eight, and since then has been working consistently with theater companies such as the Actors Repertory Theater of Simi and Young Artists 4 Ever.
Audiences can expect to see Miller’s methodic acting through his performance and even his overall look as Edgar Allan Poe.
“I want people to know, I don’t like my sideburns either, but it’s for the show,” said Miller. “I’ve been doing the hair and sideburn thing every year so maybe I’ll invest in a wig soon.”
Moorpark students are excitedly waiting for “Dark Heart of Poe” to open at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, running Oct. 23 through Nov. 1. Tickets are $10 for teachers and students. For more information, visit darkheartofpoe.com
