THE RAGE OF THE STAGE PLAYERS
PRESENT

A WORLD PREMIERE STAGE PLAY BY PITTSBURGH PLAYWRIGHT
JAMES MICHAEL SHOBERG

INSPIRED BY HIS HORROR POETRY COLLECTION

PERFOFRMANCE DATES
JULY 31, 2026 AT 8:00 PM
AUGUST 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, AND 14, 2026 AT 8:00 PM

SPECIAL 2:00 PM MATINEE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026
FOLLOWED BY A TALKBACK WITH THE CAST AND PLAYWRIGHT.

MARGARET PARTEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
523 LINCOLN AVENUE
BELLEVUE, PA 15202

LIMITED SEATING

TICKETS
$25.00 / $20.00 (WITH STUDENT ID – PURCHASE STUDENT TICKET AT THE DOOR)

RAGEOFTHESTAGE.COM/TICKETS

FOR MORE INFORMATION
RAGEOFTHESTAGE@YAHOO.COM
RAGEOFTHESTAGE.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/RAGEOFTHESTAGE
INSTAGRAM: @RAGEOFTHESTAGEPLAYERS

SYNOPSIS OF “WORSE IN VERSE: THE LOATHSOME LESSONS OF MR. SCRATCH”:

Set at Halloween, this world premiere dark comedy by playwright James Michael Shoberg (adapted from pieces in his horror poetry collection) combines the strange sensibilities of the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Shel Silverstein, and Edward Gorey, as it weaves disturbing tales told, in rhyme, to the students of John Milton Middle School by the mysterious storyteller, Nicholas Scratch. 

If you enjoy horror anthologies such as “Creepshow”, “Tales From the Crypt”, and “Trick ‘r Treat”, just imagine if they were presented in the style of a middle school stage play.

“His name is Scratch, Nicholas Luciferius Scratch: storyteller, raconteur, and yarn-spinner—and he goes where summoned.”

CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)