By Venus Zarris

Once again, illustrator Charlie Athanas renders the intended horror of WildClaw Theatre’s stage production to lovely and chilling effect. The marriage of exceptional illustration to theatrical creation can create excitement about a production long before opening night, set the mood for the chosen material, draw us into the world of the drama, and visually define the play as well as the theater company. 

With his minimal yet morbidly enchanting poster design for The Revenants, Athanas has set the bar high by delivering a vision of terror that transcends the typical impressions of flesh eating zombies. His use of color is simply magnificent and his use of negative space suspends the illustration in a realm all its own. 

From WildClaw’s inaugural production of The Great God Pan,

to their second offering of The Dreams In The Witch House,

to their current production of The Revenants, 

Athanas has consistently captured the feel of WildClaw Theatre’s work masterfully, with both visual economy and opulence. Together with production photographer Kirstie Shanley, WildClaw Theatre’s macabre machinations are imagined, creafted and rendered as powerfully off-stage as they are on-stage.

WildClaw Theatre - Bringing Horror and the Supernatural to the Chicago Stage

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