Alexander Poe is the author and co-director of Somewhat Damaged, a new work based on the stories of the more famous Poe, who authored such immortal tales of the macabre as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Masque of the Red Death." It begins Jan. 22.

The 50-minute Redux Productions piece is described as mixing "together Edgar Allan Poe's life and work re-imagining the creative inspiration for his stories. Struggling with his wife's illness and unable to write a new story, a chance encounter inspires E.A. Poe to take his work in a darker direction then he could have imagined."

The cast features Cort Garretson, Emilee Dupre, Ben Correale, Jeff Addiss, and Jonathan Kells Phillips.

Joseph Varca is co-director of Damaged.

Alexander Poe has penned more than a few adaptations, including stage works based on "City of Glass" by Paul Auster, "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding and "The Stranger by Camus. Redux's production of Amerika played the 2005 New York International Fringe Festval. The play will run at the Metropolitan Playhouse's Poe Festival (220 E. 4th Street). Tickets are $19. For tickets visit www.metropolitanplayhouse.org or call (212) 995-5302.