Ghost Lights in theaters inspire Halloween fun
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Every theater has a ghost.
Why else is it that the last thing done when leaving a theater is to turn on the “ghost light?” A “ghost light” is a standing lamp with a single bulb placed in the middle of the stage. It’s left on all night.
Some say it’s to provide illumination for ghosts to perform when the theater is empty. Others say it’s to keep ghosts away. There are the others – the buzz killer types - who miss the point and claim it’s merely illumination to prevent someone from falling off the stage into the pit.
Those people are banned from Halloween festivities.
However you see it, ghosts, spirits and unknown entities have been an important part of theater lore. Even Shakespeare included three witches who predicted the future in his “Scottish play.”
That’s another theater superstition. In order to ward off misfortune no one is allowed to utter the name of a certain play within a theater. Since you probably aren’t in a theater right now, I can tell you the name of the play is “Macbeth.”
If you are in a theater – shush.
Theater’s fascination with ghosts is a logical way for theaters to connect with Halloween to earn some revenue during the Covid-19 shutdown. Several area theaters are offering ghost tours this weekend and next.
All are following social distancing guidelines by limiting size of parties in a tour and requiring face masks.
Proctors Collaborative is offering a ghostly event at both Proctors downtown Schenectady and at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany.
Since Cap Rep already moved out of its former home and the new theater is still under construction, they have decided to use all of downtown Albany for their stage.
The theater company has joined forces with The Original Albany Ghost Tour’s Maeve McEneny- Johnson for “City Séance,” an outdoor ghost tour of downtown. You will learn of the former, and maybe current haunts of Albany’s historical characters.
The tour is limited to 10 people a session. Tours are
7 p.m. Oct. 16, 21 and 23 for $25 and info can be found at capitalrep.org
The Proctors event is titled “F. F. Proctors & the Case of the Missing Deed.” It’s part ghost tour and part scavenger hunt. The 90-minute search for a missing deed takes place Oct. 23 at 6 and 8 p.m. and Oct. 24 at
4, 6 and 8 p.m. Each is limited to 10 people, all must wear masks.
Even if the clues scattered about don’t lead you to the discovery of the deed, you will discover parts of the underground in Proctors Theatre. The layout takes you to places theatergoers rarely see. Tickets are $25.
For reservations go to proctors.org.
You have to respect any ghost tour in which an arts center partners with a historic cemetery.
That’s what’s happening in Sand Lake where Sand Lake Center for the Arts and Sand Lake Union Cemetery are offering “Amazing
Graves 2.”
It’s an 80-minute walking tour of famous and infamous gravesites. You’ll be introduced to Sheriff Griggs, Moscow the War Horse and other notorious figures. Who knows, some characters might show up to introduce themselves?
Tours are limited in size and take place this Saturday and Sunday. They start every half hour between 10 and noon, and from 1:30 to 3:30. The cost is $10 a person and the event is a fundraiser for each organization. For reservations go to slcactp.org.
Rain dates are the following week.
Should you prefer the theater ghosts of Broadway, Playbill.com is offering a virtual tour of haunted Broadway theaters. The host is Tim Dolan, a Broadway performer who owns Up Close Walking Tours.
He will give a virtual presentation of the history of theaters where verified ghostly sightings have taken place. The sightings date back to 1893 and continue to the present. The 60-minute presentation is available 8 p.m. October 28 by going to Social Selects at Playbill. com.