(Info from press release)Experience two of Edgar Allan Poe's tales of terror in total darkness. THEATRE OBSCURA LA Presents Poe: Pulse and Pendulum a Millet Creative Media Production. From Paul Millet, one of the creators of Wicked Lit, this unique production is LA's newest immersive theatrical experience: blindfolded in a dark space, buried by sound, as the unseen becomes unforgettable.
The two tales presented each night shall be Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, adapted by Paul Millet, directed by Gabrieal Griego and The Pit & the Pendulum, adapted & directed by Paul Millet. The Tell-Tale Heart stars Wicked Lit veterans Eric Keitel, Richard Large, Andrew Thacher as well as Andrew Villarreal. The Pit & the Pendulum stars in a shared role Wicked Lit veterans Joe Camareno and Melissa Lugo. The production's creative team includes art design and graphics by James Castle Stevens and sound design by Joseph "Sloe" Slawinski.
Poe: Pulse and Pendulum will be presented at The Count's Den in downtown LA (1039 S Olive St Los Angeles, CA 90015). There will be 12 performances only - March 20 - April 12, Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 8pm. Tickets are $60 + $3.86 service fee and available at: theatreobscurala.ludus.com/
Cast & creative bios
Paul Millet (Director - The Pit & the Pendulum) Paul is both a seasoned editor and an accomplished theatre producer and director with over 25 years of experience in both fields. As an editor, Paul has edited a wide array of projects ranging from documentaries and narrative projects to a series of concert films and presentation and sizzle reels. Currently he is on staff as an editor for the hit HGTV show House Hunters.
In the theatrical arena, Paul has produced and/or directed productions at a variety of venues all over Southern California. A partial list includes Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills, The Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica, The Road Theatre and the Eclectic Company Theatre in North Hollywood, the Arena Stage for the Arts and The Blank Theatre in Hollywood, The Chance Theater in Anaheim and the High Street Arts Center in Moorpark.
In 2008 Paul founded Unbound Productions with two partners and created Wicked Lit, History Lit and Mystery Lit. Under all three banners Paul directed 19 world premieres in a variety of alternative venues including Mountain View Mausoleum, in Altadena, The Fenyes Mansion in Pasadena, Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA and many others throughout the Los Angeles area. Paul is a proud member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Joe Camareno (The Recusant - The Pit & the Pendulum) Joe Camareno is a native of Los Angeles. He is a multi-award-winning producer, writer, director, producing partner, and co-owner of Brodiaea Pictures; previously with Celtino Entertainment Group (CEG). Joe was nominated for a 2019 Imagen Award in the Best Actor category for Tin Holiday, alongside Antonio Banderas, Andy Garcia, and Anthony Ramos.
As an actor, Joe has a career spanning over 30 years in front of the camera, having performed in more than 500 TV commercials and radio spots. He has guest-starred on many hit television shows like SWAT, The Shield, and Grey's Anatomy. Film roles include Alone Time, Expired, Tin Holiday, and Edith & Harvey.
His latest directed feature film, Tin Holiday, garnered multiple nominations and won Best Director, Best Comedy, and Best Story awards worldwide. Tin secured distribution with Here Media for on-demand showing on their Here TV network and for streaming on AppleTV, GooglePlay, Amazon Prime, and VUDU.
Joe's latest venture is a big-screen adaptation of John Mulhall's psychological thriller novel, Dark and Broken Things, which he is set to direct. He is proud to be part of Theatre Obscura's inaugural production.
Eric Keitel (Edward - The Tell-Tale Heart) Eric is thrilled to be reprising his role as Edward in this reimagined production, first with Wicked Lit, and now Theatre Obscura. A magna cum laude Theatre graduate of the Ohio State University, Eric has performed across the US and the globe, from The Bacchae in Scotland, to A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic, to dancing in an award winning "band" in Europe's largest street party, Notting Hill Carnival. Eric is frequently seen on LA stages, having performed in several dozen classic and contemporary plays, including a large number of site-specific shows like Wicked Lit, History Lit, Mystery Lit (Unbound Productions) and The Manor (Theatre 40). Other theatre favorites: Right, The Wisdom of Eve, Villainy ~ Or ~ H.H. Holmes' Own Story, Martians (Whitefire Theatre), Power & Light (Theatre 40), Fugue (Echo Theatre Co). Eric also works in tv (Franklin & Bash), film (Agent, Patriots), and video games (Throne and Liberty, Mr Love: Queen's Choice). He is a vegan activist, a classically trained singer, and a freelance photographer and is proud to have shot the inaugural photos for Theatre Obscura! Find him on Insta: @whoiserickeitel and @erickeitelphotography.
Richard Large (Stephen - The Tell-Tale Heart) Richard earned his BA in Theatre at CSULA and his MA at San Francisco State. A veteran of over 100 plays in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Favorite roles include Joe Keller in All My Sons, John Cleary in "The Subject Was Roses" Shotover in "Heartbreak House", Judge Brack in "Hedda Gabbler", Tobey Belch in Twelfth Night", Tobey Veck in "The Chimes"and Herbert in "The Monkey's Paw"
Melissa Lugo (The Recusant - The Pit & the Pendulum) Melissa is absolutely thrilled to be performing with the cast and production team of Theatre Obscura 2026! She has worked with Mr. Millet in a number of shows with Unbound Productions including Wicked Lit: Las Lloronas and History Lit: The Girl Who Owned a Bear. Most recently, Melissa wrote and stared in her solo show, FOR YOU, which she was honored to have Paul Millet direct. She performed at Hollywood Fringe 2024, Thirty Minutes or Less Fest 2025 and Solofest 2024 & 2025. FOR YOU was also performed at the annual Los Angeles Women's Theater Festival in 2025. Melissa's latest performance was with the Roots and Wings Project: Luminous Streets in which she performed and wrote one of five short stories. She is a current member at Theatre 40 and Group Rep taking the stage last year in GRT's production of Network and Motel 66. More info can be found at melissalugo.com
Andrew Thacher (Dupin - The Tell-Tale Heart) Andrew left New York for LA in 2005 to pursue on-camera opportunities, but theater remains his first acting love. He is grateful to Paul, once again, for the gig. They most recently collaborated to bring Andrew's long-gestating solo performance of Richard Bach's novella "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" to the stage (jlsasoloflight.com) in LA and elsewhere. Andrew regularly narrates audio descriptions for television and film. As always, endless gratitude to Kelly for her love and support.
Andrew Villarreal (Auguste - The Tell-Tale Heart) Andrew played the titular role in Stefan the Vampire (2023), winner of Best Student Short Film at the LA Indie Short Fest. He also starred as Phelix Deveraux in Artificial Flowers (2023), awarded Best Experimental Feature at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival. Stage credits include Steve Grabowsky's Light in a Beauty Dark (Hudson Theatre, 2022) and the Maverick Theatre's annually sold‑out favorite Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (2025), where he appeared as Voldar. Deep thanks to Gabrieal and Paul for the opportunity to create, and to the entire cast and production team for their collaboration.
Gabrieal Griego (Director - The Tell-Tale Heart) Gabby is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in directing, writing, producing, projection design, and puppetry. Gabrieal's work spans stage, screen, and immersive experiences on both the east and west coasts. She would like to give a huge shout out of gratitude to Paul Millet for this opportunity, and to the entire cast for their depth of spirit, talent and grace as we navigate this most unique process. Big thanks to the wonderful people at The Count's Den for their support. And to her twin flame, Joseph 'Sloe' Slawinski, all the love for all the things… and also for the killer sound design!
Joseph "Sloe" Slawinski (Sound Designer) Joseph is a multi-award-winning sound designer and composer whose work spans theatre, film, and live performance. He is an Ovation Award–winning sound designer, with additional Ovation nominations recognizing excellence in theatrical sound design. In 2025, he also received the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Sound Design 2024 (Off-Broadway). His theatrical credits include God Looked Away starring Judith Light and Al Pacino, Redemption of a Dogg with Snoop Dogg, and hundreds of productions across Los Angeles, New York, and regional theatres nationwide. His work is known for its immersive, story-driven approach and for using sound as an active narrative force rather than background support.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Sloe's approach to sound is informed by training in tactical, strategic, and mission-critical audio environments, where clarity, timing, and psychological impact are essential. That foundation carries into his design work, where sound is deployed deliberately to shape audience perception, tension, and emotional response.
He has served as a resident sound designer for institutions including the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (Los Angeles) and Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills, and continues to collaborate with artists and organizations seeking precise, intentional, and innovative sound design.
