The Vitagraph Story: A multimedia play about three scrappy artists and a daring entrepreneur whose talent and vision gave rise to the motion picture industry in America
by Nellie Perera and Nina Wise
Directed by Nina Wise
Performed by Dylan Freedman*, Michael Jay Henry*, Emily Jackoway*, Ed Gonzalez Moreno*
Projection Design by Camilla Tassi
Lighting Design by Emmanuel Delgado
Scenic & Costume Design by Kristina Fosmire
Foley by Gavin Hecker
Stage Management by Patricia Roques*
Piano by Ned Ginsburg
Sound Engineering by Eduardo Resendiz & Katherin Salinas
Produced by Nellie Perera
*Actors and Stage Manager courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association
The story of J. Stuart Blackton, Albert E. Smith, Pop Rock and Florence Turner is an iconic origin tale of outsiders shaping a new technology that conquers the world.
Utilizing historical sources, immersive projections, live music and sound, The Vitagraph Story brings to life these revolutionary artists whose discoveries continue to impact the daily lives of billions of people.
Join us as we celebrate the spirit of adventure, creativity, and ambition that defined the original Golden Age of cinema.
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(L to R) William “Pop” Rock, J Stuart Blackton, Albert E Smith and Florence Turner
Stage Projection
About the Production
The Vitagraph Story is a multimedia play that brings to life the fascinating tale of the origins of early cinema in New York City through the lens of a pioneering studio and its celebrated star, Florence Turner.
This devised theater piece weaves together live performance with archival films and stills and original projection design to offer a captivating exploration of the intersection between innovation, artistry, and popular entertainment in the silent film era.
The script, performed by four actors playing multiple roles, is derived from a trove of historical data including primary source interviews with Smith, Blackton, Pop Rock and Florence Turner. Part 1, the story of these historical figures on the rise — each talented, ambitious, and determined to shape an explosively influential and lucrative entertainment medium — is the stuff of epic storytelling. We are thrilled to give life to this nearly forgotten chapter in film history.