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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari by Astra Dance

A film of an immersive dance performance based on the 1919 German Expressionist classic "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" by Astra Dance Theatre. The production won critical acclaim in Los Angeles, including "Best Theater Company in Los Angeles" 2 years running by the LA Weekly. This stunning shoot of the production was only recently re-discovered by the production team. With 5 screens featuring responsive animation and title cards, the original film is lovingly recreated, scene by scene. The melodrama of silent film is transformed into an emotional dance production.

  • Sasha M. Travis
    Director
  • Joey Rassool
    Director of Photography
  • Regan Remy
    Composer
    Frankenstein Reborn, Danger Diva, FakeOff, 24, Munich, Life of David Gale
  • Nichelle Bane
    Choreographer
  • David Ormond
    Executive Producer
  • Regan Mozingo
    Executive Producer
  • Sasha M. Travis
    Writer
  • David O. Wilkinson
    Writer
  • Tim Lamb
    Technical Advisor
  • Allen Clark
    Lighting Designer
  • Concetta Verna
    Costume Design
  • Autumn Fawn
    Associate Producer
  • Roger Fojas
    Key Cast
    "Caligari"
  • Amy Highfill
    Key Cast
    "Jane"
  • Marlon Pelayo
    Key Cast
    "Francis"
  • Olivia Bollfrass
    Key Cast
    "Alan"
  • Andrew Claus
    Key Cast
    "Cesare"
  • Kent Lowell
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Olsen"
  • Gaton Askley
    Dancers
  • Janelle Cruz
    Dancers
  • Taylor Hensley
    Dancers
  • Kenna Wright
    Dancers
  • Monique Ziering
    Dancers
  • Jarrod Paulson
    Dancers
  • Natalie Linthorst
    Dancers
  • Cheetah Platt
    Dancers
  • Boone Platt
    Dancers
  • Tammy Firefly
    Circus Performers
  • Antonio G-R
    Circus Performers
  • Boone Platt
    Circus Performers
  • Cheetah Platt
    Circus Performers
  • Monique Ziering
    Circus Performers
  • Al Gonzalez
    Digital Scenography
  • Elise Spacek
    Digital Scenography
  • Matt Boyd
    Digital Scenography
  • Jose Pimienta
    Digital Scenography
  • Tim Lamb
    Digital Scenography
  • Louie Lambie
    Set Design
  • Ryan Omega
    Line Producer
  • Erin Demos
    Stage Manager
  • Jon Ross
    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Chandrae Roettig
    Assistant Choreographer
  • Chris Bradley
    Stage Hand
  • RJ Parsons
    Prop Design
  • Daniela Bernatos
    Hair and Makeup
  • Dani Lagomarsino
    Hair and Makeup
  • Jose Pimienta
    Paintings
  • Debbie McMahon
    Grand Guignol Coach
  • Mitchel Evans
    Mime Coach for Cesare
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Feature, Web / New Media, Other
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 24 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 7, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    200,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, German
  • Shooting Format:
    Red, etc
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sasha M. Travis

Sasha started directing at the ripe old age of four when she brazenly convinced her cousins to stand on the couch and put on shows for any and all willing (or unwilling) family members, at any possible family gathering: weddings, birthday parties, holidays, or funerals! She believes in true love, exquisite art, homemade cold-brew, and dry shampoo.

Sasha is at her best when she gets to be a collaborative storyteller, loving nothing more than the power of a creative collective with a common goal. Art is a great connector of people, one of the universal languages of the human race, and she believes in bringing people together to create art and tell stories. Sasha a dreamer and a builder, believing wholeheartedly that it is completely possible to be both the tether and the kite. She loves both the whimsical artistry of the creative process and the satisfaction of a polished and professional product.

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Director Statement

I have been obsessed with silent films for as long as I can remember, especially drawn to the horror, the drama, the music, the style, in short, just about everything!

When I first started working with Astra Dance Theatre, one of the things I appreciated most was the production team’s love of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s work inspired two of the first pieces I worked on with Astra, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, David Ormond & Regan Mozingo, and I might all share a love for other horror art forms. I was overjoyed when I discovered that the team also adored silent films, specifically horror stories!

We set out on the herculean journey of turning The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari into a live, dance-theatre production. We worked our very hearts and souls into this piece. We brought on a phenomenal choreographer, Nichelle Bane, who shared her talent, heart, and vision with us. The cast and crew came together slowly, and the work was hard, but it culminated in such a beautiful work of collaborative art. I could not be more grateful to the community who made this show happen.

It’s a classic tale: Girl meets boys, murder happens. Caligari dives into the inner workings of the minds of heroes and murderers, it takes the audience on a melodramatic journey of who-done-it and begs the questions: ‘what is sanity? What is reality, anyway?’