Halloween event a Square deal
Halloween revelry with an artistic edge takes centerstage at the "Haunting in the Square" celebration today and Saturday on the Near West Side.
"We'll be working with a large number of local actors and circus performers to create Halloween activities that have a slant toward creativity rather than just typical scary Halloween trends," said Anthony Moseley, executive artistic director of the Collaboraction Theatre Company, which is presenting the event with the Dadio Foundation.
The outdoor festivities offer family-friendly programming, including circus performances with tightrope walkers, acrobatics and contortionists. Other fun includes an interactive photo booth, carnival games and a pumpkin-carving station. One of the event highlights will be a series of 10-minute plays based on ghost stories by local playwright Emily Schwartz.
"The plays are family-friendly and not too scary, although some ghosts are going to appear," Moseley said.
"For little kids ages 3 to 9 years, we've built a little straw maze with painted panels that they can walk through and have fun," Moseley said. "We'll also have a tight rope, about 18 inches off the ground, to teach kids how to walk the rope."
Another highlight for families will be a performance at 5 p.m. today featuring Halloween rock 'n' roll songs sung by the Rockford Kids Allstar Choir. There also will be a children's costume competition at 4 p.m. today and a balloon drop (with money in the balloons) at 4 p.m. Saturday.
As the sun sets, adult-themed programming will be featured, including fire dancing, a sound stage with DJ music and dancing, a fire pit and an adult costume competition.
The festivities take place at the Firehouse Square, a historic firehouse built in 1873. The Collaboraction Theatre Company rents a space in the square/complex at 459 N. Wolcott.
"This is an amazing location for the event, and we have a large, 19,000-square-foot, gorgeous outdoor courtyard that is just beautiful for people to enjoy," Moseley said. "Plus, there is plenty of parking in the area."
"Haunting in the Square" runs 3 p.m. to midnight today and noon to midnight Saturday. The suggested donation is $5 for adults, $2 for children or $10 per family.
A "Haunting in the Square" fund-raiser for adults, held inside the Firehouse, runs from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Tickets are $25, include light appetizers and a hosted bar. Proceeds will benefit the Dadio Foundation and Collaboraction.
For more information on the event, or to buy tickets for the fund-raiser, call (312) 226-9633 or visit the Web site www.collaboraction.org.