THE VISITATION
Site: The Wyckoff House Museum
Location: Brooklyn, United States
Year: 2017-2018
A girl sick in bed.
A pair of priests in long black cloaks.
Six bobbing lanterns in the dark.
Based on a historic witchcraft inquest, Witness’s debut show was staged at the Wyckoff House, the oldest building in the city of New York. After a sold-out initial run in 2017, The Visitation returned to the same location for an encore run the next year.
"A terrifying Nathaniel Hawthorne-meets-The Exorcist tale. If you go see The Visitation, which you should … every choice you make has a profound impact on the narrative you experience and how you experience it. The thrill of that experience comes when you realize the extent of your freedom as an observer."
—The A.V. Club
"The performance is layered, dense, and rich ... Aside from the wonderfully creepy site-specific staging, the second biggest strength of The Visitation is in its excellent ensemble acting and highly polished script."
—No Proscenium
"For three nights in early November, New York City’s oldest home was haunted by a 17th-century tale of witchcraft. ... I had an enjoyably unsettling time."
—Hyperallergic
Written by Michael Bontatibus
Directed by Drew Gregory
Produced by Jenny Gorelick
Stage Manager: Cati Pishal
Assistant Stage Managers: Kate Wilson & Enzo Gattuccio
Assistant Director: Katharine Lorraine
Costume Design: Corina Chase
Assistant Costume Design: Morgen Warner
Scenic and Props: J.B. Douglas
SFX Makeup: Rachel Temkin
Fight Choreography: Grace Clower
Movement Consultant: Karen Eleanor Wight
Cast: Yurié Collins, Brian Lore Evans, Ben Gougeon, Rae Haas, Daniel Harray, and Virginia Logan.
Photos by Carly Hoogendyk