Halloween Monsters Coming to Urbanite

SARASOTA – The regional premiere of Christian St. Croix’s Monsters of the American Cinema is taking center stage at Urbanite Theatre this Halloween.

Remy Washington, a Black man and widower, has inherited both a drive-in movie theater and the responsibility of raising Pup, his late husband’s straight, white teenage son. The two forge a strong bond around a shared love of classic American monster movies, but when Remy discovers that Pup has been tormenting a gay classmate, their relationship begins to fracture, and the real horrors surface.

“What excites me about Monsters of the American Cinema is the deeply human father–son dynamic at its core,” remarks Producing Artistic Director Summer Wallace. “Remy and Pup are navigating uncharted territory together, and their journey is both raw and universal.”

Wallace is directing the play, which stars Jon Gentry (Remy) and Tyler Gevas (Pup), as they make their Urbanite debuts. Gevas is a Sarasota native, having graduated from Booker High School.

“This play challenges us to stretch our artistic and physical limits in the Urbanite space,” Wallace comments, “And I believe it will resonate not only with seasoned theatergoers but also with audiences who may not traditionally find themselves in the theater. It’s a story that invites everyone in."

St. Croix’s work has appeared at Rogue Machine Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, and ArtsWest Playhouse, and received the Carlo Annoni International and Dominic Orlando Playwriting Awards.

Monsters of the American Cinema opens on October 31 and runs through December 7. Visit the Urbanite website for scheduling and ticket information.