It’s curtain time for FINAL DRESS, my latest adult horror novel set in my favorite world- the theater! Having worked in the theater my entire life and continuing to work part-time at my local regional theater, it was a thrill to explore this environment in a slasher story. I’ve been thinking about writing a horror story set in the theater since the 80’s when I was a young Thespian experiencing the thrill of my first starring role. The play was Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and I played the role of Miss Casewell to the hilt, complete with a man’s suit and tie and fedora, a cigarette dangling from my lip. I’m sure my English accent was dreadful, but I know I gave it my all and had a blast doing it.

The theater was in an old barn on a country road; as far as I know, it’s still standing. As a young Thespian, I recall navigating the backstage environs, including the costume stock stored in the old hayloft, and thinking it would be a perfect location for a horror movie. My older sister, a fellow Thespian, and I discussed, over many clove cigarettes, writing a screenplay called Horror at Summer Stock. The story had some hilarious scenes, including a runaway killer forklift as the ultimate Deus ex machina.

Our fantasy screenplay vanished with the summer winds, and the forklift didn’t make it into Final Dress, but a backstage Genie lift did, along with some other theater “inside jokes” that my theater friends will giggle at, but which any reader can hopefully appreciate. Final Dress, along with my hillbilly vampire romp, CODE RED, definitely lands under the category of “fun” horror, in the same way those old 80s slasher classics are good for a laugh but never fail to give a thrill.

So, buy a ticket to FINAL DRESS, and try to survive till the curtain falls!