Hundreds of accusations and as many as 300 executions defined one of the wildest, and certainly the deadliest, episodes of witch hunting in English history. Known as the East Anglian witch trials, the terrifying mid 17th-century purge followed a period of social anxiety, economic hardship and political instability in Britain and provided the legal and procedural template for the Salem Witch Trials some 50 years later. A new book pairs that dark history with a modern-day gothic mystery, and the result is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, released just in time for Halloween. We talk to the St. Augustine author behind the book about exploring themes of female empowerment and social control across the centuries.
Guest: Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of A Time of Witches
Blood sport
When a fanatical mother and a terrifying telekinetic power fueled by rage pale in comparison to the horrors of high school, you know you’re talking about Carrie, the classic horror creation of novelist Stephen King. Transformed for the stage and molded into a musical, the show was initially a legendary flop, closing after just five regular performances on Broadway. The characters and songs were eventually reworked, however, and since then, the musical has become something of a cult classic — a perfect amuse bouche for pre-Halloween festivities, or as a post-election palate cleanser. We talk to two performers and the show’s executive director about the joys and challenges of tackling the especially sanguinary show.
Guests:
- Sadie Sims, portraying Carrie in Carrie: The Musical at The 5 & Dime Theatre
- Regina Torres, portraying Margaret White in Carrie: The Musical
- Denise Reagan, executive director, The 5 & Dime
Psychology of horror
The 2014 film The Babadook is widely considered one of the best psychological horror films of recent years, landing a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic opining that it should be “immortalized in the canon of horror cinema.” It also provides a perfect template for an upcoming film screening and Q&A discussion hosted by Jacksonville University. Moviegoers can participate in an after-screening conversation led by three university psychology professors reflecting on the film’s themes and how watching horror movies can help people process very real emotional experiences. The screening begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Gooding Auditorium at JU, with the discussion beginning around 7:30 p.m.
Guests:
- Nicole Iannone, professor of psychology, Jacksonville University
- Samuel Farmer, filmmaker, horror film enthusiast
Topics and guests subject to change.